Early Interventions in Autism and Sensory Impairments MA
Non-certification
The Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in early interventions in autism and sensory impairments program provides early childhood professionals with training to partner with parents of young children who have learning needs in the area of autism and/or sensory impairment. The need for specialized teacher training in early interventions is evidenced through the increasing prevalence of children born prematurely with low birth weights with co-occurrence of one or more developmental disabilities. Teachers of young children who are on the autism spectrum and/or demonstrate sensory impairment face challenges that are outside the scope of pre-service training.
To complete this degree, students must complete the Master of Arts in Education core (12 credit hours), along with 12-18 credit hours of early interventions coursework. Students will additionally choose an emphasis in one of three areas by completing the coursework required for one of the following three strands: autism, vision impairment, or deaf/hearing impairment. Note that all candidates will complete a study of family centered practices and characteristics of autism and sensory impairments before selecting a strand of specialization in autism, visual impairment, or deaf/hearing impairment.
Potential candidates for this program include teachers, parents, speech and language therapists and related services professionals, certified pre-K-12 teachers, certified VI teachers who want to learn more about autism and sensory impairments, sign language professionals with a BA degree, early childhood professionals who may not hold Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education teacher certification but hold a BA degree in early childhood or childhood development, and those who have a BA/BS and interest and work experience in the field of early childhood or special education. The program does not offer teacher certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
One of the following:
One of the following:
| EDS 53700 | Special Education Counseling | 3 |
| EDU 33700 | Secondary Methods of Teaching Speech & Theatre | 3 |
Core Curriculum
One of the following:
| EDU 51000 | Conceptualization of Education | 3 |
| EDU 51010 | Conceptualization of Education for Beginning Teachers | 3 |
One of the following:
| EDU 52000 | Curriculum Analysis and Design | 3 |
| EDS 60000 | Ethical and Professional Issues in Behavioral Analysis | 3 |
Early Interventions Emphasis Curriculum
| EDS 56000 | Introduction to Family Centered Practices for Early Interventions in Autism, Visual Impairment, Deaf/Hard of Hearing | 3 |
| EDS 50200 | Behavior Management | 3 |
| EDS 56100 | Characteristics of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDU 55100 | Early Childhood Screening, Diagnosing and Prescribing Instruction | 3 |
| EDS 56200 | Characteristics of Infants and Young Children with Vision Impairments | 3 |
| EDS 56300 | Characteristics of Young Children with Deaf/ Hearing Impairments | 3 |
Note: EDS 50200 may be taken as undergraduate course.
Autism Strand Emphasis Courses
| EDS 57000 | Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| EDS 57100 | Parents and Teachers as Partners: Social Language Development and Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| EDS 57200 | Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Autism Spectrum | 3 |
Vision Impairment Strand Emphasis Courses
| EDS 57400 | Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Vision Impairments | 3 |
| EDS 57500 | Parents and Teachers as Partners: First Steps to Third Grade for Children with Vision Impairments | 3 |
| EDS 57600 | Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Vision Impairment | 3 |
Deaf/Hearing Impairment Strand Emphasis Courses
| EDS 57700 | Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments | 3 |
| EDS 57800 | Parents and Teachers as Partners: First Steps to Third Grade for Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments | 3 |
| EDS 57900 | Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments | 3 |