Study the social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities.
SLU's ABA programs prepare students to use empirical evidence, ethical values, and behavior analytic skills in interdisciplinary professional practice with a variety of populations and settings.
Field Education Policy and Procedures Manual
Saint Louis University's M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis involves the application of behavioral principles to produce socially significant changes in behavior.
The program requires 39 credits, as follows:
SLU's applied behavior analysis curriculum includes seven three-credit courses, four credits of thesis, and five two or three-credit practica courses. Students must complete 1,500 hours of field practicum under the supervision of a board-certified behavior analyst. This program is offered in full-time and part-time formats.
The SLU ABA program meets all required elements for persons seeking BCBA certification, including degree, coursework and field experience.
SLU's applied behavior analysis program offers students a practice-integrated education. Students are transformed into knowledgeable and ethical scientist-practitioners prepared for a range of clinical and management careers across the health, education and social services sectors.
After graduation, applied behavior analysis students are eligible to sit for the examination to become a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Alumni from this program have gone on to provide behavioral health services to a range of individuals including children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. They've also gone on to lead state education initiatives and advocacy projects.
ABA approaches may involve services for a full spectrum of mental health disorders, especially developmental disorders. Other areas of practice include work with communities and organizations. Practitioners use direct assessments, research evidence and single-subject research designs to inform and evaluate interventions designed.
Successful applicants should possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
It is recommended that students have taken prior coursework in applied behavior analysis or have independently studied ABA texts.
ABA requires a TOEFEL score of 92 or higher.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
All applicants who apply by the priority deadline of March 1 are reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed for admissions until Aug. 1. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must fill out the GA application found under scholarships and financial aid by March 1.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:
We recognize that when choosing to continue your education, cost can be a concern. To help ease that decision, we have identified the following financial aid resources.
All incoming students should complete the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A step-by-step guide to submitting your FAFSA is available online. Saint Louis University Student Financial Services provides a Graduate Financial Aid Handbook that outlines the process of financing your graduate education.
The following links to resources in Saint Louis University Student Financial Services may also be helpful:
New and continuing students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Prospective students who apply for admission by the priority deadline are automatically screened for scholarship eligibility. No additional application is required; awards are based on information provided in the admission application.
The priority deadline is March 1.
Please note that the terms of scholarship are subject to change if the student petitions for a degree transfer or fails to remain in good academic standing.
The Doerr Fellowship for Equity and Inclusion is a full-tuition fellowship funded by the School of Social Work for new and continuing students. A separate application is required with a deadline of March 1. This fellowship requires that recipients serve as members of the School of Social Work's Equity and Inclusion Committee. Recipients will also be expected to actively participate in the diversity, equity and inclusion activities sponsored throughout the year by the Doerr Center.
Newly accepted master's or doctoral students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for a University-wide Diversity, Dissertation or Presidential fellowship. You must first submit the full application minus the nomination letter to the School of Social Work by Jan. 2 to be considered for nomination. Find more details on application components here. Completed applications including all application components minus the nomination letter should be submitted as a PDF to kristi.richter@slu.edu.
By filling out a graduate assistantship application, you will automatically be considered for a full or partial graduate assistantship with the School of Social Work. Assistantships are appointed for one year. Students must reapply to be considered for a second year and there are no guarantees that recipients will receive subsequent/continuing assistantships.
Full graduate assistantships are University-funded assistantships (UFA) awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters, a duration of nine months, 20 hours per week, working with designated faculty. Most full assistantships are assigned to help faculty with research (GRA) and a small number may be assigned to assist with administrative work (GA), or faculty teaching (GTA).
The full graduate assistant works with one or two faculty members, depending on faculty needs. Time is divided between both faculty mentors, if the student is assigned two. Students who receive a fully-funded UFA in one year may not receive a UFA in subsequent years, although they remain eligible for partial assistantships throughout their pursuit of a graduate degree in the School of Social Work.
Partial graduate assistantships are funded and awarded by the School of Social Work. They are assigned and funded for two semesters, a duration of nine months, 8-16 hours per week, working with assigned faculty. Partial assistantships may be assigned to assist with administrative work (GA), research (GRA), or faculty teaching (GTA). Depending on the hours assigned, tuition benefits will differ; health insurance and stipends are not awarded with partial assistantships.
Current students may be eligible for conference/training funding, graduate assistantships and scholarships. For more information and applications, visit the School of Social Work's Google Site.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ABA 5746 | Principles & Concepts in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
ABA 5774 | Measurement & Experimental Design | 3 |
ABA 5826 | Practicum I | 2 |
ABA 5820 | ABA Integrative Seminar I | 1 |
ABA 5747 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
ABA 5748 | Behavior Change and Process | 3 |
ABA 5827 | Practicum II | 2 |
ABA 5830 | ABA Integrative Seminar II | 1 |
ABA 5749 | Behavior Change and Ethics | 3 |
ABA 5001 | Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management | 3 |
ABA 5828 | Practicum III | 2 |
ABA 5840 | ABA Integrative Seminar III | 1 |
ABA 5002 | Philosophy of Behavioral Science | 3 |
ABA 5115 | Advanced Clinical Research and Practice Seminar IV | 1 |
ABA 5116 | Practicum IV | 2 |
ABA 5117 | Advanced Clinical Research Competency Seminar V | 1 |
ABA 5118 | Practicum V | 1 |
ABA 5990 | Thesis Research | 4 |
Total Credits | 39 |
Persons seeking BACB certification must complete a total of 1,500 clock hours of ABA field practicum/semester under the supervision of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Five hours a week need to be research under the supervision of Alyssa Wilson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, or Heather Lewis, Ed.S., M.S.W. Fall practicum launch is dependent upon meeting with the field liaison and date of acceptance. A professional seminar will occur once monthly for one credit and all are required to attend.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Critical course: ABA 5746 | Principles & Concepts in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5774 | Measurement & Experimental Design | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5826 | Practicum I | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5820 | ABA Integrative Seminar I | 1 |
Credits | 9 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ABA 5747 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5748 | Behavior Change and Process | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5827 | Practicum II | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5830 | ABA Integrative Seminar II | 1 |
Credits | 9 | |
Summer | ||
Critical course: ABA 5749 | Behavior Change and Ethics | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5001 | Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5828 | Practicum III | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5840 | ABA Integrative Seminar III | 1 |
Credits | 9 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ABA 5002 | Philosophy of Behavioral Science | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5116 | Practicum IV | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5115 | Advanced Clinical Research and Practice Seminar IV | 1 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ABA 5118 | Practicum V | 1 |
Critical course: ABA 5117 | Advanced Clinical Research Competency Seminar V | 1 |
Critical course: ABA 5990 | Thesis Research | 4 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 39 |
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Critical course: ABA 5746 | Principles & Concepts in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5774 | Measurement & Experimental Design | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ABA 5747 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5748 | Behavior Change and Process | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
Critical course: ABA 5749 | Behavior Change and Ethics | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5001 | Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ABA 5002 | Philosophy of Behavioral Science | 3 |
Critical course: ABA 5826 | Practicum I | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5820 | ABA Integrative Seminar I | 1 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ABA 5827 | Practicum II | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5830 | ABA Integrative Seminar II | 1 |
Credits | 3 | |
Summer | ||
Critical course: ABA 5828 | Practicum III | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5840 | ABA Integrative Seminar III | 1 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ABA 5116 | Practicum IV | 2 |
Critical course: ABA 5115 | Advanced Clinical Research and Practice Seminar IV | 1 |
Credits | 3 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ABA 5118 | Practicum V | 1 |
Critical course: ABA 5117 | Advanced Clinical Research Competency Seminar V | 1 |
Critical course: ABA 5990 | Thesis Research | 4 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 39 |