Applied Behavior Analysis

Offered by the Department of Psychology, this program is a full-time, scientifically based, two-year program that meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board fourth edition task list for course work with more than 270 classroom hours and 1,500 hours of practicum fieldwork. Successful graduates will be able to sit for BACB certification and, once certified, they will be eligible for state-licensure. The program's learning outcomes include mastery across three major areas as identified by the BACB:

• basic behavior-analytic skills
• client-centered responsibilities
• foundational knowledge

Applied behavior analysis training in the Department of Psychology at ASU includes supervised experience and instruction in:

• behavior analytic attitudes such as determinism, empiricism and parsimony
• fundamental elements of behavior change and behavior change procedures
• identification, assessments and interventions for behavioral excesses, deficiencies and challenging behavior
• professional ethics and conduct of ABA
• training others in the science and practice of ABA
• use of different behavioral measurement types and systems
• use of experimental designs to determine relationships among and between measurement, relevant variables and behavior

42 Credit hours including the required applied project course (PSB 593)

Core Courses: (24)

• PSB 501 Basic Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) (3)
• PSB 510 Basic Principles of Experimental Analysis of Behavior (2)
• PSB 511 Advanced Research Methods (2)
• PSB 520 Ethical Issues and Professional Standards in ABA (3)
• PSB 530 Behavioral Observation and Functional Assessment (3)
• PSB 540 Development of Applied Behavioral Intervention Programs (3)
• PSB 563 Basic Principles of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) (2)
• PSB 573 Advanced Principles of Learning and Analysis of Behavior (3)
• PSB 578 Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disorders (3)

Elective or Research Courses: (4)

• PSB 591 Seminar (2)
• PSB 598 Special Topics (elective) (2)

Culminating Experience: (5)

• PSB 593 Applied Project (5)

Other Requirements: (9)

• PSB 580 Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (4)
• PSB 583 Fieldwork: Applied Behavior Analysis (5)

In addition to submitting an online graduate admission application, prospective students must also must provide documentation that meets the following requirements:

1. bachelor's degree in psychology, human development, sociology or a closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or an equivalent degree from a recognized international postsecondary institution
2. a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 credit hours of the student's bachelor's degree program
3. proof of English language proficiency*
4. official transcripts from each college or university attended
5. GRE scores
6. statement of purpose describing professional and academic aspirations
7. a current resume or curriculum vitae and at least two letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a tenure-track faculty member associated with the applicant's most recent degree program**

*An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.

**If the applicant's graduation year is greater than five years from the application date, then a letter from a recent or current employer may be substituted. For example, if the applicant received a bachelor's degree in 2006 and was applying in 2014 then a letter from an employer may be used instead of a letter from a faculty member. No more than four letters of recommendation may be submitted.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Division of Graduate Education and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Scholarships

Financial assistance for graduate study is available through several Federal loan options including Perkins; Stafford; and the Federal Direct Plus Loan program for graduate and professional students. Noted above, graduate students enrolled in the master's program may earn a small stipend related to their practicum training hours.

Opportunities for additional funding are also offered by the Department of Psychology as awards in recognition of excellence and exceptional scholarship. These awards include one $1,500 scholarship each year to an outstanding rising second year student and up to three awards of $1,000 each for the most outstanding capstone projects.