Education in behavior analysis

Education in behavior analysis

Graduate programs in behavior analysis are offered in many parts of the United States, in several locations in the British Isles, and also in a few locations outside the English-speaking world.

Where behavior analysis is taught, it is often offered as a special program for Ph.D and/or MA/MS degrees. Such courses are most commonly found in university psychology departments, but in some places they are connected to other university departments, for example teaching or special education departments, rehabilitation or rehabilitation studies departments, or even special departments in behavior analysis. Within most study programs in behavior analysis, it is possible to study applied behavior analysis (applied behavior analysis) or basic research in behavior analysis (experimental analysis of behavior). However, within some of the larger programs and departments, both are available, and students place varying degrees of emphasis on practical application and basic research depending on who their supervisors are and what their main field of interest is.

Apart from special courses in behavior analysis, there are many courses in other subjects (such as experimental psychology, occupational psychology and clinical psychology) where students focus on either the application of behavior analysis or basic research in behavior analysis.

It is most common that students in advanced studies have studied basic studies (BA or BS) in psychology, but there are also examples of students with other types of background, for example in pedagogy, developmental therapy, speech pathology or business administration. A master’s program can take from one to three years, but it is common for it to take two years. Doctoral studies can be started immediately after completing basic university studies or after completing master’s studies. Students who start a doctoral program immediately after completing their basic university studies usually also complete a master’s degree during their studies, but this is not universal. A doctoral program takes at least four to five years after completing undergraduate studies, or two to three years after completing a master’s program, but it can take longer.

In order to enter a graduate program, it is necessary to have good grades from primary university studies and good recommendations. Research experience in behavior analysis or applied behavior analysis is also desirable. In the United States, students are usually required to have completed the GRE and TOEFL exams. However, it should be noted that many courses make rather low minimum requirements for GRE results and place much more emphasis on recommendations, previous academic results and experience.

Students considering a master’s program in applied behavior analysis should ensure that a sufficient number of courses within the program meet the requirements of the BACB so that students are qualified to sit for the BCBA examination upon completion of their studies (www.bacb.com). BACB specialist certification is important for job prospects in both the US and the UK, and may be important in Iceland in the future. It is also very important that the course is recognized by the ABA (Association for Behavior Analysis), i.e. is ‘ABA accredited’. The ABA has set certain criteria regarding the quality of graduate studies in behavior analysis that programs must meet every few years if they want to meet the requirements of the ABA.

The website of the Association for Behavior Analysis has a search engine where you can search for graduate programs in behavior analysis by country and state. In addition, Zuilma Gabríela Sigurðardóttir, associate professor at the University of Helsinki, has compiled a data bank on graduate studies in behavioral analysis, which contains more information about some of the main schools, as well as various practical information regarding the application process, etc.

In addition, below are links to the pages of various study programs in behavior analysis in the United States and in Europe. The list is not exhaustive, and we gratefully accept suggestions about programs that are not on the list or corrections to the information presented here.

 Study in the United States

  • Doctoral studies: Courses in behavior analysis
  • Doctoral programs: Other programs that offer a focus on behavior analysis
  • Master’s program: Courses in behavioral analysis
  • Master’s program: Other programs that offer a focus on behavioral analysis

Study in Europe

  •  Britain
  •  Ireland
  •  Norway

Doctorate in USA: Courses in Behavior Analysis

  •  Columbia University Teachers College (New York, NY)
  •  Ph.D in Special Education (námsbraut: Applied Behavior Analysis)
  •  Queens College City University of New York (New York, NY)
  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Learning Processes)
  •  Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
  •  Ph.D in Special Education (námsbraut: Applied Behavior Analysis)
  •  Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (Carbondale, IL)
  •  Ph.D in Rehabilitation (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis and Therapy)
  •  University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)
  •  University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)
  •  Ph.D in Behavioral Psychology
  •  University of Nevada, Reno (Reno, NV)
  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)
  •  West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV)
  •  Ph.D in Psyhcology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)
  •  Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)
  •  Ph.D in Psychology  (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

Doctoral Programs in the USA: Other Programs That Offer a Behavioral Analysis Emphasis

 Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Experimental Psychology; Industrial/Organizational Psychology)

Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Clinical Psychology/Behavioral Track)

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA)

  •  Ph.D in School Psychology

Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Brain, Behavior and Cognition – Behavior Analysis Specialization)

University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Experimental Psychology/Behavior Analysis emphasis)

University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Experimental Psychology/Experimental Analysis of Behavior emphasis)

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Experimental Psychology/Behavior Analysis concentration)

Utah State University (Logan, UT)

  •  Ph.D in Special Education & Rehabilitation

Washington State University (Pullman, WA)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Experimental Psychology)

West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV)

  •  Ph.D in Psyhcology (námsbraut: Clinical Child Psychology/Clinical Psychology – Behavior Analysis specialization)

Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)

  •  Ph.D in Psychology (námsbraut: Clinical Psychology)

 Masters in USA: Courses and Departments in Behavior Analysis

California State University, Fresno (Fresno, CA)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis track)

California State University, Stanislaus (Stanislaus, CA)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

Columbia University Teachers College (New York, NY)

  •  M.A. in Special Education (námsbraut: Applied Behavior Analysis)

Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL)

  •  M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Florida International University (Miami, FL)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

Florida State University – Panama City Campus (Panama City, FL)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Applied Behavior Analysis)

Northeastern University (Norwood, MA)

  •  M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL)

  •  M.S. in Behavior Analysis & Therapy)

St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, MN)

  •  M.S. in Applied Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS)

  •  M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science

University of Maryland Baltimore County

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Human Services Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis track)

University of Nevada, Reno (Reno, NV)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

  •  MS in Behavior Analysis (Department of Behavior Analysis)

University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis track)

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

  •  Ph.D in Special Education

Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Behavior Analysis)

 Masters in USA: Other programs that offer a focus on behavior analysis

Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities concentration)

California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis program option)

Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago, IL)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Clinical Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis Sspecialization)

Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)

  •  M.S. in Clinical Behavioral Psychology

Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA)

  •  M.Ed in Special Education

North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)

  •  M.S. in Psychology (námsbraut: Clinical Psychology/Behavior analysis in Developmental Disabilities subarea)

Queens College City University of New York (New York, NY)

  •  MA in Psychology (course: General)

University of Houston – Clear Lake (Houston, TX)

  •  M.A. in Behavioral Science (námsbraut: Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis subplan)

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

  •  M.Ed. in Special Education

Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI)

  •  M.A. in Psychology (námsbraut: Industrial/Organizational Psychology)

 Britain:

University of Kent at Canterbury

  •  M.Sc., Analysis and Intervention in Learning Disabilities

University of Wales, Bangor

  •  M.Sc. in Applied Behaviour Analysis

University of Wales, Swansea

  •  M.Sc. in Behaviour Analysis

 Ireland:

National University of Ireland, Galway

  •  M.Litt and Ph.D – Emphasis on behavior analysis limited to certain teachers

National University of Ireland, Maynooth

  •  M.Litt and Ph.D – Emphasis on behavior analysis limited to certain teachers

Norway:

Akershus University College

  •  MS: Learning in Complex Systems/Experimental and Applied Behavior Analysis
Scroll to Top