Delivered Fully Online
- Though you will attend online, courses are practical and require that you be able
to work with a student with autism/significant support needs to complete your coursework.
- You will take one course each term, allowing you to focus on each topic in depth.
- Students and professors will occasionally interact online synchronously (at the same
time) via webcam in some certificate courses.
Coursework (12 Credit Hours)
For an example of upcoming courses, visit the Current Students page for this program.
For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Admission Requirements
Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally
accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent
degree earned or current degree in progress.
If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission
will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your
official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first
semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements
as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain
enrolled at UNC.
If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's
degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
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The School of Special Education will evaluate all eligible applicants to determine
entry into the Teaching Students with Autism Graduate Certificate program. Those with
a bachelor's degree in an education, therapeutic or speech-related area—or those who
work with children with autism spectrum disorders—will receive strong consideration.
Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.
Eligibility by State
At this time, the University of Northern Colorado can provide postsecondary distance
education in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all major U.S. territories.
We are continuing to monitor requirements in all U.S. jurisdictions and seek clarification
from government agencies when needed. If you have questions about whether UNC can
offer distance education where you are located, please contact us and we will gladly
assist you.
Certain distance education activities that occur outside of Colorado may have additional
state approval processes or requirements. This most commonly occurs for experiential
learning placement activities such as practica, internships, student teaching, and
healthcare clinicals. Please review the State Authorization (SARA) page for additional information on UNC’s ability to offer distance education across state
lines and a list of activities and states where approval may be required. For additional
information or questions, please contact jake.henderson@unco.edu.
International Student Eligibility
International students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply
to our online programs. Applicants for online programs must demonstrate English proficiency,
or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.
Students in completely online UNC programs are not required to come to the United
States. You will not need a student visa or receive any immigration documentation,
and do not need to provide financial documentation.
Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements and applying as an international
student.
Certificate Program Transfer Credit Policy
Our graduate certificate programs feature highly specialized learning outcomes determined
by our expert faculty. Therefore, to ensure that certificate graduates attain this
specialized knowledge, students will need to complete all certificate coursework directly
from this UNC program.
Tuition
This is an Extended Campus program, which means:
- We charge a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state).
- There are no added student fees or technology fees. However, certain courses may carry
specific course fees to support additional services and materials.
Program tuition for the 2024-25 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer
terms) is $636 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2025-26 academic year will be determined
mid-June 2025.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC
follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop
an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications.
For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition
information above. But UNC's official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while
completing your program.
Financial Aid
Certificate program students (non-degree seeking) are not eligible for aid through
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your program coordinator may
be aware of your eligibility for any discipline or campus-based aid if available.
For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid: ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862 or via the UNC Financial Aid website.
Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid
at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish and Braille.
