Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a growing discipline with a presence in both psychology and education that improves the lives of children and adults with disabilities. We offer on-campus and online option ABA programs. Both options allow students to earn a master’s degree in special education and complete the ABA coursework necessary to apply to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
The demand for highly qualified Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) has been steadily increasing nationwide! A variety of settings and industries are competitively seeking BCBAs to fill a wide variety of positions in education, home services, clinical programs, health services and more. Our programs meet all the Behavior Analyst Certification Board coursework and supervision requirements and will qualify applicants to sit for the board exam.
- Our mission statement
Our goal is to prepare students to be competent, inclusive, ethical, and professional behavior analysts who work with persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Students coming out of our program will:
- Understand and fluently apply the principles of behavior analysis
- Have a working knowledge of current evidence-based practices for individuals with developmental disabilities
- Select or create contextually appropriate, evidence-based interventions for individuals with whom they work and critically analyze and evaluate the effects of those interventions
- Work collaboratively and openly with schools, families and other community stakeholders, always with an understanding of how culture and equity impact service delivery
- Ensure that the primary outcome of their work is to improve the quality of life for the individual and his or her family
- Core ethical principles
Beneficence. Behavior analysts have a responsibility to engage in practices that maximize their clients' well-being and avoid those that cause harm. We understand that behavior analytic services are most likely to benefit our clients when they are provided in the context of a trusting and compassionate relationship. Where conflicts of interest arise between consumers of behavior analysis, we prioritize outcomes for the most vulnerable clients.
Inclusion. Behavior analysts have a responsibility to provide individuals of all backgrounds and abilities access to and authentic participation in meaningful activities that promote relationships, a sense of community, and an improved quality of life.
Professional excellence. Behavior analysts have a responsibility to be honest and transparent. We engage in ongoing professional development and analyze our own practices. Professional excellence requires respectful and effective collaboration with individuals from other disciplines while maintaining a commitment to data-based decision-making. Analyzing evidence from different methodologies is encouraged as a way of collaborating with others and improving practice.
Self-determination. Behavior analysts respect clients’ rights and promote client dignity, privacy, and autonomy. We assist clients to set and achieve their own goals, develop their own agency, and make decisions about their own lives.
Social Justice. Behavior analysts have a responsibility to attend to injustice where they see it, avoid perpetuating inequitable systems, and advocate for equitable systems change. We are uniquely qualified to identify controlling and contextual variables that contribute to inequitable educational and service-delivery systems and develop solutions to supplant them.