The Autism and Developmental Disabilities (A&DD) Doctoral Program provides students with cutting-edge training for conducting research. Students engage in hands-on practice with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. In this concentration, we strive to provide students with teaching, research, and clinical training experiences that will prepare them for careers in academia and/or clinical-based settings. As a Tier-1 research institute, we provide highly personalized training with a wide range of clinical and research opportunities.
The Ph.D. degree generally takes four years of full-time study to complete. Students develop their own individualized program of study in consultation with their academic advisor and the graduate advisor. In addition to content and research coursework, Ph.D. students will complete a dissertation and professional activities beyond coursework. This can include supervision of student teachers, presentation at professional conferences, submitting manuscripts for publication, teaching at the undergraduate level.
Semester Start: Fall
Deadline to Apply:
Priority: December 1
Rolling Admissions
GRE Required? No
Location: On Campus
Length of Program: 60 months, 57 hours
Specialization Core Courses (12 hours)
- SED 388 Challenging Behaviors and Developmental Research
- SED 388 Advances in Understanding and Treatment of Autism
- SED 396 Trends & Issues in Autism & DD
- SED 389 Policy/Procedures in Special Education Administration
To gain breadth of knowledge, students must take at least one course from outside of their concentration area or outside of the department.
Professional Core (18 hours)
- SED 695S A & B Professional Seminar (taken over fall and spring semesters of Year 1)
- SED 398T College Teaching (Year 2)
- SED 380 Diversity and Disability: Continuing Perspectives; or SED 380 Diversity, Equity, and Disability
- SED 696 A and B Research Mentoring (taken over two semesters)
Research Core (18-21 hours)
- EDP 380C Fundamental Statistics – prerequisite as needed
Additional coursework must include at least two courses out of the following three:
- Qualitative Research Design and Data Analysis
- Quantitative Research Design and Data Analysis
- Single-Subject Research Design
Coursework must include:
- SED 395D Grant Writing in Education
Select other research courses in consultation with your Academic Advisor to be sure that you will fulfill research requirements in your concentration area.
Dissertation (6 hours minimum)
All doctoral students are required to complete a dissertation. This includes conducting original research with direction from a dissertation supervisor. The dissertation will be submitted and defended to a dissertation committee consisting of faculty in the field of study.
- SED 399, 699, or 999 R and W
Faculty
Engages in training and supervision of clinicians to support individuals with challenging behavior and difficulty transitioning between activities, particularly for students with autism spectrum disorders.
Assessment and treatment of problem behavior displayed by individuals with ASD/DD, methods for increasing behavioral variability in individuals with ASD/DD, and methods for preventing clinical relapse pertaining to challenging behavio
Works with culturally diverse individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders to assess and treat challenging behavior.
Assesses and supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and develops social skill/communication interventions for children with ASD.
Additional Resources
Area Co-Coordinator
Mark O’Reilly
Area Co-Coordinator
Terry Falcomatta
Tell us a bit about yourself and what programs you are interested in. We’ll be in touch with information soon!
