Bachelor of Education in Special Education - Autism and Severe Disabilities Area University of Central Missouri, USA

Learn how to confidently connect with, engage and educate high-needs children in the state’s only undergraduate Special Education Teaching degree for Autism and Severe Developmental Disabilities.

This concentration within the University of Central Missouri’s Special Education Bachelor of Science degree program prepares you to work with K–12 students who have severe developmental disabilities. Successfully educating these children requires multiple teaching strategies. At UCM, you’ll acquire these differentiated learning techniques and learn how to create safe spaces that support the diverse needs of your future students.

This Special Education degree program will qualify you for Missouri Teacher Certification in Severe Developmental Disabilities K–12, which will enable you to become a public school teacher for children of all ages who have severe developmental disabilities.

What you will study

UCM’s Special Education degree, with a concentration in Autism and Severe Developmental Disabilities, will prepare you to teach K–12 students with significant intellectual or physical disabilities. Our Special Education programs include teacher training to develop the specialized skills you’ll need for working with your future students.

The University of Central Missouri’s Special Education programs are fully accredited by the Council for Exceptional Children, meeting rigorous standards. Your coursework will include topics such as:

• Evaluation of Abilities and Achievement: This course provides you with the tools to answer the question, “what is special education, and when is that track right for a student?” Learn to administer and interpret intelligence tests and diagnostic procedures and to design curricula that address individual needs.
• Physical and Health Care Needs of Students with Autism and Severe Developmental Disabilities: High school and elementary special education teachers of children with significant disabilities must be able to accommodate their students’ diverse physical needs in the classroom. This core course of your degree program will help you understand how to create an educational plan that supports the whole child.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Teaching children with autism and significant disabilities can require adaptive communication techniques. In UCM’s Special Education Teaching degree program, you’ll learn to use a variety of tools, including American Sign Language and communication devices.