Most Popular Searches

PDF and Print Options

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

KIMBERLY A. SCHRECK, Coordinator
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6048
kas24@psu.edu
www.hbg.psu.edu

Degree Conferred:

M.A.

The Graduate Faculty

Richard M. Foxx, Ph.D. (Southern Illinois) Professor of Psychology
Kimberly A. Schreck, Ph.D. (Ohio State) Associate Professor of Psychology

The program, offered at Penn State Harrisburg, helps master's level graduates prepare to function in community settings as applied behavior analysts, and to provide the academic training necessary for graduates to apply for national board certification in behavior analysis. The overall model emphasizes the core areas of the discipline including the scientific basis of behavior analysis, as well as how biological, social, and individual differences affect human behavior. Training will emphasize the development of both assessment and intervention skills.

The program helps prepare graduates to work in hospitals, medical schools, mental health centers, health maintenance organizations, a wide variety of educational settings, forensic settings, research facilities, and in center- and home-based programs for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.

The program is intended for both part- and full-time students. Courses will be scheduled for fall and spring semesters. Admission is in the fall and spring semesters only.

Admission Requirements

Students will be admitted on a competitive basis and must submit the following:

a completed application form
two official transcripts of all colleges and universities attended
three letters of recommendation
a brief (two-page) interest statement

The applicant must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited academic institution, with at least 18 credits in education, psychology, or related disciplines with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above in the last 60 credits. Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations are required in the verbal, quantitative, and analytic portions.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants who have not received a baccalaureate or masters degree from a college/university/institution in a country where English is both the language of instruction and the only official or native language must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and submit the results of that test with the application for admission. a TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 points on the new Internet-based test with a minimum of 23 points on the speaking portion is required for admission; or a minimum composite score of 6.5 on the IELTS test is required for admission.

A personal interview may be required.

Transfer Credits

Subject to the limitations given below, a maximum of 10 credits of high-quality graduate work done at a regionally accredited institution may be applied toward the requirements for the master's degree. Transferred academic work must have been completed within five years prior to the date of the first degree registration at the Graduate School of Penn State, must be of at least B quality (grades of B- are not transferable), and must appear on an official graduate transcript of a regionally accredited university. Pass-fail grades are not transferable to an advanced degree program unless the "Pass" can be substantiated by the former institution as having at least B quality.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for the M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis include 27 credits in required course work, including the master's project paper, supervised internship experience, and 6 elective credits for a total of 33 credits.

ABA Core Courses (to be offered annually) are required for all students in the program.

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)
500. Experimental Analysis of Behavior (3)
511. Behavior Modification (3)
522. Single Subject Research (3)
533. Applied Analysis of Behavior (3)
588. Ethics and Legal issues in ABA (3)
594A. A Research Project (3)
595. Internship (9)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)
555. Behavioral Interventions in Autism (3)
566. Behavioral Pediatrics (3)
577. Behavioral Assessment & Treatment (3)
597. Special Topics (1-3)

PSYCHOLOGY-CI (PSYC)
592. Current Topics (3)

PSYCHOLOGY (PSYCH)
443. Treatment and Education in Developmental Disabilities (3)
476. Child Behavior Disorders (3)

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) course list

PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC) course list

PSYCHOLOGY (PSYCH) course list

Last Revised by the Department: Summer Session 2009

Blue Sheet Item #: 37-05-052

Last updated by Publications: 11/21/06

Review Date: 2/24/09

UCA Revision #1: 11/8/06

This is the official bulletin of The Pennsylvania State University. Programmatic expectations for General Education are those in effect at the time of admission to degree candidacy, and college and major requirements are those in effect at the time of entry to college and major. These are accurately indicated in each student's degree audit.

The University reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations listed here and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this material should be considered a guarantee that completion of a program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

The University Faculty Senate has responsibility for and authority over all academic information contained in the Undergraduate Bulletin.