Psy 4016/5016: Behavior Analysis and Autism
Fall Semester Only
This practicum course is a special service-learning opportunity on current Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) interventions for children who suffer from the challenges of autism. In this practicum, students gain substantial experience working with children in off-campus settings under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts who are engaged in the direct application of ABA and behavior therapy. This field experience involves a minimum of 7 hours per week for 12 weeks. Each week, the students participate in two 3-hour, one-on-one therapy sessions at either a home-based or center-based ABA program site, plus one 1-hour clinical review meeting at that site. Students also attend one 1.5-hour lecture/discussion session and complete weekly reading assignments. Students are introduced to the principles and methods currently employed to help young children with autism acquire functional language and appropriate social behavior, and control autistic behavior. Issues of professional ethics, social responsibility, and scientific and moral philosophy pertaining to the treatment of children with autism are also addressed. Grading is based on appropriate participation in the service-learning activities, competency evaluations at the service-learning site, and performance on a final exam. The prerequisite for the course is either Psy 4011/5011: Applied Behavior Analysis, or a comparable course or experience. Students who have prior mastery of the technical vocabulary of ABA are given preference.
prereq: Individual auto transportation, instr consent