Dr. Josh Plavnick
Professor and Director of Special Education Programs
Joshua Plavnick is a professor of special education as well as the director of the Special Education master's program, Special Education Ph.D. program and Special Education Multi-Tiered Systems of Support master's program. He is also the director of the Early Learning Institute, which he founded in 2014. His research interests involve the development and implementation of community-based interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, automated measurement of human behavior, applications of technology to behavior analytic interventions, and training educational service providers to administer behavior analytic interventions.
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.
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. This program provides the required coursework to be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) examination. Students must complete the supervised fieldwork hours required for exam eligibility independently, outside of the program.. 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
- 29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
- Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
- #13 in Best Online Master's in Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
- #22 in Best Education Schools — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
- #3 in Online Graduate Programs for Special Education — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
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 on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.