Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S.
Saint Louis University's M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis involves the application of behavioral principles to produce socially significant changes in behavior.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) approaches may involve services for a full spectrum of mental health disorders, especially developmental disorders. Other areas of practice include working with communities and organizations. Practitioners use direct assessments, research evidence and single-subject research designs to inform and evaluate interventions. The diversity of training provides graduates with opportunities for broad clinical application, such as autism spectrum disorders, sports, organizational behavior management, etc.
SLU's ABA program provides state-of-the-art in-person and online learning that prepares students for a successful career. Graduates of our M.S. ABA program are well-positioned to apply to Ph.D. programs around the country in behavior analysis and other fields. Students who complete a thesis often gain opportunities to present their research at local and national conferences.
Curriculum Overview
SLU's applied behavior analysis curriculum includes seven 3-credit courses, 4 credits of thesis, and five 2- or 3-credit practicum 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 program requires 39 credits, as follows:
- Principles and Concepts in Behavior Analysis
- Measurement and Experimental Design
- Behavioral Assessment
- Behavior Change and Process
- Behavior Change and Ethics
- Supervision and Organizational Behavior Management
- Philosophy of Behavioral Science
- Practicum with corresponding Integrative Seminars and Advanced Clinical Research Seminars
- Thesis Research
More detailed program information can be found in the ABA Program Student Handbook here.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
The SLU ABA program meets all required elements for persons seeking BCBA certification, including degree, coursework and field experience.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
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. Those seeking BACB certification through SLU’s practicum must complete a total of 1,500 of ABA field practicum/semester under the supervision of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). An integrated seminar occurs once monthly for one credit and all are required to attend.
Field Education Policy and Procedures Manual
Careers
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. Among many others, areas of practice also include health, sports, and fitness, organizational behavior management, and gerontology. Practitioners use direct assessments, research evidence and single-subject research designs to inform and evaluate interventions designed.
Admission Requirements
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.
Application Requirements
- Application form and fee $65
- Transcript(s)
- Two letters of recommendation (one academic, one professional)
- One academic letter of recommendation from a professor who has evaluated your academic performance in the classroom
- One professional letter of recommendation from a supervisor who has evaluated your work in the field or related volunteer experience
- If you have been out of school five or more years, you may submit two professional letters.
- If you are entering the program directly from an undergraduate program, you may submit two academic letters.
- Résumé
- Interview (May be requested)
- Professional Statement
Requirements for International Students
ABA requires a TOEFEL score of 92 or higher.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships.
- Proof of financial support that must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
- Courses taken and/or lectures attended
- Practical laboratory work
- The maximum and minimum grades attainable
- The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
- Any honors or degrees received.
WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Application Deadlines
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 August 1. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must fill out the GA application found under scholarships and financial aid by March 1.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The admissions committee considers several factors to determine a candidate's eligibility:
- Strength of the undergraduate program
- Application information
- Professional statement
- Work experience
- Any graduate degrees earned
- Motivation, leadership and service
- The undergraduate GPA is weighted with other criteria in the admissions process.
- Clinical experience in behavior analysis
Financial Aid
We recognize that cost can be a concern when choosing to continue your education and have identified the following financial aid resources to assist you.
FAFSA and Other Resources
All incoming students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. 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:
Scholarships
New and continuing students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. Prospective students will be automatically screened for scholarship eligibility. No additional application is required; awards are based on information provided in the admission application.
Please note that the terms of the scholarship are subject to change if a student petitions for a degree transfer or fails to remain in good academic standing.
Fellowships
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 by the Doerr Center throughout the year.
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 January 2 to be considered for nomination. Find more details on application components here.
Graduate Assistantships
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 partial assistantships.
Other Funding for Current Students
Accreditation
- Graduates will be able to assess relevant behavior analysis literature/scholarly contributions.
- Graduates will be able to apply behavioral theories, practices, policies or research methodologies.
- Graduates will be able to apply knowledge from applied behavior analysis to address problems in broader contexts.
- Graduates will be able to articulate applied behavior analysis explanations/arguments to a disciplinary/professional audience in both written and oral formats.
- Graduates will be able to evidence scholarly/professional integrity (ethics) in behavior analysis.
| 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 | |
Continuation Standards
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.
Standard Track (full-time student)
| 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 | |
Standard Track (part-time student)
| 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 | |
For admission questions contact:
Social Work School Graduate Admissions Office
socialwork@slu.edu
314-977-2752
For program questions contact:
Natalie Parks, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Program
Associate Clinical Professor
natalie.parks@slu.edu
314-977-2733