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Bachelor of Arts

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country, and there is a growing demand for professionals who understand the unique characteristics, strengths, and challenges of individuals with autism. They include teachers, therapists, researchers, counselors, social workers, health care navigators, and medical clinicians. As such, Autism Studies is designed to be a complimentary major, so when paired with another major, will give more breadth, depth, and specificity of knowledge.

Through engaging and transformative educational experiences, the autism studies major will prepare students to provide quality services to individuals with autism and work alongside peers and colleagues with neurodiverse backgrounds. Significant experiential opportunities are provided through immersion in Aurora University’s Pathways program as well as involvement with various community partners, which will optimize student skills and understanding.

* Note that this degree does not carry Illinois State Board of Education licensure. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Core Courses
SPED-2300	Introduction to Autism Studies	4
SPED-2350	Social Implications for Individuals With Autism	4
SPED-3100	Cultural and Media Representation of Autism	4
SPED-3150	Therapeutic and Service Models and Modalities for Autism	4
SPED-3300	Navigating the Bureaucracies Associated with Autism	4
SPED-4100	Collaboration With Families, Providers, and Communities Supporting Those with Autism	4
SPED-4400	Autism Studies Internship	4
Support Courses
PSY-2100	Principles of Everyday Behavior	4
REC-2250	Therapeutic Recreation for Selected Populations	4
SPED-3815	Strategies and Assistive Technology for Students With Low Incidence Disabilities	4
Total Credits		40

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

A student who graduates from Aurora University with a baccalaureate degree will have met the following requirements:

1. Completion of all requirements for an approved major (with no grades lower than “C”).
2. Overall completion of at least 120 semester hours of coursework with a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (a course may be utilized only once in application toward a degree requirement, unless otherwise noted in the academic regulations). The 120 semester hours of coursework must include:
   • At least 52 semester hours completed at a senior college.
   • Residency Requirement - At least 30 semester hours completed at Aurora University, including the last 24 semester hours in the degree, and including at least 18 semester hours in the major. (Portfolio assessment credit, life and vocational experience credit, off-campus experience credit, examination credit, participation credit, and block credit, shall not count toward the residency requirement).
   • Upper-Division Requirement - A minimum of 30 semester hours numbered 3000 or above. Of these 30 semester hours, 15 semester hours must lie within the major and 15 semester hours must be completed at Aurora University.
3. Completion of all General Education requirements (with no grades lower than “C”), as follows:
   • Quantitative and Formal Reasoning competency requirement
   • ENG-1000 Introduction to Academic Writing
   • IDS-1200 Discover What Matters or IDS-3040 Global Justice
   • IDS-1150 First Year Experience - Not required for Transfer or AU Online students)
   • Satisfactory participation in the junior-year mentoring and assessment process designed to guide students to successful completion of their degree and to encourage planning for next steps beyond graduation. (IDS-3500 Junior Mentoring Program I and IDS-3550 Junior Mentoring Program II - Not required for ADC or AU Online students but may be designated electives for AU Online students admitted with fewer than 15 hours of transfer credit.)
   • Distribution Requirements
     Students will complete one approved course¹ from each of the following categories:
     • Artistic Literacy
     • Cultural Literacy
     • Human Inquiry
     • Scientific Inquiry

In addition to the above, ADC and Online students will also complete one approved course¹ from the following category:

• Discovery and Reflection

¹

Only courses that are approved to meet the distribution requirement can be used toward this requirement. See the list of approved courses  for available options. Courses taken to meet distribution requirements are 4 semester hours apiece, with the following exceptions:

• An approved transfer course of at least 2.50 semester hours can be used to satisfy a distribution requirement.
• Courses with co-requisite laboratory components may be used to satisfy a distribution requirement, provided that the student successfully complete both the three-credit-hour course and the single-credit-hour lab component.

Learning Outcomes