UA Autism Coursework
The Department of Special Education & Multiple Abilities offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education with Certification in Autism, which is the only master's level program of its kind in the state. Graduate students are trained to use evidence-based practices for children and youth with ASD in a variety of educational settings and participate in supervised practicums and internships. The plan of study focuses on an interdisciplinary approach, with coursework in special education, educational psychology, and communication disorders.
We are now recruiting graduate students!
For more information about the Special Education Autism Certification program, please contact Dr. Laci Watkins at lwatkins2@ua.edu.
The University of Alabama also currently offers the following graduate level autism related coursework in the Department of Communicative Disorders.
We are now recruiting graduate students!
For more information about the Special Education Autism Certification program, please contact Dr. Laci Watkins at lwatkins2@ua.edu.
The University of Alabama also currently offers the following graduate level autism related coursework in the Department of Communicative Disorders.
- CD 505 Augmentative/Alt Communication. This course provides an overview and introduction to the field of augmentative/alternative communication, with a focus on aided and unaided symbols, assessment strategies, and intervention techniques.
- CD 514 Autism Spectrum Disorder. This course provides a presentation and discussion of theories and methods of language assessment and intervention for individuals with ASD.
Student Research opportunities
Undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students can find myriad opportunities to gain research experience with Autism Cluster faculty across disciplines. Current and prospective students are encouraged to visit the Faculty page to learn more about their interests and labs and to contact faculty members via email with questions about opportunities to be involved in research.
CIRA Faculty
CIRA Faculty
- Dr. Angela Barber (angela.barber@ua.edu; Communicative Disorders): early autism identification and intervention in rural areas, research fidelity of early autism interventions
- Dr. Lucy Barnard-Brak (lucy.barnard-brak@ua.edu; Special Education): measurement and assessment issues for individuals with ASD
- Dr. Evie Malaia (evguenia.a.malaia@ua.edu; Communicative Disorders): cognitive and linguistic processing in individuals with ASD
- Dr. Robin McWilliam (ramcwilliam@ua.edu; Special Education): early intervention, early childhood special education, child engagement, family quality of life
- Dr. Laura Morett (lmorett@ua.edu; Educational Neuroscience): neural bases of communication in individuals with ASD
- Dr. Theodore Tomeny (theodore.s.tomeny@ua.edu; Psychology): perceptions of ASD among parents, teachers, and the general public; risk- and protective-factors for typically-developing siblings and parents of those with ASD; co-morbid conditions in people with ASD
- Dr. Laci Watkins (lwatkins2@ua.edu; Special Education): peer interaction interventions for children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD; interventions for students with ASD in inclusive environments; evidence-based practice
- Dr. Susan White (swwhite1@ua.edu; Psychology): developmental psychopathology; treatment, service development, and evaluation for people with ASD; psychiatric comorbidity in people who have ASD
