The doctoral concentration in Autism Research and Leadership focuses on the preparation of personnel to assume leadership roles in the area of autism research, education, and training. In addition to the required course work (noted below), all doctoral students who are currently receiving federal funding are also required to accomplish a number of professional competencies including submitting a grant application for external funding, participating in mentored research prior to initiating their dissertation activities, submitting a manuscript for publication consideration, course instruction, presenting at national, state or regional conventions, and engaging in advocacy and volunteer activities involving students with ASD or their support persons. The requirements are designed to increase the capacity of graduates to provide effective leadership in the area of autism programming and policy development and to conduct valid empirical intervention research that will bridge existing research-to-practice gaps and improve outcomes for students with ASD and their families.

The doctoral concentration in Autism Spectrum disorder requires a minimum of 63 hours of coursework and research experience. A Masters Degree in Special Education or a closely related field is required for application to the PhD Candidates with Masters degrees in other fields will be required to take up to five additional courses in Special Education, with advisor's approval.

The following requirements are for students who enter the program with a related Master's degree on/after Fall of 2013. All other students who are planning to graduate after Fall 2013 have the option of choosing this set of requirements (in lieu of their previous degree plans) if approved by their academic advisors.

Degree Requirements (minimum 63 hours)

1) Educational Psychology Doctoral Core (6 hours)

EPSY 6040 - Foundations of Educational Psychology (3 hours)

ESPY 5550 - Learning Theories (3 hours)
or
EPSY 5123 - Human Development Across the Life Span (3 hours)

2) Educational Research Core (15 hours)

EPSY 6010 - Statistics for Educational Research (3 hours)
EPSY 6020 - Research Methods in Education (3 hours)
EPSY 6210 - Multiple Regression Analysis and Related Methods (3 hours)
EPSY 6280 - Qualitative Research in Education (3 hours)

One elective course in research, measurement, or statistics with advisor approval (3 hours)

3) Special Education Core (12 hours)

EDSP 6270 - Analysis of Trends, Issues and Research in Special Education (3 hours)
EDSP 6280 - Program Analysis in Special Education (3 hours)
EDSP 6290 - Special Education and Public Policy (3 hours)
EDSP 6275 - Advanced Studies in Evidenced Based Practices in High and Low Incidence Disabilities (3 hours)                               (effective Fall 2013)

4) Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders (18 hours)

EPSY 6122 - Single-Subject Research Methodology (3 hours)

EDSP 6520 - Biomedical Aspects of Autism (3 hours) (effective Fall 2013)
EDSP 6530 - Advanced Studies in Autism Programming (3 hours) (effective Fall 2013)
EDSP 6295 - Seminar in Professional Leadership (3 hours) (effective Fall 2013)
EPSY 6120 - Foundations of Program Evaluation (3 hours) OR EDSP 6540 - Evaluation of Autism Programs (effective Fall 2013)

One elective autism-related course with advisor's approval (3 hours)

5) Supervised Research/Practice (3 hours)

EPSY 6030 - Practicum, Field Problem or Internship (3 hours)

6) Dissertation (9 hours)

EPSY 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation (3, 6 or 9 hours per semester)

The Autism Intervention Concentration requires a minimum of 36 hours. When applying, choose "SPED-MED" on the online application at www.applytexas.org. Coursework must be completed within a five year time period. See the UNT Graduate Catalog for more information. The required courses for this concentration area are a combination of both online and on-campus (face-to-face). The required courses are as follows:

Degree Requirements (minimum 36 hours)

1) Educational Psychology Required Core (9 hours)

EPSY 5000 - Introduction to Educational Psychology (3 hours)
EPSY 5050 - Foundations of Educational Research Methodology (3 hours)
EPSY 5350 - Foundations of PsychoEducational Measurement (3 hours)

2) Special Education Common Core (9 hours)

The selections should be made based only upon approval by program advisor. Students who register for one of these courses without advisor approval may be required to take the other offered course if the first does not meet requirement for their specific concentration area.

EDSP 5240 - Collaboration with Parents, Paraeducators and Professionals (3 hours)

EDSP 5710 - Special Education Programs and Practices (3 hours)
or
EDSP 5520 - Special Education Law (3 hours)

EDSP 5330 - Classroom and Behavior Management Strategies for Exceptional Learners (3 hours)
or
EDSP 5320 - Introduction to Functional Assessment (3 hours)

3) Autism Intervention Courses (minimum 18 hours)

EDSP 5310 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 hours)
EDSP 5340 - Teaching Students with High Functioning Autism (3 hours)
EDSP 5350 - Educational Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 hours)
EDSP 5360 - Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 hours)
EDSP 5370 - Autism Across the Life Span (3 hours)
EDSP 5640 - Field Experience with Children/Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders II (for Autism Students the title is: Home-based Field Experience) (3 hours)

4) Elective Courses (as needed, to meet the 18 hour required concentration, or for additional credits with advisor's recommendation/approval)

EDSP 5630 - Field Experience with Children/Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders I (for Autism Students the title is: School-based Field Experience) (3 hours)
EDSP 5510 - Educational Appraisal of Exceptional Learners(3 hours)
EDSP 5520 - Special Education Law (3 hours)
EDSP 5560 - Assistive Technology (3 hours)

BEHV 5150 - Techniques in ABA (3 hours)
BEHV 5250 - Current Issues in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism (prerequisite BEHV 5130) (3 hours).

Note:

• For Admission process, please see Masters Admissions.

• For those wishing to receive the Graduate Academic Certificate in Autism (GAC-AUTI) in addition to the Master’s, all required coursework is embedded in the above Master’s Program and can be achieved concurrently with the Master’s level coursework. Separate application is required through the Toulouse Graduate School on an Application for Concurrent Graduate Academic Certificate Programs form, but it does not require an additional application fee.