College of Education & Health Professions

The goal of the Master of Education in Special Education Applied Behavior Analysis degree is to prepare educator and clinician behavior analysts to promote positive behavior change utilizing the principles and techniques of behavior analysis.

Program Objectives

Provide students with an in-depth understanding of the scientific foundation, principles, and concepts of behavior analysis and how they came about through the methodological approach of the experimental analysis of behavior.

Provide students with an understanding of how cognitive and developmental disabilities potentially affect behavioral outcomes within the context of education, employment and independent living.

Prepare students to be able to navigate federal laws (IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ADA) and promote the rights of clients with disabilities as they apply to public and private education and access to communications, employment, community living, recreation etc.

Prepare students to identify the social significance of behavior change and assess behavior utilizing skills assessments and functional behavior assessment techniques to create intervention plans to support positive behavior change.

Prepare students to ethically apply principles and concepts of behavior analysis in school, clinic, home and community-based settings to diverse populations of children and adults.

Prepare students to be practitioner/researchers to critically evaluate effectiveness of behavior interventions and contribute to the research knowledge base for effective behavior interventions across a range of behaviors, populations and settings.

Prepare students to be contributing members of the ABA and education professions through contributions to local, state and national education and behavior analytic organizations.