Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific discipline grounded in the principles of learning and behavior. Our program prepares future behavior analysts to support individuals with disabilities and their families across educational, home, and community settings. We offer both an on-campus and a fully online program option, each leading to a master’s degree in education that fulfills the coursework requirements needed to apply for board certification as a behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
Demand for highly trained Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) continues to grow nationwide. Schools, early intervention programs, clinical and home-based services, and health systems are actively seeking ABA professionals to support individuals with diverse learning needs. Our ABA program is recognized at level Tier 2A by the Association for Behavior Analyst International (ABAI), meeting BACB education standards and preparing graduates to sit for the BCBA exam and enter the field ready to make a meaningful impact.
- 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.