Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Programs

Master of Science and Advanced Certificate ABA Programs

Delivered in either a traditional or distance education format, these programs are for individuals seeking licensure in behavior analysis from the State of New York and certification in behavior analysis from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.®   For more information about licensure requirements, please visit: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/aba/ and for more information about certification requirements, please visit: https://www.bacb.com/.

Certificate and Degree Programs in Applied Behavior Analysis

Admission

In addition to satisfying the general criteria for graduate admission to Daemen College, applicants must:

  1. For the Master’s Degree Program, possess a bachelor’s degree (from an accredited college or university) in: Education, Special Education, Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, or a related field that specifically addresses learning or behavioral changes;
  2. For the Advanced Certificate Program, possess a master’s degree (from an accredited college or university) in: Education, Special Education, Psychology;, or Applied Behavior Analysis;
  3. Possess a 3.0 GPA in their accredited bachelor’s degree program;
  4. Submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). School code for GRE scores: 2762;
  5. Submit two letters of recommendation, preferably including one professional reference and one character reference;
  6. Participate in a personal interview with the ABA Program faculty;
  7. Provide a written statement describing personal and educational goals and objectives;
  8. Provide a writing sample from a previous academic assignment; and
  9. Provide a copy of a current resume, including all certifications and licensures.

Additional Program Requirements

  1. Students enrolled in the Master’s in ABA or the ABA Advanced Certificate must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.00 scale);
  2. The Graduate Committee on Academic Standards will be notified if a student falls below a 3.0 grade point average;
  3. Students who receive a course grade below 3.0 may repeat said course one time; failure to achieve a 3.0 on the second attempt will be grounds for academic dismissal;
  4. Students who are found to have engaged in unethical conduct during SED 714: Supervised Practicum and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis will automatically fail the course. Depending on the circumstances, a determination may be made for students to re-enroll in the course in a subsequent semester.

ABA Program Mission

The Daemen College ABA Program advances the field of behavior analysis to improve lives through education, research, and promotion of ethical, evidence-based practices.

ABA Program Philosophy

The Philosophy of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program at Daemen College is to encourage, foster, and promote, within all student cohorts, a commitment to compassionate, informed, and ethical therapy through evidenced-based treatment of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). ABA faculty will prepare students for licensure and certification eligibility leading to careers as independent practitioners of ABA services. These practitioners will understand and uphold laws, rules, and regulations that govern the practice of behavior analysts. Graduates of Daemen’s ABA Program will recognize the importance of advancing competency, professionalism, and life-long learning within the field, and seek out opportunities to engage in dialogue and reflection surrounding the practice of ABA. Daemen ABA graduates will assume leadership roles in efforts to recognize and respond to emerging and evolving trends in the field. Through research and clinical experiences, these graduates will have developed a keen appreciation of the value of assessment and its role in improving outcomes. Finally, graduates of Daemen’s ABA Program will foster community understanding regarding equity and in providing for the needs of diverse populations.  Housed in the Daemen College Education Department, the ABA learning community exists within the broader learning community of the College and its wider constituencies, where resources, support services, technology, information, and an ethic of inclusivity empower both faculty and students.

Capstone Experience

Students admitted to the Master’s Degree program are required to complete a capstone experience at the end of their program of study. Graduate research is carried out during the course SED 722: Capstone Research Project. Based on personal career goals and with faculty advisement, candidates will complete a thesis in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. The thesis is prepared under the direction of the major department and should demonstrate capacity for independent research and scholarly writing. The thesis must receive the approval of the Department Graduate Committee and must comply with Human Subjects Research Review Committee guidelines, if applicable. A candidate for the oral presentation and defense of thesis must:

  1. be an admitted degree candidate;
  2. be finished with all major area course requirements by the end of the semester in which the SED 722 course is taken;
  3. be able to provide the examining committee with copies of the completed thesis a minimum of two weeks prior to the oral presentation;
  4. have a graduate grade point average of 3.00 or higher.

Early in the graduate program, M.S. degree candidates will consult with their faculty advisor and begin to formulate a plan for their research project. After familiarizing him/herself with the research interests of the faculty, the candidate, with guidance from his/ her advisor, will choose a two-person research committee consisting of:

  1. a primary member who must be a full-time or part-time faculty member with research experience or expertise in the area of study;
  2. a secondary member who may be either a full- or part-time faculty member or an adjunct graduate faculty member.

The candidate will design and execute a research project with guidance from his or her committee. The detailed process for completion of research is laid out in the course syllabus.

The candidate will prepare a research manuscript in a format suitable for submission for publication. The candidate will also present his/her research orally within the College or professional community. Such presentation requires the presence of at least one member of the research committee. Any proposed investigation involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by Daemen College’s Human Subjects Research Review Committee. The HSRRC Guidelines are published on the Daemen College website.

M.S. IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

REQUIREMENTS

  • SED700 Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
  • SED702 Behavior Measurement and Assessment (3)
  • SED704 Functional Assessment (3)
  • SED706 Research Methods and Experimental Design (3)
  • SED708 Ethics and Professional Conduct (3)
  • SED710 Behavior Change Procedures (3)
  • SED712 Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
  • SED714 Supervised Practicum and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis (2)
  • SED716 Maintenance of Client Records (2)
  • SED718 Issues of Cultural and Ethnic Diversity (3)
  • SED722 Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone Research Project (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS = 31 CREDITS

COURSE REPEATS

It may be necessary for a student to repeat a course to achieve a satisfactory grade. Students are encouraged to discuss the matter with their Graduate Faculty Advisor. Students must earn a minimum grade of B when repeating a course.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

  1. Completion of all course work as defined on the student’s Plan of Study;
  2. A minimum grade of B earned in all courses, thereby resulting in a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00;
  3. All degree students are required to file an Application for Degree form with the Registrar’s Office at the onset of the final term of study. The Application for Degree form is accessible from the Registrar’s web page.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

Consult the Applied Behavior Analysis Program for further information.

TIME LIMITATION

A student admitted to the program is expected to maintain continuity in his/her academic program and enroll each semester until all requirements are completed. Normally, a part time student should complete a minimum of three (3) credits per semester. Full time students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester. All requirements for the Master of Science degree must be completed within a period of five years from the student’s enrollment for graduate study. For information on leaves of absence and extensions, consult the Academic Regulations and Standards section in the electronic catalog, Graduate Section, on the Daemen web page or in the Graduate Catalog.

ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

REQUIREMENTS

  • SED700 Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
  • SED702 Behavior Measurement and Assessment (3)
  • SED704 Functional Assessment (3)
  • SED706 Research Methods and Experimental Design (3)
  • SED708 Ethics and Professional Conduct (3)
  • SED710 Behavior Change Procedures (3)
  • SED712 Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
  • SED714 Supervised Practicum and Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis (2)
  • SED716 Maintenance of Client Records (2)
  • SED718 Issues of Cultural and Ethnic Diversity (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS = 28 CREDITS

COURSE REPEATS

It may be necessary for a student to repeat a course to achieve a satisfactory grade. Students are encouraged to discuss the matter with their Graduate Faculty Advisor. Students must earn a minimum grade of B when repeating a course.

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

  1. Completion of all course work as defined on the student’s Plan of Study;
  2. A minimum grade of B earned in all courses, thereby resulting in a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00;
  3. All Advanced Certification students are required to file an Application for Certificate form with the Registrar’s Office at the onset of the final term of study. The Application for Certificate form is accessible from the Registrar’s office.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE

Consult the Applied Behavior Analysis Program for further information.

TIME LIMITATION

A student admitted to the program is expected to maintain continuity in his/her academic program and enroll each semester until all requirements are completed. Normally, a part time student should complete a minimum of three (3) credits per semester. Full time students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester. All requirements for the Advanced Certificate must be completed within a period of five years from the student’s enrollment for graduate study. For information on leaves of absence and extensions, consult the Academic Regulations and Standards section in the electronic catalog, Graduate Section, on the Daemen web page, and in the Graduate Bulletin.

NOTE

Consumer Information on Certificate Programs is published on the Daemen Website.

Suggested Course Sequence

Use this link to access the suggested course sequences for the MS, Applied Behavior Analysis and Adv Cert, Applied Behavior Analysis