AutismStudies

Master of

Autism Studies

Master of Autism Studies Elevate your response to autism. Through our interdisciplinary curriculum, you will develop the interprofessional skills and the autism-specific expertise needed to become a leader in autismrelated fields and to make a positive impact on the lives of people who have autism.

Respond to critical needs.

Gain both interdisciplinary scope and disciplinary rigor.

Explore voices of people with autism.

Examine a broad range of evidence-based autism interventions.

Be a leader in understanding and responding to autism.

Whether you are a current student, a practitioner working in an autismrelated field, a caregiver, or a person on the spectrum, our master’s degree will provide you with expertise in autism, developing your ability to improve the lives of people with autism.

Faculty Pending Approval from the Higher Learning Commission

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Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana

Degree Details • 36 credit hours • Completing a capstone project or comprehensive exams • On campus • Full-time option

15 months (includes two summer terms)

• Part-time option Two years (includes three summer terms)

Where This Degree Can Take You • Into cutting-edge work in the field of autism • Into emerging positions such as autism specialist or autism consultant in many types of organizations • Into leadership positions in autism-related fields such as education, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and psychology • Into related graduate and professional programs, such as the MS in speech language pathology, PhD in clinical psychology or a doctoral program in education.

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Curriculum • • • • • • • •

Gateway: Autistic Experiences A Biopsychosocial Understanding of the Autism Spectrum Autism Research Design and Methods Quantitative Methods in Autism Research Approaches to Autism Intervention Autism and Communication Occupational Therapy and Autism Autism and Education

• Social Policies and Social Services for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum and Their Families • Autism and Humanity • Autism and Ethics • Practicum • Research • Capstone Project

Curriculum Highlights Gateway: Autistic Experiences

Through experiential learning and studying first person accounts of life with autism, examine a diverse range of autistic lives and explore ways in which gender, culture and other factors impact life with autism.

Approaches to Autism Intervention

Explore a broad range of historical and modern approaches to autism interventions through in-depth evaluation of their theoretical underpinnings and practical workshops devoted to common interventions. Study behavioralist and developmental models, focused and comprehensive interventions, school-based, communication-based, and social skills models.

Autism and Humanity Addressing topics such as autistic identity and autistic culture, investigate ways in which our understanding of autism can both enrich and be enriched by a broader philosophical and theological understanding of what it means to be human.

For a complete list of courses and descriptions visit grad.saintmarys.edu/MAScourses

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Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana

Faculty Work with faculty members who are experts in autism. Some are distinguished researchers who publish in the field’s top journals; others are skilled clinicians with decades of experience working with people on the spectrum; all are passionate teachers who will be committed to your success. In small classes and face-to-face interactions, they will help you gain the expertise you need to meet your goals for understanding and responding to autism.

Joshua John Diehl, PhD Clinical Psychology

Juhi Kaboski, PhD

Social Work and Social Policy

Susan Latham, PhD, CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathology

Jennifer Burke Lefever, PhD

Developmental Psychology & Research Methods

Nancy Turner, EdD Education

Jennifer Rotondo Waddell, PhD

Social Psychology & Quantitative Methods

Michael Waddell, PhD Philosophy & Theology

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The Master of Autism Studies program at Saint Mary’s College offers things you won’t find anywhere else. Our curriculum takes a truly interdisciplinary approach to autism, explores the full range of evidence-based autism interventions, and incorporates the voices of people on the spectrum in unprecedented ways.

— Michael Waddell, PhD, Program Director

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Application Requirements • All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or the international equivalent.

The most competitive candidates will have maintained at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in undergraduate coursework, though experience with autism (such as being autistic, working in an autism-related field, or being a caregiver) will also be taken into consideration.

• Submission of a completed application form • Official transcripts from every college or university attended • GRE scores (optional) • Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional abilities, focusing particularly on your potential for success in this program • Personal statement that addresses your reasons for pursuing a Master of Autism Studies including your professional objectives and how Saint Mary’s aligns with your personal and professional goals Applications for the summer 2019 term will open fall 2018.

Cost Entering a graduate program, you are investing in your future.

We understand that navigating the financial aid process for a graduate degree can be overwhelming. To make sure you reach your goals, we will help you identify various funding sources, analyze repayment options, and provide you with tools to establish a budget, estimate costs, and plan for your future.

Tuition and fees for the summer cohort will be established by early spring. For details visit grad.saintmarys.edu/MAS

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Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Indiana

$0

The amount your tuition will increase from term to term as long as you remain enrolled in the program.

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Master of

Autism Studies Visit Us You’ve seen pictures, read brochures, and visited our website. Now it’s time to visit campus, the best way to experience Saint Mary’s distinctive qualities. Take a campus tour. Explore our library facilities. Speak with your admission counselor. Meet with faculty. Learn why Saint Mary’s should be your top choice for a graduate degree To schedule a campus visit, contact Melissa Fruscione at graduateadmission@saintmarys.edu or (574) 284-5098.

Contact Us 160 C Le Mans Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 graduateadmission@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-5098 (call or text) grad.saintmarys.edu/MAS