Autism Spectrum Disorders

Application Deadline

  • Fall: May 16 (Priority Deadline)
  • Spring: November 25 (Priority Deadline)

Rolling applications are permitted

Program Format

  • Hybrid

Program Duration

  • 12 credits

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.

Because collaboration across disciplines is essential to the development of our understanding about 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 in order 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 about 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 in order 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.

Apply at no cost by June 30, 2025 for the $75 application fee waiver.

Contact Information

Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch

Program Coordinator

Kristen Gillespie-Lynch Portrait
Building 4S, Room 103
Email Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch
  • 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.)
     
  • 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).

Graduate Application:

The application must be completed online at Graduate Application.

Transcripts:

Request official transcripts from all US institutions attended to be sent to CAS. International Transcripts (For those who studied outside of the U.S.) will need to be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) or  Education Credential Evaluators (ECE).  The evaluation must be sent directly to CAS.  There's a link in the Academic History section of the application to order your official evaluation. 

Application Fee:

Submit a $75.00 non-refundable application fee.  The fee must be paid online via the CAS application system.  Applicants who are veterans of the United States Military Service, currently on Active Duty or members of the National Guard or Reserves, may obtain an application fee waiver.  Veteran applicants must submit proof of their Veteran/Military status (ie., DD-214, Current Military ID Card, or Deployment or Pre-separation orders).  Please send proof to graduateadmissions@csi.cuny.edu.  Once we receive your proof, we will issue a fee waiver.

Cover Letter:

A cover letter describing the applicant’s relevant experience as well as the reason and motivation for applying to the program.

Resume:

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

Letters of Recommendation:

Two letters of recommendation from instructors or employers.

English Proficiency Examination:  The TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam is required of students for whom English is a second language.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Minimum required score is 79 (Internet). For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org. Our institutional code is 2778.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): We will only accept the academic exam scores. The minimum required score is 6.5 (overall band).  For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the IELTS website www.ielts.org.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Minimum required score is 53. For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the PTE website www.pearsonpte.com.
  • Duolingo English Test: Minimum required score is 100. For additional information or to register for the exam, please visit the Duolingo website.