Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Behavior Analysis

ABA 521 Introduction to ASD (elective)/another ABA elective

This course is designed to provide an overview of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and related disabilities and examines empirical literature regarding treatments in both home and community. Students learn about the prevalence of ASD and related disabilities as well as diagnosis, assessment, and empirically validated treatments. Students are taught to identify skill deficits and behavioral challenges often exhibited by individuals diagnosed with ASD and related disabilities and understand the difficulties when programming treatments in the community and home. The course also presents non-empirically validated treatments as well as the ethical implications associated with selecting treatments for individuals diagnosed with ASD or related disabilities.

ABA 601 Concepts and Principles I: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis

This is the first course in a series of two courses (ABA 601 and ABA 602) and is designed to introduce students to applied behavior analysis (ABA). In this course, students will be given an overview of the assumptions, characteristics, and goals of applied behavior analysis. Students will learn the basic concepts and principles of behavior analysis as related to behaviors of social importance; therefore, the primary readings, lectures, and assignments of this course will focus on the applied literature in behavior analysis. Students begin to learn how to apply behavior-analytic procedures to change behavior and improve conditions for individuals in need and learn to articulate the science of learning and behavior in both scientific and layman’s terms.

ABA 602 Concepts and Principles II

In Concepts and Principles I, students explored the basic concepts and principles as they related to behaviors of social significance. In Concepts and Principles II, students examine the basic literature to learn the origin of the concepts and principles of behavior analysis and hence develop a more thorough understanding of the fundamental building blocks of behavior analysis. Students primarily review basic experimental studies but are required to apply the concepts and principles examined in the basic literature to applied problems.

ABA 604 Treatment Evaluation

In this course, students are introduced to the methods needed to evaluate the effectiveness of a variety of interventions. Students learn to develop reliable procedures for measuring behavior using both continuous and discontinuous measurement systems, effective methods to display data, and develop skills to analyze the visual representation of behavior change in a variety of graphic displays. This course places a particular emphasis on the use of single-subject designs, which include the reversal, alternating treatment/multi-element, multiple baseline, changing criterion, and concurrent chains arrangement. By the end of this course, students will be able to select an appropriate measurement system, calculate reliability measures, identify the most appropriate experimental design(s), and determine whether functional control was achieved.

 ABA 606 Behavioral Assessment

This course is designed to teach students the major concepts, methods, and ethical issues related to behavioral assessment. Students are taught to select and operationally define target behaviors for change, identify methods to assess behavior using behavioral assessments (e.g., indirect assessments, descriptive assessments, functional analyses, skill assessments), and align assessment outcomes with appropriate strategies that are designed to address areas of weakness while utilizing best practices in the field of applied behavior analysis. Considerations for designing function-based interventions and preparing for undesired side effects are also discussed.

ABA 608 Behavior Intervention

This course is designed to prepare students to identify, implement, and maintain effective behavioral interventions in applied settings. Students are taught to design evidence-based intervention strategies that reduce inappropriate behaviors and increase an individual's performance both academically and socially. Emphasis is placed on approaches that facilitate maintenance and generalization across settings. Students are also taught to design a comprehensive plan to train and supervise the implementation of behavioral interventions.

ABA 610 Ethical Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis

In this course, students are presented with a focused review of the ethical, legal, and professional issues related to the field of applied behavior analysis. Students thoroughly examine the ethical principles adopted by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) to guide professional practice. Students will critically evaluate ethical scenarios and identify acceptable action given a particular situation.

ABA 612 Verbal Behavior

In this course, students develop a thorough understanding of Skinner's approach to verbal behavior and contrast Skinner's approach with more traditional approaches. The primary readings are from Verbal Behavior written by B. F. Skinner; however, students also critically review commentaries on Skinner's approach and recent research in verbal behavior.

ABA 614 Radical Behaviorism

Students are taught to differentiate between methodological behaviorism, teleological behaviorism, and radical behaviorism. The primary focus of this course is radical behaviorism and topics include determinism, private events, problem-solving, rule-governed behavior, and culture and society. Students apply the philosophy of radical behaviorism to a variety of complex and socially important behaviors. The readings primarily include Skinner's articles on radical behaviorism, commentaries on Skinner's approach, and Skinner's response to commentaries.

ABA 616 Training and Supervision

This course prepares students to be effective supervisors. In this course, students will be given an overview of evidence-based practices for training and supervision. Students will learn how to use behavior analytic supervision methodologies and the potential risks of ineffective supervision. Students will demonstrate how to establish clear performance expectations, select supervision goals, and use performance monitoring, feedback, and reinforcement systems. Students will incorporate function-based strategies to improve personnel performance and effective training procedures for teaching assessment and intervention techniques.

ABA 672 Fieldwork I (1 credit hour)

ABA 672 is the first course in the course fieldwork series. This course is required in the MS in ABA course sequence. The fieldwork series is designed so that students will obtain a substantial portion of their experience and supervision hours required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination in a structured and carefully curated manner while enrolled in the MS in ABA program. Students work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately 20 hours per week, in which the implementation of behavior-analytic principles are evidenced. No more than 40% of the total hours can consist of restricted activities. Students engage in a variety of activities outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Each week, students attend a 1.0 hour on-campus group supervision meeting and receive at least one hour of individual supervision from a BCBA® at their approved fieldwork site. Students work with multiple clients who are appropriate for behavior analysis services as outlined by the BACB®.

ABA 673 Fieldwork II (2 credit hours)

ABA 673 is the second course in the course fieldwork series. This course is required in the MS in ABA course sequence. The fieldwork series is designed so that students will obtain a substantial portion of their experience and supervision hours required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination in a structured and carefully curated manner while enrolled in the MS in ABA program. Students work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately 20 hours per week, in which the implementation of behavior-analytic principles are evidenced. No more than 40% of the total hours can consist of restricted activities. Students engage in a variety of activities outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Each week, students attend a 1.0 hour on-campus group supervision meeting and receive at least one hour of individual supervision from a BCBA® at their approved fieldwork site. Students work with multiple clients who are appropriate for behavior analysis services as outlined by the BACB®.

ABA 674 Fieldwork III (2 credit hours)

ABA 674 is the third course in the fieldwork series. This course is required in the MS in ABA course sequence. The fieldwork series is designed so that students will obtain a substantial portion of their experience and supervision hours required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination in a structured and carefully curated manner while enrolled in the MS in ABA program. Students work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately 20 hours per week, in which the implementation of behavior-analytic principles are evidenced. No more than 40% of the total hours can consist of restricted activities. Students engage in a variety of activities outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Each week, students attend a 1.0 hour on-campus group supervision meeting and receive at least one hour of individual supervision from a BCBA® at their approved fieldwork site. Students work with multiple clients who are appropriate for behavior analysis services as outlined by the BACB®.

ABA 675 Fieldwork Continuation I (optional) (1 credit hour)

ABA 675 is a 1-credit course in the course fieldwork series. This course is optional for the MS in ABA course sequence. The fieldwork series is designed so that students will obtain a substantial portion of their experience and supervision hours required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination in a structured and carefully curated manner while enrolled in the MS in ABA program. Students work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately 20 hours per week, in which the implementation of behavior-analytic principles are evidenced. No more than 40% of the total hours can consist of direct implementation of behavioral programs. Students engage in a variety of activities outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Each week, students attend a 1.0 hour on-campus group supervision meeting and receive at least one hour of individual supervision from a BCBA® at their approved fieldwork site. Students work with multiple clients who are appropriate for behavior analysis services as outlined by the BACB®.

ABA 676 Fieldwork Continuation II (optional) (1 credit hour)

ABA 676 is a 1-credit course in the course practicum series. This course is optional for the MS in ABA course sequence. The practicum series is designed so that students will obtain a substantial portion of their experience and supervision hours required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination in a structured and carefully curated manner while enrolled in the MS in ABA program. Students work in a supervised clinical setting for approximately 20 hours per week, in which the implementation of behavior-analytic principles are evidenced. No more than 40% of the total hours can consist of restricted activities. Students engage in a variety of activities outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Each week, students attend a 1.0 hour on-campus group supervision meeting and receive at least one hour of individual supervision from a BCBA® at their approved practicum site. Students work with multiple clients who are appropriate for behavior analysis services as outlined by the BACB®.

ABA 678 Thesis Research I (2 credit hours)

The thesis is typically completed across three semesters and requires students to examine, conduct research, analyze, and share results in the form of a written thesis and presentation. Students work closely with their advisor during individual and group meetings. In the first semester of thesis, students will identify their research question, select committee members, conduct a thesis proposal, write the introduction, identify the methodology to scientifically answer their research question, and obtain thesis committee and institutional review board (IRB) approval. In the end of the second semester or beginning of the third semester of thesis, students will carry out their study, finalize the manuscript, and present their findings to their committee members.

ABA 626 Thesis Research II (2 credit hours)

The thesis is typically completed across three semesters and requires students to examine, conduct research, analyze, and share results in the form of a written thesis and presentation. Students work closely with their advisor during individual and group meetings. In the first and second semester of thesis, students will identify their research question, select committee members, conduct a literature review, write the introduction, identify the methodology to scientifically answer their research question, and obtain thesis committee and institutional review board (IRB) approval. In the end of the second semester or beginning of the third semester of thesis, students will carry out their study, finalize the manuscript, and present their findings to their committee members.

ABA 627 Thesis Research III (1 credit hour)

The thesis is typically completed across three semesters and requires students to examine, conduct research, analyze, and share results in the form of a written thesis and presentation. Students work closely with their advisor during individual and group meetings. In the first and second semester of thesis, students will identify their research question, select committee members, conduct a literature review, write the introduction, identify the methodology to scientifically answer their research question, and obtain thesis committee and institutional review board (IRB) approval. In the end of the second semester or beginning of the third semester of thesis, students will carry out their study, finalize the manuscript, and present their findings to their committee members.