Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Master of Arts
Online
Course Delivery
30
Total Credits
$933
Credit Hour
2 Years
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders prepares students to support individuals with autism through varied methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This fully online program is practitioner-focused, allowing students to work in settings with individuals with autism while earning their master’s degree. Program graduates will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Students also have the option to earn an ASD teaching endorsement.
Program Outcomes
Roughly one in 44 U.S. children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to recent data from the CDC. While there is no “cure” for ASD, interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis may reduce symptoms, improve skills, and maximize an individual’s ability to participate in the community. This degree will provide graduates with the skillset to support individuals with autism.
Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA). BCBAs use the science of behavior to develop techniques and treatment for analyzing and changing behavior to improve the lives of others. Due to nationwide standards that require insurance companies to provide ABA therapy to those in need, there is a growing need for behavior analysts.
Career Outlook
Current demand for behavior analysts with a strong autism intervention is high across the state of Michigan and the U.S. This master’s program prepares students to excel in a variety of job placements as behavior analysts, overseeing ABA therapy for individuals with autism. This can include ABA clinics, schools, residential treatment facilities, and in the home. The average starting salary for a behavior analyst is $60,000+, often with additional allowances for professional development, necessary technology, and mileage. Other career fields include education, organizational behavior management, health and fitness, substance abuse, and gerontology.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Emily Bouck
Professor and Special Education Program Director
Dr. Emily C. Bouck is a professor and Director of the Special Education Program at Michigan State University. She teaches courses in the Special Education undergraduate and masters’ programs and her research focuses on mathematical interventions for students with disabilities or those at risk of a disability.
Dr. Tiffany Joy
Professor and Special Education Program Director
Tiffany Joy is an assistant professor of special education and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her research interests include ways to support individuals with disabilities in work place settings as well as the use application of video modeling to teach complex skills to adolescents with autism. Most recently, she investigated the use of video modeling to teach vocational skills and work-related social skills to adolescents with autism. She is also interested in methods to promote generalization of skills, such as matrix training, multiple exemplar training, and programming common stimuli.
Course Information
CEP 843: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characteristics and Educational Implications (3 Credits)
CEP 844: Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers (3 Credits)
CEP 845: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment and Intervention (3 Credits)
CEP 846: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Advanced Topics (3 Credits)
CEP 848: Supervision in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 851: Concepts and Principles in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 854: Ethics in Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 855: Verbal Behavior in Education (3 Credits)
CEP 942: Single-case Experimental Designs for Intervention Research (3 Credits)
Students in the program have the option to add a teaching endorsement in ASD by:
- successfully completing the degree requirements listed above,
- taking 3-6 credits of practicum (CEP 894J) as their elective course,
- and successfully passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- 3.0 GPA in last two years of undergraduate and all graduate courses
- Previous work experience preferred (Résumé/CV)
- Experience working with children and youth with disabilities in a school or other educational setting
- TOEFL/IELTS if English is not your native language
- A written personal statement detailing your professional interests and goals that are consistent with the objectives of the degree program
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required admission materials
-
Admission to the program is competitive and subject to space and availability. Not all students who meet the above requirements will be admitted.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
January 15
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorders prepares students to support individuals with autism through varied methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). This fully online program is practitioner-focused, allowing students to work in settings with individuals with autism while earning their master’s degree. Program graduates will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Students also have the option to earn an ASD teaching endorsement.
Program Outcomes
Roughly one in 44 U.S. children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to recent data from the CDC. While there is no “cure” for ASD, interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis may reduce symptoms, improve skills, and maximize an individual’s ability to participate in the community. This degree will provide graduates with the skillset to support individuals with autism.
Graduates of this program will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA). BCBAs use the science of behavior to develop techniques and treatment for analyzing and changing behavior to improve the lives of others. Due to nationwide standards that require insurance companies to provide ABA therapy to those in need, there is a growing need for behavior analysts.
Career Outlook
Current demand for behavior analysts with a strong autism intervention is high across the state of Michigan and the U.S. This master’s program prepares students to excel in a variety of job placements as behavior analysts, overseeing ABA therapy for individuals with autism. This can include ABA clinics, schools, residential treatment facilities, and in the home. The average starting salary for a behavior analyst is $60,000+, often with additional allowances for professional development, necessary technology, and mileage. Other career fields include education, organizational behavior management, health and fitness, substance abuse, and gerontology.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Emily Bouck
Professor and Special Education Program Director
Dr. Emily C. Bouck is a professor and Director of the Special Education Program at Michigan State University. She teaches courses in the Special Education undergraduate and masters’ programs and her research focuses on mathematical interventions for students with disabilities or those at risk of a disability.
Dr. Tiffany Joy
Professor and Special Education Program Director
Tiffany Joy is an assistant professor of special education and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her research interests include ways to support individuals with disabilities in work place settings as well as the use application of video modeling to teach complex skills to adolescents with autism. Most recently, she investigated the use of video modeling to teach vocational skills and work-related social skills to adolescents with autism. She is also interested in methods to promote generalization of skills, such as matrix training, multiple exemplar training, and programming common stimuli.
Course Information
CEP 843: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Characteristics and Educational Implications (3 Credits)
CEP 844: Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers (3 Credits)
CEP 845: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment and Intervention (3 Credits)
CEP 846: Autism Spectrum Disorders: Advanced Topics (3 Credits)
CEP 848: Supervision in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 851: Concepts and Principles in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 854: Ethics in Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 855: Verbal Behavior in Education (3 Credits)
CEP 942: Single-case Experimental Designs for Intervention Research (3 Credits)
Students in the program have the option to add a teaching endorsement in ASD by:
- successfully completing the degree requirements listed above,
- taking 3-6 credits of practicum (CEP 894J) as their elective course,
- and successfully passing the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- 3.0 GPA in last two years of undergraduate and all graduate courses
- Previous work experience preferred (Résumé/CV)
- Experience working with children and youth with disabilities in a school or other educational setting
- TOEFL/IELTS if English is not your native language
- A written personal statement detailing your professional interests and goals that are consistent with the objectives of the degree program
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required admission materials
-
Admission to the program is competitive and subject to space and availability. Not all students who meet the above requirements will be admitted.
Key Dates
Fall Semester
Application Deadline
January 15
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.The MSU Value Promise
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