Department of Psychology

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Master’s in ABA

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FAQ

There are three options for completing comprehensive exams, thesis research and/or elective courses (see master’s tab). A total of 9 credit hours are required that can be distributed between thesis research and elective courses in the following ways:

OPTION 1: 9 credits of elective course and completion of comprehensive exams

Comprehensive Exams: ABA Master’s Students are required to take a comprehensive exam. Exams are offered  two times per year: June and January.  Comprehensive exams can only be scheduled once a student has completed the core applied behavior analysis courses:

• Theory in Applied Behavior Analysis I and II (730.01/.02)
• Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis I and II (730.05/.06)
• Psychology of Learning (730.00)
• Fieldwork Project in Applied Behavior Analysis (795.00) recommended

The exam will present five essay questions and students are required to answer all five questions. Each question targets a different content area derived from the BCBA task list:

• Designing and Evaluating Interventions.
• Theory and Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Measurement and Graphing.
• Principles, processes, and concepts.
• Behavioral Assessment and Functional Assessment.

**Students are allowed to take comprehensive exams a maximum of two times. If the exam is taken a second time, the second administration must be within in 1 year of the first attempt. 

OPTION 2: 6 credits of independent thesis work and 3 credits of elective courses.

Students choosing this option will work closely with an Applied Behavior Analysis faculty member and:

• Develop a new research project.
• Formally propose his/her research in a meeting with the faculty advisor and at least one additional committee member (FT faculty member of the psych dept).
• Submit an Institutional Review Board (IRB) application for the proposed research project (IRB approval is required before the study can begin).
• Produce a publication-style manuscript for the proposal committee meeting.
• Defend the final project to the faculty advisor and additional committee member.

OPTION 3: 3 credits of thesis work and 6 credits of elective courses.

Students choosing this option will work with an Applied Behavior Analysis faculty member and:

• Develop a research project that can be an elaboration of research conducted in Psych 730.05/730.06 and/or 795.
• Submit an Institutional Review Board (IRB) application for the proposed research project (IRB approval is required before the study can begin).
• The final outcome of this research is a publication-style manuscript that is approved by the student’s faculty advisor.

**Students should plan ahead

Qualifications for completing a thesis: 

• High GPA (3.5 or higher) 
• Active engagement in research prior to thesis (e.g., attendance at lab meetings) 
• Formal research relationship with ABA mentor 
• ABA mentor agrees to supervise thesis 
• Completion of 730.05 and 730.06 prior to planning a thesis