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FSU College Of Education Offers Autism Education Courses

A teacher reads to her student.
U.S. Department of Education
/
flickr

Florida State University will be offering new classes and degree programs focused on autism.  

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people diagnosed with autism has gone up to one in 59--a 15 percent increase from two years ago. Jenny Root is an associate professor in the College of Education.

“I think that autism is definitely on the mind of the public as a whole because it seems like everyone knows someone with autism--a neighbor, a family member, another child in their child’s classroom," Root said. "So definitely the increased number of individuals diagnosed with autism warrants an increased number of professionals and community members able to support them and include them in the community.”

FSU is offering three new autism-focused options: a face-to-face master’s program, a graduate certificate and an online master’s program. Classes will start this fall.

Casey Chapter is a graduate student at Florida State University studying Public Interest Media & Communication. She got her start in journalism at the FSView & Florida Flambeau, where she served as a reporter, News Editor, and eventually Managing Editor. She has previously reported on COVID-19 and K-12 education for the Tallahassee Democrat, and currently serves as the Managing Editor of the Florida Student News Watch, a journalism program that aims to get students and recent graduates' work published with a focus on environmental reporting.