Online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Degree Programs
Applied behavior analysis, or ABA, is a specialized area of research and practice taught primarily at the graduate level and formally recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as integral to the discipline of psychology. What distinguishes ABA from other areas of psychology is its unique focus on external behavioral patterns rather than internal thought processes as a means to better understanding, managing, and potentially modifying the way individuals act and respond to verbal, social, and environmental cues.
The application of ABA methods is most commonly linked to special education and early childhood education, specifically to its use among students diagnosed with language and communication deficiencies and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, ABA has a number of other accepted applications in areas such as substance abuse treatment, brain injury rehabilitation, occupational health and safety, organizational behavior management (OBM), and sports performance. Professional behavioral analysts are typically trained at the master’s level in designated Master’s in ABA programs and may be eligible for professional certification as well as for state licensure in states that currently require it once they have completed graduate training in ABA.
What Is a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Degree?
A Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis degree is a graduate degree conferred by an academic program that provides professional training and instruction in the theories and practices of ABA. This includes Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Education (MEd) in Applied Behavioral Analysis programs, as well as master’s programs in psychology, teaching, and special education that have a designated track, concentration, or specialization in ABA.
Master’s in ABA programs may voluntarily apply for and receive programmatic accreditation from the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), which maintains a Verified Course Sequence and general curriculum guidelines for master’s programs in the field. Master’s in ABA programs may be offered through a school or department of psychology or education at a college or university and may be designated as Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis, or Behavior Psychology programs.
Online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Programs
A number of schools offer online Master’s in ABA programs that provide students with all or most of their required coursework and instruction via distance-learning technologies. Students in an online ABA master’s program access lectures and other course materials and may participate in interactive learning sessions using a program’s learning management system (LMS), a generic term for Internet-based educational platforms that facilitate a range of online instructional activities. In addition to streaming live and/or pre-recorded lectures and class meetings through an LMS, students are typically able to submit assignments, access online discussion boards, take exams, and contact instructors remotely through the platform as well.
It is important to note that while there are fully online Master’s in ABA programs, some online programs may require students to attend several campus-based sessions and/or include field placements that require students to complete supervised work experiences at a site approved by the program.
How OnlineEducation.com Classifies Online Master’s in ABA Programs
OnlineEducation.com researches online master’s programs and identifies programs that offer professional training and instruction in the theories, methods, and practices of applied behavior analysis. In addition to researching program curricula, we ensure that programs listed on the site provide all or most of their coursework online. Programs that require students to attend more than two campus-based visits per year are classified as hybrid programs and are not currently listed on the site. Finally, all online Master’s in ABA programs on the site must be offered by regionally accredited, non-profit colleges and universities.
What Students Learn in an Online Master’s in ABA Program
A master’s program curriculum in ABA provides students with instruction and training in the following core areas: theories of behavioral analysis; behavioral science experimental design and research methods; behavior analysis applications and interventions; and ethical concerns for the professional behavior analyst. Students may also complete coursework in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), special education, adult education, and/or organizational behavioral management (OBM), either as require courses or as electives. Some programs offer additional courses in special topics, such as verbal behavior, radical behavior behaviorism, behavioral pharmacology, and contemporary issues in behavior analysis and behavioral science. Finally, online Master’s in ABA programs may culminate in an applied research or capstone project, a master’s thesis, or a supervised field experience/practicum.
Online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Program Courses
While titles of courses and specific curricular requirements vary by program, online Master’s in ABA programs typically include at least six core behavior analysis courses and several additional required or elective courses. The table below provides a represented overview of the types of courses students can expect to take while earning a master’s degree in ABA.
| Course Title | Course Description |
|---|---|
| Fundamental Elements of Behavioral Change | An overview of behavioral processes and the behavior analytic approach to human psychology, including the terminology associated with operant and classical conditioning, and an exploration of the concepts of procedure, process, reinforcement, extinction, punishment, association, and conditioned and unconditioned stimulus in the context of applied behavior analysis. |
| Experimental Design and Assessment | An introduction to empirical methods of scientific research in behavior analysis, the differences between traditional psychology research and behavior analysis research, and the process of experimental design, data collection, and analysis in the field of behavior analysis. |
| Behavioral Assessment and Functional Analysis | Methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of behavior assessments and interventions, including direct observation and analyzing individuals and groups in various settings, functional assessment techniques, and ethical and professional concerns in behavior modification interventions. |
| Behavioral Interventions | A critical analysis of behavior interventions and the social, cultural, and ethical issues that affect the selection of intervention strategies, with a focus on methods for evaluating the efficacy of interventions and treatment outcomes. |
| Methodologies for Behavioral Change | An introduction to the basic procedures used in applied behavior analysis to accelerate and decelerate changes in behavior, and the use of behavior modification tools and techniques such as reinforcement and differential reinforcement, contingency contracting, rule-governed behavior, shaping, punishment, and generalization. |
| Applied Behavior Analysis in Educational Settings | The application of behavioral instructional protocols in classrooms and other educational settings, including an exploration of precision teaching, direct instruction, stimulus equivalence, errorless instruction, and personalized system of instruction (PSI) techniques. |
| Verbal Behavior | A consideration of the seminal 1957 text Verbal Behavior by B.F. Skinner and its influence on current theories concerning the relationship between applied behavior analysis and communication and language disorders. |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | The application of behavior analysis principles and practices to understanding and assisting individuals with communication and language deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). |
| Organizational Behavior Management in Educational Settings | The use of organizational behavior management (OBM) techniques in the training, management, supervision, and support of behavioral health practitioners engaged in educational fields. |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders: Behavior and Sensory Support | The behavior and sensory issues associated with ASD and protocols for interventions with students who exhibit specific behavior and sensory problems. |
Admissions to Online Master’s in ABA Programs
General eligibility for admissions to most online Master’s in ABA program is open to candidates who hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Although admissions requirements vary by program, applicants are typically asked to furnish admissions committees with undergraduate transcripts, an up-to-date resume or CV, two or three letters of recommendation, and a short personal essay. Some program may require the submission of GRE test scores, and programs with selective admission criteria may prefer candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.
While online master’s in ABA programs typically do not require applicants to have majored in a particular discipline as undergraduates, some programs may have a list of college-level prerequisites, such as an introductory psychology course, that applicants are expected to have completed. Potential applicants to online Master’s in ABA programs should be aware that admissions requirements vary by program; therefore, they should research the specific admissions criteria for each of their programs of interest prior to submitting applications.
Online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Program Formats
While online degree programs are generally designed to be flexible enough to accommodate a range of different types of students, including those who may have significant commitments outside of school, not all online Master’s in ABA program are the same. In terms of program formatting, for example, there are three factors that students should be aware of, as these factors can impact the relative convenience of an online master’s program. These factors include: online instructional methods (synchronous vs. asynchronous instruction), enrollment options (full-time vs. part-time enrollment), and whether or not the program requires any on-campus or face-to-face visits (sometimes referred to as residencies, immersion sessions, or on-campus intensives). Each of these factors is discussed in greater detail below.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction: Synchronous and asynchronous are descriptive terms that apply to the two primary modes of online instruction. Synchronous instruction is defined by its use of regularly scheduled live lectures and/or class meetings. Students in a program that utilizes synchronous instruction must be prepared to be online at designated times to view lectures and participate in other instructional activities, just as they would be expected to attend classes in a traditional, campus-based program.
In contrast, asynchronous instruction provides students with access to pre-recorded lectures and does not incorporate real-time sessions. Students in a program that utilizes asynchronous instruction are free to view lectures and complete coursework at their own convenience provided they adhere to class syllabi and turn in assignments when they are due. While asynchronous instruction offers more flexibility than synchronous instruction, it requires a greater amount of self-discipline and self-motivation. Synchronous instruction offers less flexibility than asynchronous instruction, but it provides a more structured online learning experience, which may be preferable for some students.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment: As noted previously, online master’s programs are generally designed to accommodate students who may have to attend to work or other commitments outside of school while earning their degree. One of the ways in which this is accomplished is by providing several enrollment options or a flexible enrollment structure. As a general rule, online master’s programs in a field such as applied behavior analysis require the completion of three or four full-time semesters of graduate-level coursework and take roughly two years to complete. A full-time course load typically equates to two or three courses per 15-week semester.
However, online Master’s in ABA programs may offer part-time enrollment options, allowing students to take just one or two courses per semester as their schedule allows. This can extend the time it takes to complete a master’s program by a year or more. There are also many online master’s programs that utilize alternatives to the traditional academic semester system, offering courses quarterly (10 week terms) or five or six times per year during shorter sessions (often five, six, eight weeks in length). Students in these programs may be able to take one or two courses per term and still graduate in two years or less.
Campus Visits: While OnlineEducation.com does not list online Master’s in ABA programs that require students to attend more than two campus-based sessions per year, some programs on the site require in-person instruction. These campus-based sessions may include student orientations, intensive seminars and workshops, networking opportunities, and other educational activities that can enhance the overall online learning experience. Students typically meet face-to-face with instructors and interact with fellow students while on campus for these types of sessions, which generally do not last more than a week and may be a short as two or three days.
However, required campus visits can cause scheduling conflicts, and students may incur expenses in addition to a program’s tuition and fees while attending campus-based sessions. Students who are considering online Master’s in ABA programs should carefully examine program requirements in order to determine whether or not a program includes required on-campus sessions.