General Psychology, Master of Science with a Concentration in ABA (M.S.)
Information About the Master’s Degree
There are two Master’s Degrees in General Psychology: this program is for those who seek the educational requirements to pursue ABA Certification, and there is another one in Experimental Psychology which requires a thesis (more information on that program here).
Information About the ABA Concentration (Within the General Psychology M.S. Degree)
To obtain a BCBA Certification students must:
- hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree;
- have completed Board approved ABA coursework;
- have completed the required and documented supervised practical experience; and
- pass an examination administered by the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board.
The M.S. General Psychology Degree with ABA Concentration is designed for students interested in earning a Master’s degree that will provide expertise in applied behavior analysis, and allow them to work toward eligibility to sit for the BCBA Certification Exam.
The M.S. General Psychology Degree with ABA Concentration provides:
- the required Master’s degree and
- the required Board approved ABA coursework.
Students are responsible for expanding their own practical experiences in order to accumulate the required hours of supervised experience, and for scheduling and paying for the BCBA Certification Exam. Information can be found at www.bacb.com.
Admission Requirements
M.S. General Psychology: ABA Concentration
- Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5, or 2.75 in the last 60 hours
- Minimum of one research course and one statistics course
- Minimum of three additional courses in psychology or a related discipline
- GRE: If undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, then satisfactory performance on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
- Personal statement must address the following areas:
- What personal characteristics do you possess that you believe are important to the practice of applied behavior analysis? Do you possess any particular strengths that you feel will be an asset to you in graduate school? What about any personal challenges that you think might hinder your progress?
- What are your professional goals?
- Describe any experiences that have particularly prepared you for graduate study in applied behavior analysis (e.g., co-op/internships, work experiences, life experiences).
- If you feel that any portion of your application does not accurately reflect your academic skills or preparation for graduate school in psychology (e.g., GRE, GPA, etc.), please explain.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 42.0101
A total of 45 credit hours is required for candidates for the Master of Science in General Psychology, Experimental Concentration; and 42 credit hours are required for the Master of Science in General Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration. In order to complete the degree program, ABA concentration students must earn a grade of B or better in the following core courses: PSY 817, PSY 813, PSY 816, PSY 833, PSY 895, PSY 855, PSY 866, PSY 843, PSY 814, PSY 815. In order to complete the certificate program, ABA certificate students must earn a grade of B or better in the following core courses: PSY 817, PSY 813, PSY 816, PSY 833, PSY 895, PSY 855, PSY 866, PSY 843, PSY 814, PSY 815.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses in Psychological Foundations | ||
| PSY 833 | Beh Research and Measurement | 3 |
| PSY 837 | Social Psy &Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| PSY 849 | Advanced Developmental PSY | 3 |
| PSY 853 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 859 | Cog/Affect Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | ||
Experimental Concentration | ||
| Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration (Online Only) | ||
| PSY 813 | Ethics and Prof Conduct Appl B | 3 |
| PSY 814 | Basic Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 815 | Applied Research in ABA | 3 |
| PSY 816 | Philosophical Underpinning ABA | 3 |
| PSY 817 | Intro Foundations in Beh Analy | 3 |
| PSY 843 | Practicum | 3 |
| PSY 855 | Addressing Problem Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 895 | Building New Behaviors | 3 |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| PSY 866 | Adv Topics Applied Beha Analys | 3 |
| Exit Requirements | ||
| GRD 857J | MS Psy Written Comp Exam | 0 |
| GRD 858J | MS Psychology Oral Comp Exam | 0 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration (Online Only)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| PSY 817 | Intro Foundations in Beh Analy | 3 |
| PSY 813 | Ethics and Prof Conduct Appl B | 3 |
| PSY 816 | Philosophical Underpinning ABA | 3 |
| PSY 855 | Addressing Problem Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 895 | Building New Behaviors | 3 |
| PSY 814 | Basic Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 815 | Applied Research in ABA | 3 |
| PSY 843 | Practicum | 3 |
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| PSY 866 | Adv Topics Applied Beha Analys | 3 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
Exit Requirements
Students in the Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration must register for a written comprehensive examination in their area of study (GRD 857J MS Psy Written Comp Exam) (0 credit hours), and complete this examination.