330.700.01
Public Health Approaches in Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Location
East Baltimore
Term
3rd Term
Department
Mental Health
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
In-person
M, W, 10:30 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
Enrollment Restriction
This course is not restricted.
The course should be of use to anyone interested in a broad overview of autism epidemiological and etiological research and the methods employed, including public health professionals and those who must translate research findings in the clinical or educational setting. Thus, targeted audiences include students, academic faculty, public health, clinical, educational and programmatic professionals interested in autism.
Examines public health perspectives on autism and a range of developmental disabilities. Introduces and examines the epidemiology, etiology, and phenotypic presentations of each condition, with attention to both genetic and environmental contributors. Investigates broader public health themes such as early detection, global health initiatives, and health services and policy. Through an integrated lens, students develop a foundational understanding of how public health frameworks can improve outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities across the life course.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the history, diagnostic criteria, and core features of autism and other developmental disabilities.
- Discuss commonly used measures and assessments for autism and related developmental conditions, and critically evaluate evidence supporting competing explanations for the rise in prevalence of autism.
- Assess the strength of current evidence on demographic, environmental, and social determinants that influence risk for autism and developmental disabilities.
- Identify promising avenues in genetic research on developmental disabilities and articulate key challenges related to interpretation, equity, and translational application.
- Summarize the status of global public health efforts related to developmental disabilities, highlighting barriers to detection, access to care, and service delivery in low-resource settings.
- Analyze how early detection efforts, health systems, and public health policy intersect with service provision and health outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
- Identify and apply public health research and practice approaches—such as surveillance, prevention, intervention, and systems-level strategies—to the context of developmental disabilities.
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 30% Participation
- 30% Presentation(s)
- 40% Final Exam
This is the onsite section of a course also held virtually/online. You are responsible for the modality in which you register.