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PSY 3570: Advanced Autism Practicum
What is the Advanced Autism Practicum?
The Advanced Practicum is the culmination of the Croyden Avenue School Autism Practica offered through Western Michigan University’s Psychology Program. This course is the students’ last chance to further hone their Discrete Trial and general behavior analytic skills. Similar to the lower level practica, students will spend ten hours per week in the classroom at Croyden Avenue School, and will also meet once a week for an informative seminar. This course is only available to those students who have excelled in the Basic and Intermediate Practica.
What will I do in the Advanced Autism Practicum?
As is the case in each of the Croyden Practica, you will spend ten hours per week in the classroom working with a child. We also meet once a week for a seminar, which serves two major purposes. The first is to provide the students with additional information about topics pertaining to ABA and autism in general. These topics may include things such as information about Functional Assessments and an analysis of other effective and ineffective therapies that exist, to name a few. The second main emphasis of the seminar is to help each student develop and implement an original procedure that they write for the specific child they are assigned to. This procedure will be written early in the semester, after gathering data for the majority of the semester, the students will write a paper about their experience, as well as preparing a presentation to give in front of the other Autism Practica participants and instructors.
Aside from their original procedure, each student will get the opportunity to either write a sub phase for a problematic (red dotted) procedure, or do an additional individual project, which could include things like implementing a token economy or conducting a functional assessment.
Who can take the Advanced Autism Practicum?
It takes a certain type of student to be accepted into the Advanced Practicum. The best of the best, the cream of the crop, take your pick. Each of our prospective students must have completed the Basic and Intermediate Practica with a high level of competence, and acceptance into the Advanced Program is taken on a case to case basis after reviewing prior performance. It truly is a privileged group of students, and each student strives hard to be accepted.
Why should I take the Advanced Autism Practicum?
You should take the Advanced Practicum because it’s the single most enjoyable class you will ever take. OK, even if that may not be the case for everyone, it is still a wonderful class and will give you invaluable experience that you will be able to apply later on in your studies or in your career. Everything is kicked into high gear in your last semester at Croyden, including being much more involved in the curriculum, and getting intense feedback on your implementation skills. All in all, you will leave the Advanced Practicum with a wealth of experience and knowledge that you didn’t have before, which makes it worth all the effort.
Who are we?
Senior System Manager
Abigail Ferree
Junior System Manager
Joseph Shane
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Amanda Smith
Advanced Practicum Syllabus
Responsibilities
Contact: CroydenADV@old.dickmalott.com
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