Make an impact. Change lives.
Applied behavior analysts forge connections and make a profound difference in the lives of families and individuals from all backgrounds across the lifespan. Approaching each client as an individual with unique needs, they analyze behavior and create effective treatment plans that help overcome challenges
With your Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate from Regis College, you can prepare for a rewarding career where you effect positive change and make an impact that lasts a lifetime.
Overview
Qualify for the BCBA® exam
At Regis, we’re focused on helping you get the best outcomes possible through education. So we designed our Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate to help you qualify to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) certification exam.
Preparation includes coursework that adheres to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) standards and an opportunity to participate in the required 1,500–2,000 hours of supervised field work (required for BCBA® licensure).
Overview
Experts are in demand
The need for qualified, skilled applied behavior analysists is on the rise. According to the BACB, demand for applied behavior analysts has risen dramatically since 2010—with fewer than 1,000 job openings posted that year, compared with more than 57,000 posted by 2022.
The future is bright for people who choose to pursue a career in applied behavior analysis, and our detailed curriculum will help you prepare for success in this rewarding career.
Overview
Rewarding work begins here
At Regis, we practice social justice, and we value our ability to make the world a better place. One way we do so is through the Regis Autism Center, which works in collaboration with the Regis Children’s Center, where we work to help children learn the necessary skills to be successful in school.
Our mission is to use evidence-based education and individualized attention to help children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder build the life, social, and pre-academic skills to thrive.
Overview
Why choose Regis College?
- Study at a booming institution ranked among the top 25 fastest-growing colleges by The Business Journals.
- Apply with no GRE required.
- Prepare to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) certification exam.
- Earn an education from an institution regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
- Get a mix of applied behavior analyst theory and real-world practice, and graduate in as few as 12 months.
- See if you qualify for a 10%–15% tuition discount and application fee waiver.
Skills for your future
Our online Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate is a post-master's certificate for learners who previously earned a graduate-level degree in another subject and hope to bridge their knowledge to pursue a career in applied behavior analysis.
This seven-course certificate can be completed in as few as 12 months, so you can develop the knowledge and practical skills to begin impacting your clients’ lives as quickly as possible.
Certificate Details
Dynamic and relevant courses
The online Applied Behavior Analysis Post-Master's Certificate is directly focused on outcomes. For a field like applied behavior analysis, that means getting you certified and career-ready.
Our program’s content and quality have been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), and the curriculum comprises a course sequence designed for professionals who wish to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®).
Certificate Details
An immersive education
At Regis, we understand that real learning happens through studying and doing. Our online Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate is an immersive experience where you’ll have the opportunity to learn, hands-on, from a faculty of experienced applied behavior analysts and practitioners who are committed to your success.
With their experience as a guide, you’ll dive into the subjects and topics most relevant and crucial to your future as a well-qualified practitioner—and a leader in the field.
Certificate Details
Learn what you need to know
Our curriculum is streamlined, so you can build your foundations and expand your understanding of applied behavior analysis over the course of just three semesters (as little as one year). In addition to preparing for board certification, you’ll have the opportunity to study field-crucial topics in subjects like:
- ABA foundations
- Behavior assessment and intervention
- Ethical practice
- Experimental analysis and design
- Treatment evaluation
Certificate Details
Get real-world experience
The BCBA® licensure requires you to have between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of supervised independent fieldwork. Our curriculum gives you the flexibility to earn those hours as you work toward completing the requirements for your Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate.
Beyond required coursework, you may elect to participate in a six-credit practicum designed to help you get real-world experience and satisfy the BCBA® licensure requirements.
Certificate Details
Work in an array of settings
Applied behavior analysts have the opportunity to affect lives across populations and backgrounds at the individual and family level through work across a variety of settings. As you explore your career in this field, you can expect to find positions in settings like:
- Childcare facilities
- Colleges and universities
- Hospitals, clinics, and treatment centers
- Nursing homes
- Primary and secondary schools
A curriculum designed for impact
We built our online Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate to give learners with a relevant background a streamlined pathway toward beginning their practice in applied behavior analysis. This program comprises seven online courses (21 credit hours) that provide instruction on a diversity of topics, including foundational concepts, experimental analysis, treatment, ethics, behavioral assessment, intervention, and training and supervision.
The curriculum is set up to help you become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®). If you choose to pursue further education in the field, all coursework you complete can be applied toward a future Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Note: In addition to required coursework, you may also elect to participate in ABA 646 Practicum I and ABA 648 Practicum II, which can help you complete the 1,500–2,000 hours of supervised independent fieldwork to satisfy licensure requirements.
ABA 640 Concepts and Principles I: Intro to ABA
This course is the first course in a series of two courses (ABA 640 and ABA 642) 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 terms.
ABA 642 Concepts and Principles II: Experimental Analysis of Behavior
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 644 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 652 Behavior 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 654 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 656 Ethical Practice in ABA
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 662 ABA Training and Supervision
This course prepares students to be effective supervisors. During 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.
Here are the requirements to be eligible for the Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate:
- Personal statement
- Graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, Education, or Psychology*
- Minimum GPA 2.75 (3.0 GPA preferred)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from graduate degree
- Program director may request an interview
* Note: Applicants with any master’s degree other than those listed must provide written confirmation from the BACB that their degree will be considered acceptable.
About Regis College
For more than 95 years, Regis College has supported learners in their journey to realize their full potential, reach their personal and professional goals, and become forces of good in the world. It’s our mission to help empower people to challenge themselves as they prepare to serve and lead through education.
With our focus on student success and our commitment to social justice and service, we help students in the greater Boston area and around the globe achieve more and go further.
College Details
Diverse learning opportunities
Regis College is a coed university 12 miles west of Boston in Weston, Mass., founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.
With more than 3,200 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students enrolled on campus and in fully online graduate programs, Regis provides an academically rigorous education within the schools of nursing, arts and sciences, business and communication, and health sciences.
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Degrees built for impact
The School of Health Sciences at Regis helps today’s compassionate and empathetic learners channel their passion for service into impactful careers as tomorrow’s health care, wellness, and fitness leaders. Here, students who want to pursue meaningful work and make a true and lasting difference study topics like medical imaging, public health, social work, sport management, and occupational therapy.
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Via Veritas Vita
Our motto, Via Veritas Vita, translates to “the way and the truth and the light.” These words drive our mission of empowering learners through knowledge to live meaningful lives and contribute to our global society.
Today, Regis boasts an alumni network more than 20,000 strong. This supportive, tight-knit community has a history of professional success in the job market: 97% of our graduates find full-time work or pursue further education within six months of graduation.
Dr. Laura Burke, MPH
Dr. Laura Burke is the dean for Regis College’s School of Health Sciences, bringing a strong background in public health and epidemiology to her educational style. She understands the value of practical work and research, and she is committed to connecting Regis students with real-world research and learning opportunities.She holds a BA in English and a Master of Public Health, as well as a Doctor of Science from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Meet your instructors
Dr. Jillian Wilson, BCBA-D
Dr. Jillian Wilson is an assistant professor and program director for the online ABA program. She has a wealth of practical experience, particularly in the areas of pediatric feeding disorders and severe behavior disorders. One of her primary professional interests is creating treatment programs that treat problem behavior and that can be maintained at home and in the community through parental training. She holds a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University.
Meet your instructors
Dr. Jacquelyn MacDonald, BCBA-D
Dr. Jacquelyn MacDonald is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst-D® with over 16 years' experience in behavior analysis, across a variety of settings including grade schools, preschools, in-home, after-school programs, residential homes, and day programs with individuals diagnosed with disabilities. She is currently the director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis Program at Regis College and the co-director of the Regis Autism Center. Her training was at The New England Center for Children and before Regis, Dr. MacDonald was an adjunct faculty member at Simmons College and UMass Boston.