The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program is designed to prepare students for employment at the master’s level in ABA or to pursue doctoral studies in the field. The program will include extensive training in skill acquisition and behavior reduction procedures and expose students to a broad range of applied and experimental areas through coursework, service learning, research, internships and other applied experiences.
The mission of the master’s in ABA program at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University is to educate and form Franciscan servant leaders to make a positive impact on those with diverse behavioral needs in our communities.
Through courses in conditioning and learning, research methods, ethics, biostatistics and epidemiology, behaviorism and supervision and management, ABA master’s students will develop the skills they need to confidently perform ABA to suit client needs and serve their community. The ABA master’s degree also offers an optional internship component, which allows students to put their education into action through hands-on learning experiences.
The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program is a 37-credit-hour program with 16 additional credits as part of the optional internship sequence.
FranU is committed to building and sustaining a culture of academic excellence. The master’s in ABA prepares students for advancement in their careers or future graduate studies in a doctoral-level program. With a focus on putting students’ skills into practice, the ABA master’s program prepares students to become competent behavioral analysts who can implement and evaluate behavioral interventions using evidence-based practices and conduct research to advance the application of our science.
The optional internship courses allow students to receive the required supervised experience hours needed to apply for the national certification examination through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Supervised experience will take place at a local clinic that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Supervision will be provided by both BCBAs and BCBA-Ds who are dedicated to providing students with top-notch training in the application of ABA.
In order to be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the following admission requirements must be met:
*All coursework will be reviewed in regard to course acceptability as meeting prerequisite requirements. If the pool of qualified applicants exceeds the program’s enrollment capacity, the selection process will involve interviews conducted by ABA faculty and priority will be granted to candidates who commit to enroll in the optional internship sequence.
If you have questions regarding acceptability of coursework, please email Tracy Lepper at tracy.lepper@franu.edu.
The goals of the ABA master’s program are as follows:
Upon completion of the ABA program, graduates will be able to:
ABA master’s program faculty members are highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and a comprehensive blend of clinical practice, content expertise and educational experience. Learn more about the ABA Faculty.
Behavior Analysts play an important role in health care, often working with individuals and families to help make significant changes to their clients’ lives through behavior analysis and intervention. According to PayScale, the average base annual salary for ABA master’s degree holders is $68,000, and board-certified behavior analysts can make between $51,000 to $80,000 annually.
Due to the amount of empirical evidence an ABA student must be familiar with, in addition to pursuing certification in ABA, graduates can pursue work in other areas such as substance abuse treatment, occupational safety, project management and brain-injury rehabilitation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in the substance abuse, behavior disorder and mental health counseling industries are projected to experience a growth rate of 23% over the next ten years, making careers in these pathways much more accessible.
ABA master’s degree holders can work in a variety of industries and care settings, including in client homes – one of the most popular locations for ABA work to occur – schools, clinics or private practices. The master’s in ABA is designed to help FranU students find employment in any of these capacities or industries.
We are in the process of submitting the curriculum for ABAI to review.
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination (via Pathway 2). Applicants will need to meet additional BACB® eligibility requirements, including evidence of residency in an authorized country, before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
FranU has partnered with area leaders in behavior-analytic service delivery to provide concentrated supervised fieldwork opportunities through the internship sequence that meet the BACB’s supervision requirements. These opportunities allow students to a) apply the knowledge they’ve gained in the classroom, b) develop professional repertoires expected of behavior analysts, c) provide in-kind hours that help those in need in our community, and d) see the impact of behavior-analytic interventions first-hand. Supervisors are knowledgeable of current certification requirements and have experience meeting the BACB’s supervision standards.
We offer internship placement at the Emerge Center, the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, Behavioral Intervention Group, and Meaningful Autistic Resources for Kids.
FranU offers an ABA course that meets this requirement during most semesters. Contact admissions@franu.edu for more information.
Transfer credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students can pursue the following levels of certification:
To learn more about the certification process and levels of certification, visit the Behavior Analysis Certification BoardTM website.
FranU is committed to making higher education as affordable as possible, striving to demonstrate the highest level of care, ethical behavior and professionalism while assisting students and their families with finding the best options to pay for college. Our Office of Financial Aid provides students with the tools and resources needed to discover financial aid and scholarship options.
To find out more about estimated tuition costs, use the Graduate Tuition Calculator. For more information on internal and external scholarship opportunities, visit the Scholarship page.
Whether you’re ready to take your career to the next level or are beginning your journey toward a doctoral degree, the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis at FranU will prepare you to lead and thrive in your field.
Learn more about the program by Requesting Information. To begin your application, visit the Application page.
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