Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S.

Program Overview

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Saint Louis University's M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program prepares students to use behavioral principles to improve well-being for individuals and organizations. The program emphasizes cultural humility, provides integrated fieldwork experiences, and offers flat-fee tuition. Graduates are eligible for the BCBA® exam and can work in various fields, including autism support, healthcare, and education.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

Saint Louis University's M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program focuses on applying behavioral principles to achieve socially significant behavior changes. It emphasizes the science of how and why behavior occurs, aiming to improve well-being for individuals and organizations.

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Program Objectives:

• Equip students with the skills to use empirical evidence, ethical values, and behavior analytic skills in interdisciplinary professional practice.
• Prepare students to work with diverse populations and settings, including individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, those with mental health concerns, organizations seeking to improve culture and performance, sports, health and fitness, criminal justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA), schools and education, and medical health institutions.
• Develop students' cultural humility to effectively work with diverse client populations.

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Program Distinguishing Features:

• Culturally Humble Environment: The program fosters a culturally humble environment where students explore their own biases and develop skills to provide culturally sensitive services.
• Flat Fee Tuition: Students benefit from a flat fee for their education, eliminating unforeseen expenses and tuition increases.
• Integrated Fieldwork: Required fieldwork is completed as part of the program, providing guidance and oversight while students practice their skills.

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Program Strengths:

• State-of-the-Art Learning: Offers in-person and online learning options.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Focus: Ensures students are prepared to serve diverse clients across settings.
• Ph.D.
• Program Preparation: Graduates are well-positioned to apply to Ph.D. programs in behavior analysis and other fields.
• Research Opportunities: Students completing a thesis can present their research at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.

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Outline:

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Program Tracks:

• Research Track: Completed in-person.
• Clinical Track: Completed via distance learning.
• Dual Degree (M.S.
ABA / M.S.W.
• clinical): Offers both in-person and distance learning tracks.

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Course Structure:

• M.S.
• ABA Tracks (in-person and distance learning):
• Eight 3-credit-hour courses
• Five practica
• One seminar
• Six hours of thesis (research track) or three hours of capstone research (clinical track)
• M.S.
ABA / M.S.W.
• clinical program:
• Eight 3-credit-hour ABA courses
• Either 3-credit-hour M.S.W.
courses
• Five practica (either ABA, M.S.W.
or both)
• Two seminars (one ABA and one M.S.W.)
• One 3-hour capstone research course

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Fieldwork:

• All students complete 1,500 hours of intensive supervised fieldwork as part of their coursework.
• Fieldwork is designed to ensure students master all areas of the BCBA® content list in their first three semesters, expand their research skills in their fourth semester, and address a social justice topic in their final semester.

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Cohort Model:

• All students (except M.S.
ABA / M.S.W. Clinical dual degree) begin coursework in the fall of each year.
• Programs offer both full-time and part-time formats.
• M.S.
ABA/M.S.W. clinical students can start in different semesters.

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Course List:

• Principles and Concepts in Behavior Analysis
• Measurement and Experimental Design
• Behavioral Assessment
• Behavior Change and Process
• Basic Behavior Analysis
• Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management
• Philosophy of Behavioral Science
• Behavior Change and Ethics
• Five practica
• Introduction to ABA practicum seminar
• Capstone (clinical track) / Thesis (research track)

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Total Credits:

• 36 (clinical) or 39 (research)

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Roadmaps:

• Research Track (On Campus, Full-time):
• Semester-by-semester plan of study assuming full-time enrollment.
• Includes critical courses that must be completed in the listed semester for timely graduation.
• Clinical Track (Distance Learning, Full-time):
• Semester-by-semester plan of study assuming full-time enrollment.

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Careers:

• Graduates are eligible to sit for the BCBA® examination.
• Alumni have worked in various fields, including:
• Serving individuals diagnosed with autism and their families
• Working with adults with challenging behavior and developmental disabilities
• Job training sites
• Schools
• Healthcare agencies
• Graduates have also led state education initiatives and advocacy projects.
• Other fields where ABA practitioners work include:
• Sports, health and fitness
• Organizational behavior management
• Diversity, equity, inclusion and access
• Gerontology
• Criminal justice
• Mental health

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Other:

• The program is currently a Verified Course Sequence (VCS).
• Graduates will be able to:
• Assess relevant behavior analysis literature/scholarly contributions.
• Apply behavioral theories, practices, policies, or research methodologies.
• Apply knowledge from applied behavior analysis to address problems in broader contexts.
• Articulate applied behavior analysis explanations/arguments to a disciplinary/professional audience in both written and oral formats.
• Evidence scholarly/professional integrity (ethics) in behavior analysis.