Dr. Tiffany Joy
Associate Professor and Coordinator
Tiffany Joy is an associate 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
Individuals who graduate from the Applied Behavior Analysis program will be skilled and experienced as a behavior analyst in a variety of settings. In the masters program, students will learn how to put data into practice through establishing strategies and activities for children with autism, intellectual, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Supervised fieldwork is included as part of the program curriculum. At the completion of MSU's Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis (MA-ABA), students will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®.
Program Highlights
#9 in Special Education in U.S. News Ranking for 2025
Program Outcomes
In the M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis program, students can expect small class sizes and hands-on training from faculty members who are leaders in their field. This will lead students to be well-prepared for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam, in fact, Spartans typically surpass the national first-time pass rate (65%) with an MSU average first-time pass rate of 85%. Based on the most recent data available, all students were able to begin a doctoral program or start a job immediately following graduation.
Career Outlook
Due to nationwide standards requiring insurance companies to provide ABA therapy to those in need, there is a high need for individuals with skills such as those gained from the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis. Career opportunities vary across many fields, supervising ABA therapy for individuals with ASD, counseling, social work, special education and more. These opportunities can be found in clinics, homes, schools or residential treatment facilities with an average starting salary of $60,000+.
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
Course Information
Core Courses
- CEP 845 Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment and Intervention (3 Credits)
- CEP 848 Organizational Behavior Management (3 Credit)
- CEP 851 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
CEP 852 Experimental Analysis of Behavior (3 Credits) - CEP 853 Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavior Change (3 Credits)
- CEP 854 Ethics in Behavior Analysis (3 Credits)
- CEP 855 Foundations of Behavioral Analysis (3 Credits)
- CEP 894F Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (10 Credits)
- CEP 899 Master’s Thesis Research 4 Credits)
- CEP 942 Single-case Experimental Design for Educational Research (3 Credits)
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.