Amplify Your Saint Mary’s Degree with a Graduate Certification in Autism Studies
By BARBARA ALLISON
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More than eight million people in the US manage autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to Michael Waddell, professor of Philosophy and director of the Autism Studies program at Saint Mary’s College. Because of its global prevalence, a graduate certificate program was created at Saint Mary’s to give students specialized training in autism studies to carry with them in whatever industry they choose. “This credential helps our students to stand out from the crowd,” Waddell said. “Having this distinctive credential positions them to go into their fields with a level of specialization in autism.”
Waddell said that while career areas like speech-language pathology, education, occupational therapy, and counseling are natural fits for specialized training in autism studies, graduates in crisis services, physician assistant studies, school psychology, behavioral therapy, and law will also benefit.
“It can even elevate a standard degree to meet high demand for specialized care in school districts, healthcare systems, and research labs,” he said.
The Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies is a 12-credit hour program —four classes—that can easily fit into an undergraduate class schedule. Because it is offered at this level, there is no additional cost to students beyond regular undergraduate tuition. The typical course sequence begins in junior year with the class “Autistic Voices”, continues with a summer online course, and concludes with two senior-year courses. “The program also features community-facing endeavors such as lectures and workshops for the benefit of autistic people and their families in the area, but also for professionals who work with people on the spectrum,” said Waddell.
The Graduate Certificate program at Saint Mary’s replaces the College’s Master’s in Autism Studies, which ended in 2020 during the pandemic.
Eleanor Sweeney ’25 earned her Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies alongside her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Currently a graduate student in clinical mental health at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisburg, Virginia, Sweeney understands the need to build community and adaptive communications since she herself manages autism spectrum disorder.
“I have my own perspective as an autistic person; and Saint Mary's made me feel seen.,” Sweeney said. “The classes opened up such a wide array of areas that autistic people experience. It helped me educate myself on intersectionality, how autism as a condition interacts with different social factors such as race and socioeconomic status.””
When Sweeney applied to graduate programs, she says her Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies distinguished her as a solid candidate. “It indicated what populations I would be interested in working with, and that I have the knowledge to engage with those populations. It showed that I have some academic understanding that I can apply to learning real-life interpersonal skills,” Sweeney said.
Saint Mary's has instilled the value of justice and the importance for seeking community, especially in those with autism spectrum disorder.
- Ava Zehnder ’27
“Autism Studies encourages you to interact with your assumptions in a manner that inspires growth,” said Ava Zehnder ’27, a senior completing her an interdisciplinary major concentrating in Autism Studies, with minors in French, environmental, and justice studies. “Autism diagnoses are increasing, so the chances of interacting with a person on the spectrum is quite high. Knowing people with autism, and having the background of autism studies, truly enables you to understand yourself, them, and society better.” Her post-grad plans are to go to law school in the fall and practice disability law upon completion of her law degree.
“I have a loved one on the spectrum, and he has inspired my desire to ensure community-building for individuals with autism spectrum disorder,” Zehnder added. “When I entered Saint Mary's, I knew that I wanted to study something I was truly passionate about. Autism studies was the perfect way for me to connect my educational experiences to personal experiences. In studying autism studies, I am able to walk away with an informed perspective and knowledge of how to destigmatize ASD, no matter what educational or professional field I intend to go into.”
“As a sibling of an adult on the spectrum and a professional who works with individuals on the spectrum every day, there are absolutely challenging aspects of autism,” said Candace Todd ’24. “However, many, if not all, of those challenges could be mitigated if the world was just a little more accepting. Todd, who earned dual master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and the former Autism Studies program, works as a speech-language pathologist at Effingham County High School, in Effingham County, Georgia, a role she’s served in for the past two years.
“When we view our role as facilitators who are helping an individual express their thoughts, emotions, and needs that are already present, not only are we inherently respecting their autonomy, but we also, in my experience, have more successful outcomes,” she said.
Todd is motivated by love. “I earned both degrees because my older sister Elizabeth is on the autism spectrum,” she said. “Growing up, I saw what a big difference her teachers and service providers made not just in her life, but in my family's life. I knew this degree was an opportunity to give me the knowledge and experience I need to do the same for other families as an SLP.”
The Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies offers autism-specific expertise beyond generalist professional training in order to strengthen graduate school applications or help job prospects stand out in a competitive landscape. More importantly, it strengthens human connections in a fraught world.
“Saint Mary's has instilled the value of justice and the importance for seeking community, especially in those with autism spectrum disorder,” Zehnder said.
November 10, 2026