Autism Spectrum Disorders ADVCERPB - Advanced Certificate Post Baccalaureate

The Advanced Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was developed to provide additional education and training to post-baccalaureate students to enable them to work with autistic people, as well as their families, at a heightened level of expertise. CSI's Advanced Certificate Program in ASD prepares special education teachers and other professionals to better support autistic people. It also provides entry-level students with an advantage over other applicants when seeking positions in organizations that provide educational, vocational, and life-skills support. This program is offered 100% online.

Because collaboration across disciplines is essential to the development of our understanding of autism, course materials cover a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies. By exploring a broad range of topics and perspectives, students will develop a richer knowledge of autism to collaborate more effectively with people on the spectrum, their families, and professionals from other disciplines as they approach their work with children, adolescents, and adults on the spectrum.​

We expect students with a bachelor’s degree in various majors/tracks to be interested in this Advanced Certificate program. We anticipate interest, especially from students with backgrounds in education; psychology; behavior analysis; physical and occupational therapy; speech-language pathology; sociology; Science, Letters, and Society (SLS); and/or art therapy.   Because collaboration across disciplines is essential to the development of our understanding of autism, course materials cover a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodologies. By exploring a broad range of topics and perspectives, students will develop a richer knowledge of autism to collaborate more effectively with people on the spectrum, their families, and professionals from other disciplines as they approach their work with children, adolescents, and adults on the spectrum.

Admission Requirements
Applications for an admission for the fall semester are due on April 1.

1. An applicant must have completed, as a minimum, an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Education, Speech-Language Pathology, Science, Letters, & Society, or a related field, or be a current student in a Master degree program (e.g., Education, Mental Health Counseling, Neuroscience & Developmental Disabilities). Additional coursework may be required to make up for any deficiencies in background, as will be determined by an admissions committee for the program. (The admissions committee comprises faculty members from the School of Education and the Psychology department.)

2. An applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the undergraduate major and a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.0. Applicants whose undergraduate grade-point averages are below the minimum of 3.0 may submit a letter of appeal to the program coordinator; however, such appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. Applicants appealing for admission must present documentation demonstrating their ability to succeed in the program and may be required to take additional credits in undergraduate liberal arts and science courses, as prescribed by the program coordinator, in which they must earn grades no lower than 3.0 (B).

3. Two letters of recommendation.

4. Current résumé detailing all relevant past and present professional employment, experience, memberships, and related service.

5. A cover letter describing the applicant’s relevant experience as well as the reason and motivation for applying for the Advanced Certificate.

Admission Requirements for Non-CUNY Students
Applications for an admission for the fall semester are due on April 1.

1. An applicant must have completed, as a minimum, an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Education, Speech-Language pathology, Science, Letters, & Society, or a related field, or be a current student in a Master degree program (e.g., Education, Mental Health Counseling, Neuroscience & Developmental Disabilities). Additional coursework may be required to make up for any deficiencies in background, as will be determined by an admissions committee for the program. (The admissions committee comprises faculty members from the School of Education and the Psychology department.)

2. Graduate Course Double Counting Policy The undergraduate students satisfying the following criteria may be granted permission to take up to two graduate courses (to fulfill their 300 or 400 level elective requirements in Psychology) at undergraduate tuition to be counted towards their bachelor’s degree. These graduate courses will be double-counted toward their Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate program. This allows students to earn both the bachelor’s and the advanced certificate in ASD in 4.5 years.

3. Current enrollment in bachelor’s degree in Psychology and successful completion of three years of study with 90 or more earned credits.

4. An applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the undergraduate major and a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.0. Applicants whose undergraduate grade-point averages are below the minimum of 3.0 may submit a letter of appeal to the program coordinator; however, such appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. Applicants appealing for admission must present documentation demonstrating their ability to succeed in the program and may be required to take additional credits in undergraduate liberal arts and science courses, as prescribed by the program coordinator, in which they must earn grades no lower than 3.0 (B).

5. Two letters of recommendation.

6. Current résumé detailing all relevant past and present professional employment, experience, memberships, and related service.

7. All graduate courses in the ASD Certificate Program can be taken as double-counting courses.

8. A cover letter describing the applicant’s relevant experience as well as the reason and motivation for applying for the Advanced Certificate.

Continuation Requirements and Award of Certificate
Each student must maintain an average of 3.0 in the four core courses in order to be awarded the Certificate. Students who drop below a 3.0 average may continue in the Program but may not be awarded the Certificate. No grade in an individual course may be below 2.0 for the Certificate to be awarded. If a student earns a grade below 3.0 (and above 2.0) in one of the four core courses, s/he will be encouraged to retake the course in order to meet the minimum grade average of 3.0. Each student must conduct him/herself in an ethical manner both professionally and personally. Serious breaches in ethics or professionalism will result in expulsion from the Program and a denial of being awarded the Certificate. 

Enrollment Requirements for CUNY Students to Register for ASD Courses:

1. An applicant must have completed, as a minimum, an undergraduate degree in psychology, education, speech-language pathology, Science, Letters, & Society, or a related field, or be a current student in a Master's degree program (e.g., Education, Mental Health Counseling, Neuroscience & Developmental Disabilities). Additional coursework may be required to make up for any deficiencies in background, as will be determined by an admissions committee for the program. (The admissions committee comprises faculty members from the School of Education and the Psychology department.)

2. An applicant must have earned a baccalaureate degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the undergraduate major and a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.0. Applicants whose undergraduate grade-point averages are below the minimum of 3.0 may submit a letter of appeal to the program coordinator; however, such appeals will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. Applicants appealing for admission must present documentation demonstrating their ability to succeed in the program and may be required to take additional credits in undergraduate liberal arts and science courses, as prescribed by the program coordinator, in which they must earn grades no lower than 3.0 (B).