The Curriculum
This graduate certificate program is delivered in six courses of three credits each. Through these courses, participating educators, counselors, and consultants will gain the knowledge, concepts, and skills to plan, implement, and assess applied behavioral analysis programs for qualified children and adults. Advanced ABA coursework is available as part of a master’s program for those who have completed this BCBA-approved course sequence.
The first course offers a comprehensive view of the philosophical assumptions and basic principles of behavior analysis. The second and third courses draw from the relevant professional literature to teach the planning, assessment, and implementation of function-based treatments to decrease challenging behaviors, increase adaptive behaviors, and develop new academic and social skills. The fourth course leads students to critically examine and analyze the research in the field as they prepare to select intervention models for the children and adults they serve. The fifth course focuses upon the application of the skills, knowledge, and concepts to the organization itself, such as supervising staff, evaluating programs and personnel, training staff and parents to implement programs, and consulting with schools, adult residents and work programs, and home-based programs. During the fifth course, participants will have the opportunity to learn the leadership, problem solving, and communication skills that are helpful when working with others, such as parents and general educators, across settings. The sixth and final course provides students with the ethical considerations and professional behaviors related to the first five course content areas.
Students will receive guided practice with each course’s content by developing a case study, which may be course-specific or continue across several courses. Successful completion of all courses will meet the education requirement to sit for the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) licensing examination.
Admission Requirements
Please see the general statement of admission requirements for all graduate studies programs in the “Admissions ” section of this publication. Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education, psychology, or a related field that is approved by the program coordinator.
