Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Study Certificate

WCSU offers a graduate certificate approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. (BACB®), to prepare students for the national certification examinations sponsored by the BACB. All four courses are offered online and can be completed in one year to earn the certificate.

Two Online Behavior Analysis Certificates

Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) Certificate

This 16-credit, four-course sequence is designed for people who have completed an accredited bachelor’s degree. Completion of the four course sequence and completion of 1000 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behavior analysis makes the student eligible to take the BCaBA certification examination sponsored by the BACB®. Visit http://bacb.com for more information.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certificate

This 19-credit, five-course sequence is designed for people who have completed an accredited graduate degree. Completion of the five course sequence and completion of 1500 hours of Supervised Independent Fieldwork in behavior analysis makes the student eligible to take the BCBA certification examination sponsored by the BACB®. Visit http://bacb.com for more information.

From the BACB.com website

Eligibility to sit for the BCBA certification examination requires the completion of Sections A and B below and compliance with all other rules and requirements of the BACB.

A. Degree Requirement:

Possession of a minimum of a bachelor’s and master’s degree that was conferred in behavior analysis or other natural science, education, human services, engineering, medicine or a field related to behavior analysis and approved by the BACB from any of the following:

1. United States or Canadian institution of higher education fully or provsionally accredited by a regional, state, provincial or national accrediting body; or

2. An institution of higher education located outside the United States or Canada that, at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard of training equivalent to the standards of training of those institutions accredited in the United States.

B. Training and Experience Requirements

Coursework: The applicant must complete 225 classroom hours of graduate level instruction (see Acceptable Coursework below) in the following content areas and for the numer of hours specified:

              a. Ethical considerations -15 hours

              b. Definition & characteristics and Principles, processess & concepts – 45 hours

              c. Behavioral assessment and Selecting intervention outcomes & strategies – 35 hours

              d. Experimental evaluation of interventions – 20 hours

              e. Measurement of behavior and Displaying & interpreting behavioral data – 20 hours

              f. Behavioral change procedures and Systems support – 45 hours

              g. Discretionary – 45 hours

Acceptable Coursework: College or university courses in behavior analysis that are taken from an institution that meets the requirements specified in Section A.

Students are required to visit http://bacb.com to fully understand the requirements to sit for the examinations  and become certified.

Registration / Application

To apply to the program complete the online application www.wcsu.edu/graduate/aba-application.asp.

Copies of transcripts need to be forwarded to the Division of Graduate Studies. Fax (203) 837-8326 or mail WCSU, 181 White Street, Danbury CT 06810 attention: Division of Graduate Studies.

Transcripts are required for registration.

Courses

Courses can only be taken one at a time and in this sequence.

Course Descriptions

EPY 641

 EPY 641 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) I – 4 Semester Hours.  This course is a prerequisite for the four subsequent courses offered in the ABA sequence.This course covers the history of applied behavioral analysis and task list four topics: concepts, principles, measurement, experimental design, identification, intervention, behavior change considerations, and behavior change  systems of ABA. 

EPY 642

 EPY 642 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) II – 4 Semester Hours. This course is a prerequisite for the three subsequent courses offered in the ABA sequence. This course covers task list four topics: concepts, principles, experimental design, fundamental elements of behavior change, intervention, behavior change considerations, and behavior change  systems. 

EPY 643

 EPY 643 Applied Behavior Analysis III – 4 Semester Hours. This course is a prerequisite for the two subsequent courses offered in the ABA sequence. This course covers task list four topics: concepts, principles, measurement, experimental design, identification, behavior change procedures, implementation, management, supervision, and behavioral assessment of ABA.   

 EPY 644

 EPY 644 Applied Behavior Analysis IV - 4 Semester Hours. Students will explore the ethical and legal considerations in the practice of behavior analysis. Topics studied include Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts, BACB Professional Disciplinary and Ethical Standards, Procedures for Appeals, and philosophical positions driving regulatory change and action.

EPY 645

 EPY 645 Applied Behavior Analysis V - 3 Semester Hours. This course will cover advanced topics in behavior analysis. It will discuss current research in applied behavior analysis. Topics will change every time the course is offered to reflect up to date laws, emerging areas of behavioral analysis, measurement, school applications, teaching methodology, interventions and ethics. A mock BCBA certification exam will be provided.