Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Coursework
Our 21-credit (7-course) option prepares you to work with individuals who have diverse academic and behavioral needs. We offer an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) course sequence, which has been developed to meet the coursework-specific requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) Examination through the BACB pathway 2 option for certification. This course sequence will equip you with the academic requirements to take the exam.
Additional fieldwork and passing of the exam are also the minimal requirements for becoming fully certified as a BCBA®. You will learn to conduct functional behavioral assessments, functional analyses design, conduct behavior analytic interventions and implement assessments and interventions for persons with or without disabilities. An emphasis on of the use of compassionate care in ABA-based treatment and trauma-informed practices is a core framework for all courses in the series.
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Accelerate Your Career with a Master's Degree
The M.S.Ed. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively with individuals with diverse academic and behavioral needs. As a graduate of this program, you will be qualified for employment in school, community or clinical settings. You may also apply for the Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) offered by the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine.
Program Information
Our ABA Pathway 2 Course Sequence will equip you with the academic requirements to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) Examination. This option is available if you have or will have earned a master’s degree by the time to apply to take the exam.
School
Academic Department
Educational Foundations and Leadership
Duration
Course Sequence Completion
Required Credit Hours
21
Modality
Online
100% Online Curriculum
Our BCBA® Verified Course Sequence is fully online. The courses are asynchronous, providing you the flexibility to take classes at your convenience.
Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Behavior Analyst Certification
Board, Inc.® (BACB®) The Debbie L. Mathieu Memorial Scholarship for Compassionate Students of Behavior
Analysis has been established to support compassionate, aspiring behavior analysts
as they begin their academic journey. This scholarship will be awarded to one student
per year for four years, providing funding to assist with the purchase of Applied
Behavior Analysis by Cooper et al. (2020), a foundational textbook in the field of
ABA. Information regarding Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®)Advance Your Career and Make an Impact
Scholarship Support for Your ABA Journey
BACB® Updates
Curriculum
Discover course descriptions in the University Catalog. Select this year's Graduate Catalog and navigate to course descriptions section.
Courses are aligned to the BCBA® 5th Ed. Task List
- GSPE 602 Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
- GSPE 651 High Incidence: Behavior (3 credits)
- GSPE 653 Autism Spectrum Disorders (3 credits)
- GSPE 656 Evidence Based Practices in Autism (3 credits)
- GSPE 658 Legal and Ethical Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
- GSPE 751 Advanced Behavior (3 credits)
- GPSY 705 Single Subject Methods in School Psychology (3 credits)
Total Credit Requirements: 21 credits
Application Process
Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA*
For admission to this graduate program you must meet the minimum GPA requirement (3.0) for their previous coursework as established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), although some exceptions may apply.
This option is available if you have or will have earned a master’s degree by the time to apply to take the exam.
Due to higher education regulation changes, Duquesne University is unable to accept applications for admission to online programs and courses from students residing in certain states. Before applying, please review the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
*Applicants are customarily expected to have a 3.0 grade point average, based on a four-point scale, in their undergraduate work. However, exceptions may be granted on a limited basis, in which there is substantial additional evidence of a student's academic competency.
International Applicants
Effective January 1, 2023, initial BACB® certification applications will no longer be accepted from individuals who reside outside of the US, United Kingdom, Canada & Australia. FAQs About the 2023 International Changes.
Visit International Admissions for additional information and requirements.
Rolling Admissions
Our BCBA® ABA Pathway 2 Course Sequence has a rolling admissions process. This means you can apply anytime throughout the year.
Materials
- Graduate Application
- Official transcript(s)
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended, sent directly from the institution. We are unable to accept transcripts sent directly from applicants.
- International applicants, please read the information under Transcript Credential Evaluation section in the Admissions Requirements section above.
- Personal Statement
- Prompt:
Describe any previous academic, professional or volunteer experiences that have prepared you for this program and the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). How have these experiences shaped your understanding and interest in applied behavior analysis?
- Prompt:
Student Perspective
Learning how to implement compassionate care throughout my coursework has been indispensable to my career. It has greatly improved the level of rapport I am able to establish with clients as well as the quality of services I provide.
Making an Impact with ABA
Collaboration, Compassionate Care and a Dissertation that Makes a Difference
Duaa Alzahrani, GE'26, shares, "I wanted to get to know autism more and learn how to help. My passion for it grew when I learned about ABA..." Duaa reflects on Dr. Reva Mathieu's support for her dissertation, “I didn't have many resources to support the hypothesis I had for my dissertation, but she (Dr. Mathieu) was willing to take on that challenge..." Dr. Mathieu said, ‘we can figure this out; I see your vision.’" Duaa explains, "My dissertation is implementing ABA procedure, but it's not done traditionally...It's done within a person-centered, compassionate care model with a multi-level framework: institutional level, practitioner level and treatment level.”
Impacting Teacher Preparation & PreK-4 Students
Dr. Reva Mathieu (ABA & BCBA®) & Dr. Kara McGoey (Child & School Psychology) were awarded the Charles Henry Leach II Fund for Duquesne University for their project, "Supporting At-Risk, Marginalized Preschool Children by Training Teachers on Self and Co-Regulation Strategies." Their work will help our graduate students make an impact in the PreK-4 classroom.
ABA Program Director, Assistant Professor Professor Since its inception in 1964, the philosophy of Duquesne University's Special Education
program has been one that acknowledges the dignity and uniqueness of each individual.
Our mission is to prepare skilled educators who will maximize the potential for achieving
a meaningful quality of life for individuals with disabilities.Our Faculty Experts
Reva Mathieu
Liz McCallum
Our Mission
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Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Coursework
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