University of Kent, MA, Autism Studies

Students are required to have broadband internet access, a web camera and will need to buy a small number of books and to meet their own dissertation expenses. Students are responsible for their own travel expenses where needed. Overseas distance learning students may also be required to pay an additional fee towards the residential workshop. Required attendance at Canterbury: If completing the course on campus, then students will be required to attend the Tizard Centre for a workshop (usually two days part-time and 4 days full-time) once a month with seven workshops in the year. Distance learning students will be required to attend a two week residential workshop in April either in Canterbury or at a venue in Singapore or Australia and may also need to attend either Canterbury Campus or another authorised centre for exams. To complete the PG Certificate option, students should expect to spend an average of 1 day a week studying for each academic module. Modules: All students complete the academic modules in: Research Methods (students following the distance learning routes can opt out of the inferential statistical analysis sessions and complete non-empirical assignments); Service Issues; Behavioural Analysis and Intervention; Social Psychology of Autism Spectrum Conditions; Extended essay (6000 words requiring integration of material from the academic modules) PG Diploma students complete a 10,000 word dissertation OR a case study and intervention project. A students complete a 20,000 word dissertation OR a 10,000 dissertation plus the case study and intervention project. Please note: on the Distance Learning Programmes, dissertations will normally be non-empirical. Campus based students have the choice of whether to do an empirical or non-empirical dissertation. Further information on the content of the existing academic modules which will also be accessed by students on the Autism Studies programmes can be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/tizard/courses/postgraduate.html. The Social Psychology of Autism module will cover the following topics: Definitions of intellectual and developmental disabilities with particular emphasis on autism; Epidemiology of autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities; Causes of autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (including social class/race/gender issues); Theories of autism; Sensory issues in autism; The research basis for intervention and early intervention in autism; Approaches to supporting people with ASD: Early intervention; Transition; Communication; Creating a helpful environment – SPELL, TEACCH and other frameworks and approaches; Effects on the family; Social relationships and social networks; Sexuality (attitudes of staff, issues of abuse and offending); Vulnerabilities (to physical and sexual abuse, to exploitation, to wrongful conviction; bereavement); Mental health and autism; Teaching and Assessment Methods: Modules will be taught via a mixture of web-based texts, recommended reading, guided study, campus-based teaching, video resources and online discussions. Model will be used as the virtual learning environment. Students will be provided with substantial reading material but will also be expected to pursue their own reading through journals (mostly available online or via document delivery) and books (through Kent library and local libraries). Campus-based students will have regular support during workshops and by e-mail from their dissertation supervisor/tutor. All distance learning students will have an assigned dissertation supervisor and/or tutor who will provide them with support by e-mail, via online discussion and via SKYPE or other video-conferencing software. Progression It will be possible to progress from Pacer to a higher level qualification and to swap between distance learning and campus based options. Students who successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Autism Studies will be able to apply for progression to the Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Analysis and Intervention in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, subject to meeting the other requirements for the Analysis and Intervention options (satisfactory interview, service reference and one year’s experience with people with intellectual or developmental disabilities).