MS: Applied Behavior Analysis

Help people... become a BCBA

The College of Education proudly hosts the Master in Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program approved by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and accepted by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board^®, Inc. (BACB^®).

Due to great demand for part-time and full-time BCBAs who are sought by schools and agencies throughout the U.S. and worldwide, our College presents the M.S. in ABA Program to prepare behavior experts who provide the needed assistance in our region. If you are a professional who assists individuals who have behavioral concerns, or for school personnel who provide instruction and guidance directly to children in inclusive settings, this program supports your knowledge, understanding, and implementation of research-driven strategies that improve the quality of life of children and families.

Applied Behavior Analysis is a well-developed discipline among the helping professions, with a mature body of scientific knowledge, established standards for evidence-based practice, distinct methods of service, recognized experience and educational requirements for practice, and identified sources of requisite education in universities (BACB, 2014).

BCBA therapists are practitioners with behavior intervention expertise who…

• are certified to conduct descriptive and systematic behavioral assessments, including functional analyses, and provide behavior analytic interpretations of results
• design and supervise behavior analytic interventions
• effectively develop and implement appropriate assessment and intervention methods for use in unfamiliar situations and for a range of cases
• may work as independent contractors for organizations
• teach others to carry out ethical and effective behavior analytic interventions based on published research and designs
• can deliver instruction in behavior analysis
• supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) others who implement behavior analytic interventions

To become a BCBA, a candidate must meet the following requirements:

1. Have a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution
2. Completed and pass course work outlined by the Fifth Edition Task List
3. Complete practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis following all requirements established by the BACB
4. Pass the BCBA Exam

UMSL's M.S. in ABA Program is a two-year, 39-credit program that provides students the eligibility for all requirements listed above. Courses in the M.S. in ABA Program are taught by Ph.D. and Master's level BCBAs with extensive clinical and practical experience.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC SARA)

To determine if this program meets the reciprocity requirements for like state educational certification programs outside the state of Missouri, follow this link for further contact information and resources.