Certificate Course: Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Do you work in the social and healthcare sector and would like to expand your skills so that you can better support people with autism spectrum disorders and their families? The certificate programme ‘Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)’ is an interprofessional training programme designed to do just that.
The programme enables graduates to participate in and contribute to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, as well as to take on a counselling and case management role in the multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral care (support) of people with ASD. In this way, this continuing education both improves and expands care structures and the range of training opportunities in the field of ASD.
Contact and Advice
Why pursue continuing education in the field of ASD?
Around 130,000 people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Bavaria are facing a shortage of professionals with the relevant expertise in this field. This affects diagnosis, therapy, as well as the support, guidance and inclusion of people with ASD.
Bavaria is therefore the first federal state to have adopted a comprehensive strategy, since February 2023, to address autism in all its various forms and implications. In doing so, the Free State is improving the quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Further training for the relevant professional groups in the social and healthcare sectors is a key component of this.
Why choose Hochschule München for continuing education?
At Hochschule München, we combine up-to-date specialist knowledge with our lecturers’ many years of professional teaching experience to offer further professional development tailored specifically to working professionals. As the participants all come from the social and healthcare sectors, whilst also bringing a variety of professional backgrounds to the course, this facilitates enriching discussions and in-depth exchanges within the group.
In addition to the specialist expertise, there are other advantages to undertaking a continuing professional development programme at Hochschule München:
- You will have free access to a wide range of specialist books and textbooks (both offline and online).
- You’ll get free access to software and the wide range of courses on LinkedIn Learning.
- You can use the student travel pass for local public transport in Munich.
Course structure
The programme is designed to be studied in an career-integrated manner and can be completed whilst working full-time. During the lecture term, a monthly block of face-to-face sessions takes place in Munich (Thursday (arrival day) to Saturday (departure day)). This is supplemented by online events. Students are responsible for organising their own internship or work shadowing.
| Semester | Modules |
|---|---|
| 1st semester | Causes, early detection and diagnosis of ASD
|
Early intervention and therapy for ASD
| |
| 2nd semester | Care system and case management
|
Living with ASD
|
Modules in detail
The module on the causes, early detection and diagnosis of ASD is divided into the following two sub-modules
Definition, epidemiology, causes and early diagnosis of ASD
- Definition and classification in accordance with ICD-10/11 and DSM-V
- Appearance, developmental disorders and developmental psychopathology
- Epidemiology
- Causes and early detection of ASD
- Guidelines: what are they and how do I read them?
Diagnosis (identification), comorbidities associated with ASD; the impact of symptoms on cognitive, social and emotional development in ASD
- Overview of diagnosis, comorbidities and their impact on people with ASD
- Diagnosis, comorbidities and their effects in children and adolescents with ASD, with and without intellectual disability
- Diagnosis, comorbidities and their effects in children and adolescents with ASD, with and without intellectual disability
- Diagnosis, comorbidities and their implications for adults with ASD, with and without intellectual disability
- Classification of functioning based on the ICF (Core Set)
Upon successful completion, you will receive 5 ECTS credits for the module.
The module on early intervention and therapy for ASD is divided into the following four sub-modules
Early intervention for ASD (up to primary school age)
- Fundamentals of learning theory for understanding approaches to early intervention
- Methods and interventions for early intervention for people with ASD
Psychosocial interventions in childhood and adolescence
- Methods, interventions
- Treatment for people with ASD
Psychosocial interventions in adulthood
- Methods, interventions
- Treatment for people with ASD
Challenging behaviour in people with ASD
- Causes of challenging behaviour in people with ASD
- Prevention and treatment (educational, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions) for challenging behaviour associated with ASD; other therapies
Upon successful completion, you will receive 5 ECTS credits for the module.
The ‘Care System and Case Management’ module is divided into the following two sub-modules
Case management, interprofessional and cross-sectoral approaches to supporting people with ASD
- What does ‘multi-professionalism’ mean? What are ‘diverse perspectives’, ‘profession-specific approaches and requirements’, and how are these integrated within the framework of coordinated treatment and support planning?
- Case management, a networked approach to supporting people with ASD
Legal frameworks (such as the EU Charter, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and SGB IX) and support systems for people with ASD
- Services and support, including organised self-help
- Case-based and interdisciplinary working within the care network
- A critical examination of the effectiveness of the social and healthcare system (from a public health perspective)
- Strategies for improving care for people with ASD: an international comparison
Upon successful completion, you will receive 5 ECTS credits for the module.
The ‘Living with ASD’ module is divided into the following sections
The living conditions of people with ASD and their families
- Perspectives and case studies from people with ASD and their families
- The perspective of organised self-help
Internship / Work shadowing
- In the fields of diagnosis, counselling, early intervention, therapy and rehabilitation, and care for people with ASD
Case study
- Case studies and reflection on practical cases from work shadowing and internships with experts
Upon successful completion, you will receive 5 ECTS credits for the module.
Who teaches on this certificate programme?
Admission
To take part in the certificate course on the basics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you will need
- a successfully completed set of studies or vocational training qualification in the fields of medicine, psychotherapy, (therapeutic/special/social) education, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, art therapy, nursing or comparable professional fields within the medical, psychological, social, educational or nursing sectors.
- At least one year’s professional experience or employment in a related field following completion of a first degree or vocational training (at least 0.5 full-time equivalent).
If you have any questions regarding the admission requirements, please contact us at weiterbildung@hm.edu ; we will be happy to advise you.
Fees
The continuing professional development course ‘Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)’ is subject to a fee and costs 2,050 euros per semester, totalling 4,100 euros for the entire certificate programme.
Fee Schedule for the Advanced Professional Development University Certificate: ‘Basic Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder’ (available in German only)
Study costs are tax-deductible; further information is available on the Centre for Continuing Education’s website.
In addition, the fee for the Studentenwerk and the solidarity contribution for the Semesterticket must be paid each semester. You can find more information on this on the Student Advice Centre website.
Application
The certificate programme in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will start in the 2026/27 winter semester (October 2026).
Applications can be submitted via the PRIMUSS online portal during the application period from 2 May 2026 to 15 July 2026.
Online information session
If you would like to attend an info session, please register at ass-zertifikat@hm.edu .
The next info session will take place on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
FAQ on the basics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
With its combination of face-to-face modules and online courses during the lecture term, the programme is specifically tailored to the needs of working professionals. Similar models have also proved successful in other continuing education programmes offered by Hochschule München.
During the lecture term, block-style face-to-face sessions are usually held twice a month at Hochschule München. These block sessions typically run from Thursday to Saturday, Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday. In most cases, one block per month is held online. It would be good if you could set aside time for the face-to-face blocks and come to Munich, as these cannot be offered in a hybrid format. Furthermore, in our experience, discussions and exchanges between students and lecturers in particular make a valuable contribution to the overall learning process.
There may, of course, be occasions when it is not possible to attend a face-to-face session. We strongly recommend attending these sessions, as the interaction with fellow students and lecturers offers added value that cannot be replicated afterwards.
Should you be unable to attend, we will make the materials for preparation and follow-up available on Moodle – our learning platform.
The certificate programme in the Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) runs over two semesters. The modules take place during the following periods:
- from early October to early February (1st semester)
- from mid-March to mid-July (2nd semester)
Yes, the admission requirements for the certificate programme in the Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are first professional studies (at bachelor's degree or above) and relevant professional experience.
If you do not meet the requirement of having completed first studies leading to a professional qualification, your suitability for the profession may be assessed during an aptitude interview, provided you have completed vocational training leading to a professional qualification, so that you may be granted admission.
As a student on the career-integrated certificate programme, you have an enrolment at Hochschule München, which means you enjoy all the benefits, such as free access to a wide range of specialist and textbooks (online and offline), software and the diverse range of courses on LinkedIn Learning. In addition, there is the €29 student ticket for public transport across Germany and regional services. As a public university, we award credit points for our learning modules in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Anyone who might wish to continue their studies later can have these skills subject to academic credit transfer as part of studies.
Fees must be paid to the university at the start of each semester. You will receive a fee notice for this purpose. If your company is covering the fees and has specific invoicing requirements, we can clarify this with you in advance.
By the way: study costs are tax-deductible. You can find out more on the Centre for Continuing Education’s website
.
None. Hochschule München is a public university and neither intends nor is permitted to make a profit from the programme. The fees are used solely to cover the costs of Human Resources, premises and administration.
Contact and Advice
Bavaria’s Autism Strategy
Information from the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs on Bavaria’s autism strategy.