University of South Florida

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.A.-Applied Behavior Analysis

Program Description:

The master's degree program in applied behavior analysis (ABA) is designed to meet growing needs in Florida and nationally for practitioners who can work effectively in the fields of developmental disabilities, education, autism, child protective services, rehabilitation, mental health, and business and technology. ABA provides an approach for developing, implementing, and evaluating practical strategies to produce changes in socially significant behaviors of individuals in the context of community settings. Three important features characterize the scientific basis upon which ABA is built: a) it focuses upon objectively measurable behavior of individuals; b) it studies environmental influences upon the targeted behaviors; and c) it places a premium upon single-subject research designs to analyze the effects of different environmental variables.

The 46-credit-hour master's degree in ABA is interdisciplinary and is housed in the College of Behavioral and Community sciences. It provides coursework and practical supervision across three colleges (College of Behavioral and Community Sciences College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education).

This interdisciplinary program was designed to create a comprehensive, cohesive degree program in applied behavior analysis to train students to become practitioners and researchers. Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of applied behavior analysis in courses that constitute a core curriculum, demonstrate applied behavior analysis skills through supervised practicum experiences, and demonstrate research skills by completing a thesis. The master's degree program was designed to prepare students to meet the standards to be Board Certified Behavior Analysts. It will assist in their preparation for employment in fields where there are growing demands for competent professionals with expertise in applied behavior analysis.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Format: Campus

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above