Program Overview

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTISM SPECIALISTS AND TEACHERS

The demand for autism specialists and teachers working with children with autism continues to grow. It is estimated that 1 in 36 children are identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States. Now more than ever, schools and institutions need experienced individuals, particularly those with autism endorsements.

Currently ranked #3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Florida State’s online master’s program in Autism Spectrum Disorder offers an innovative new way to address the growing demand for autism specialists. With our online master’s program, professionals have an opportunity to learn more about the disorder. Furthermore, we teach our students the best practices for working with students with ASD in a variety of settings.

Perfect for working teachers, the ASD online master’s degree lets you work through the program at your own pace. Perhaps just as importantly, the program allows currently certified special education teachers to gain the autism spectrum disorders endorsement from the Florida Department of Education. The autism spectrum disorders endorsement opens up career options and increases earning potential.

In this program, you will work with experienced faculty conducting important research on pressing issues related to ASD. Under the guidance of these faculty members, you will gain the training and knowledge you need to excel at helping individuals with ASD develop and achieve lifelong success.

Learn more about some of our faculty’s research initiatives in the videos below!

 

Admission Requirements

In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, applicants must have:

  • A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
  • GRE test scores*. Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official. Graduate Record Exam (GRE): http://www.ets.org/ – FSU Institution Code: 5219.
    • Target Scores: Verbal – 146+, Quantitative – 140+
      The Educational Testing Service (ETS) does not retain scores for longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report.
    • NOTE: The GRE requirement may be waived for applicants if the applicant meets at least ONE of the following criteria:
      • Three years of professional experience as a practicing educator or equivalent field provided that the candidate can provide evidence of Effective or Highly Effective teacher evaluations, OR
      • Successful completion of six graduate credit hours from the C&I program with a graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher, OR
      • Passing score on the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or an equivalent state certification examination.

        Applicants must provide evidence to satisfy the criteria being applied; please send documentation to ste-gradcoord@fsu.edu. Approval of a GRE waiver does not guarantee admission. Prospective students must still apply and meet all other admissions requirements.
    • *NOTE: The GRE admission requirements for master's and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
  • Language proficiency test (international students only)– FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
  • Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
    • Florida State University
      Office of Graduate Admissions
      314 Westcott Building
      P.O. Box 3061410
      Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
    • Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department, program, or college determines admissibility to the degree program. University graduate admissions requirements are found at https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions. Academic programs have additional requirements.
    • Florida State University requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements for graduate admission.

Applicants must upload the following REQUIRED supporting documents to the Admissions Application Portal:

  • Statement of purpose (at least one page) – should describe your purpose for pursuing a degree, qualifications and long-term career goals.
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • One page resume/curriculum vitae
  • Writing Sample – it is acceptable to submit a paper used in another class or one that was published.
Application Deadlines

Fall: July 1

How to Apply

Apply Now

Apply Now- International Students

Tuition & Aid

Information about tuition and fees at Florida State is available here. Please note that you may incur costs associated with the purchase of books/materials for courses. Students are required to purchase access to a Student Learning and Licensure (SLL) Platform.

You can learn more about the scholarship and aid opportunities for Anne's College students here.

The Florida Department of Education offers tuition support for exceptional student education teachers who are taking courses towards an endorsement in autism. The program provides up to $1400 per course for tuition support through annual funding from the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B. To apply, students will submit the completed Application, Verification of Employment form signed by your current school administrator, and the Service Obligation Agreement to the FL DOE Project Director. Upon notification of acceptance, students will coordinate with the ESE Student Support and the Registrar’s office to ensure tuition is paid per the University timelines. 

Upon completion of the program, recipients must agree to teach children identified as having autism in a Florida public school for a minimum of one year for every six hours of tuition support received and add the appropriate endorsement to their professional certificate. 
Additional program information can be viewed at http://florida-ese.org/tuition-support.

Contact(s)
Our Faculty

Click here to learn more about our Special Education faculty!