Overview of the Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S. Program
The Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S. program prepares students to meet the coursework requirements to sit for the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Professionals with certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are highly sought after in many fields, including education, special education, and business. This program prepares students to take and pass the BCBA exam and to use ABA in applied settings, such as with individuals with or without disabilities in educational or therapeutic environments. The ABA courses will be particularly relevant for special educators, school psychologists, and other educational professionals. Verified Course Sequence (VCS) first-time pass rate data for the BCBA exam can be found on the Board Certified Behavior Analyst website. Please note that pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation.
Mission
Southern's ABA Program mission is to encourage the development of ethical researcher-practitioners who will use ABA to support their varied clients, consumers, employers, and communities in achieving their valued outcomes.
- Develop expertise in the fundamental principles and methods at the core of ABA
- Establish a foundation of ethical practice consistent with the field of ABA
- Apply the principles, methods, and ethics of the field to address real-world needs
- Use the methods of ABA to identify functional relations across individual experiences and support valued change as established by a “client” and their community
- Design a variety of assessment, intervention, training, and supervision programs to address a variety of circumstances
- Develop skills to contact, interpret, and use information found in behavior analytic research to address real-world needs
| Semester 1 Fall | Semester 2 Spring |
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| Semester 3 – Summer | Semester 4 - Fall |
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| Semester 5 - Spring | Semester 6 - Summer |
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Format: Hybrid
Time to complete: 2 years (6 semesters)
Credits: 39
Southern also offers additional programs in Applied Behavior Analysis, including a Sixth-Year Diploma Program and a Certificate Program.
The ABA Master’s Program includes experiential learning (EL) courses across three semesters (three, 1-credit courses) that are designed to support meaningful connections of ABA content in real-world settings. The experiential learning process is designed to apply to many settings, so students working in a variety of positions may be able to complete the experiential learning activities at their place of employment. For students not currently working in a related field, Southern will support students in finding potential EL sites, but students are responsible for establishing their own placement. Please see the program handbook for additional details.
Each student will need to complete a Capstone Experience (CE) as part of their Master’s Program in ABA. The CE is aligned with requirements for the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and focuses on developing a novel project that combines prior research in the field of ABA with follow-up questions and analysis. The CE takes place with a capstone advisor and capstone committee and includes a proposal, project completion, and a written document, including findings. The CE takes place over three semesters at the end of the student’s program.
Timelines: Applications are currently reviewed on an ongoing basis for fall and spring cohorts that start in fall and spring semesters, respectively. If a given cohort is full, applicants will be given the option to defer their application to the next semester whenever possible.
Requirements: Application requirements can be found in the online application portal at SouthernCT.edu.
- Tuition and fees information can be found on the SouthernCT.edu website by searching “tuition” in the search bar
- Information on financial aid can be found on the SouthernCT.edu website by navigating to the financial aid office page or searching “financial aid” in the search bar
- Other expenses for the program include books and a subscription to Behavior Development Solutions (BDS) CBA Learning Modules Series (BDS Modules). The BDS modules will be used throughout the program to support acquisition and fluency with essential principles and content.
Professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis are currently certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) through several certification programs, including certification at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Southern’s Master’s program in ABA is designed to align with the requirements established by the BACB, which can be found at their website, BACB.com.
Careers
Professionals with certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are highly sought after in many fields, including education, special education, methal health, and business.
Typical Job Titles
- Typical Job Titles
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
- Applied Behavior Analyst
- Behavior Specialist
- Behavior Interventionist
- Autism Specialist
- Behavioral Health Consultant
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Behavioral Consultant
- Behavior Program Coordinator
- Developmental Specialist
School / College
College of Education
Department
Inclusive Education and Behavior Science
Contact
Dr. Judy Terpstra