Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Learn more about the Master of Science in Education in Applied Behavior Analysis.

About the Program

The Master of Science in Education program in Applied Behavior Analysis trains students to apply the principles of learning and behavior to influence behavior change that is significant to society. Students learn how to systematically change behavior by analyzing related environmental variables and applying interventions based on the principles of behavior science. Behavior analysts have improved a wide range of everyday issues, including enhancing staff performance, improving public safety initiatives, teaching effective parenting skills, treating problem behavior in children, improving general and special education teaching strategies, rehabilitating individuals who abuse substances, and more. This program fulfills the degree and coursework requirements and partially fulfills the supervised experience requirement for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) credential.

Graduates of the Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd program help fill the growing demand for individuals with applied behavior analytic training in social service agencies and educational institutions, particularly in service of individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Applied Behavior Analysis graduate degree also prepares educators, clinicians and other helping professionals to understand and implement interventions to address skill deficits and performance issues or problem behavior. Graduates of the program have a diverse set of skills, including the ability to analyze environmental variables affecting behavior, create individualized interventions, and assess the effectiveness of interventions to inform data-based decisions on modification and continuation.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 5 years

Campus Location: Main campus with option to take some courses in virtual format.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Students complete the degree program through classes offered on campus in the evenings and some offered virtually during the day. The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: The interdisciplinary Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd program blends courses in education and psychology. Courses are taught by faculty with top academic credentials and experience as practitioners.

Accreditation: The Association for Behavior Analysis International® (ABAI) has verified the seven-course sequence of this MSEd's requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants need to, however, meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

Job Prospects: Graduates are prepared for professional careers in a variety of environments, particularly in social service agencies and educational institutions.

Licensure/Certification: Coursework may apply toward earning the Behavior Specialist license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing non-matriculated courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.

Financing Opportunities: Financial support opportunities may include scholarships, tuition remission, and other financial aid such as grants, loans and federal work study.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1

Applicants should submit all required admissions documents by the application deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and financial support.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. References from college/university faculty are recommended.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.

Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.

International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.

Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, outline your interest in seeking a master's degree with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.

Standardized Test Scores: Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 79
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 53

Resume: Current resume required.

Interview: An interview with the faculty admissions committee may be required after a complete application is received.

Credits Earned in a Certificate Program: Students who choose to enroll in the MSEd program may have up to 12 credits earned for either the Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate or Autism Endorsement Graduate Certificate applied to the MSEd upon acceptance into the program. Completion of a certificate program does not guarantee admission into the master's program, and students who are accepted may have to complete more than 33 credits to meet all requirements for the master's program. Students currently enrolled in a certificate program and considering matriculation into a master's program are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Clearances: All admitted students must submit copies of the required Pennsylvania criminal background check, FBI criminal history, Child Abuse check, and TB test to the College of Education and Human Development's Office of Field Placement prior to enrolling in their first term. These clearances are required by law prior to entering pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to complete field experience requirements, starting with the first term and continuing throughout the program.

Pennsylvania clearances are not required for application completion. All new students who possess required Pennsylvania clearances more than one year old must submit updated clearances to the Office of Field Placement. Please note that obtaining these clearances may take up to six weeks. For instructions, please visit the Office of Field Placement's website at https://education.temple.edu/ofp/clearances.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 36

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
ABA 5302	Effective Teaching Strategies and Academic Interventions	3
ABA 5303	Ethical and Legal Issues	3
ABA 5304	Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis	3
ABA 5305	Single Subject Research Design	3
ABA 5306	Organizational Behavior Management - OBM	3
or PSY 8610	Topical Seminar in Organizational-Social
ABA 5307	Experimental Analysis of Behavior - EAB	3
ABA 5676	Applied Behavior Analysis	3
ABA 8787	Seminar on Verbal Behavior	3
Practica
ABA 9387	Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis ¹	6
Culminating Project
ABA 9991	Applied Research Experience ²	6
Total Credit Hours		36

¹: Students are required to take two 150-hour practica for 3 credits each: ABA 9387 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis. Acceptable practicum sites are those engaged in applied behavior analysis practice/research with the ability to provide ongoing supervision to students in the discipline. A list of approved sites is available, although other sites can be approved by the program.
²: ABA 9991 Applied Research Experience (3 s.h.) is taken twice for credit.

Culminating Event:
Applied Research Experience:
Students are required to select a research project and participate in supervised research activities through ABA 9991. They develop a research question and then may conduct a literature review, develop and/or follow a research protocol, collect and analyze data, and/or report research results as part of their research experience.

Accelerated Programs

Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The accelerated pathway to the Applied Behavior Analysis MSEd is available to students pursuing the Human Development and Community Engagement BS.

Cohort Code: XMSEDABA

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.00

Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
ABA 5676	Applied Behavior Analysis ¹	3
ABA 5305	Single Subject Research Design ²	3
ABA 5304	Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis ³	3
ABA 5303	Ethical and Legal Issues ⁴	3

¹: ABA 5676 will substitute for ABA 3302 for students in the Human Development and Community Engagement BS with Applied Behavior Analysis concentration.
²: ABA 5305 will substitute for ABA 3303 for students in the Human Development and Community Engagement BS with Applied Behavior Analysis concentration.
³: ABA 5304 will substitute for ABA 2103/PSY 2103 for students in the Human Development and Community Engagement BS with Applied Behavior Analysis concentration.
⁴: ABA 5303 will substitute for ABA 3304 for students in the Human Development and Community Engagement BS with Applied Behavior Analysis concentration.

Suggested Academic Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 3
Fall		Credit Hours
ABA 5676	Applied Behavior Analysis	3
	Credit Hours	3
Spring
ABA 5304	Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis	3
	Credit Hours	3
Year 4
Fall
ABA 5305	Single Subject Research Design	3
	Credit Hours	3
Spring
ABA 5303	Ethical and Legal Issues	3
	Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours	12