Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Certification Preparation and Graduate Programs

Autistics may receive services from multi-disciplinary teams consisting of behavior analysts (BCBAs), counselors/psychologists, early intervention providers, teachers, occupational therapists, paraprofessionals, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, and more. None of them will be effective unless they are properly educated, trained, and certified in proper assessment and treatments for Autism. States may have their own Autism endorsement or Autism certification programs, but an internationally recognized and highly respected certification for Autism Specialists is from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). BACB's two most common certifications are Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). The discipline of behavior analysis is broad and varied, so BCBA candidates who want to specialize in Autism must have education and training that focus on Autism.

Behavioral Intervention in Autism
Graduate Certificate

Choose from Two Tracks:
Behavioral Intervention in Autism Track
BCBA Certification Preparation Track
BACB Approved Coursework

Developed in collaboration with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, this award-winning BACB approved program is one of the very few in the country available entirely online for individuals interested in expanding their knowledge of behavioral intervention for autism. With a critical shortage of skilled early intervention professionals in the United States, UMass Lowell's autism program is meeting the growing demand for specialists is this field. This online Autism Certificate program offers two track options.

The BIA Certificate track is the 4-course Graduate Certificate Program in Behavioral Intervention in Autism, designed to provide professionals working in education, child care, speech and language disorders, and mental health and human services with an understanding of autism and related development disorders, as well as an introduction to behavioral methods and how and where such methods can be used. This track has also attracted a large number of parents of autistic children. Applicants for this track must have a bachelor's degree.

The BCBA Certification Preparation track is the 5-course Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) preparation program, which involves a sequence of online autism courses approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) to meet coursework requirements towards national certification as a Behavior Analyst. Applicants for this track must have a master's degree in ABA or a related field.

• Curriculum and Instruction / Autism Studies - MEd
• Psychology - BA
• Children's Learning & Development - BA

The "America's Best Colleges" 2011 edition of U.S. News & World Report has ranked Saint Joseph's University among the top 15 master's universities in the north for the 13th consecutive year.

Behavior Analysis
Graduate Certificate

Qualify for BCBA Certification
BACB Approved Coursework

The BACB approved post-graduate Certificate in Behavior Analysis online program is designed for professionals pursuing careers as a behavior analyst, behavior manager or consultant in the justice system, school system, or community services. This program focuses on developing new and innovative investigative approaches and techniques to the study of behavior and motivation. Graduates of this program will be trained to effectively work with behavioral problems and disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. This program provides the BACB approved sequence of coursework toward BCBA certification eligibility.

Special Education / Autism - Master of Science
SJU’s online Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialization — available as part of our online Master’s in Special Education degree— gives students the advanced education to provide early intervention, special education, and habilitation services to children and adults with  ASD.

• Criminal Justice / Behavior Analysis - MS
• Business Intelligence / Behavior Analysis - MS

Applied Behavior Analysis
Graduate Certificate Plus Field Experience

BCBA Certification Preparation
BACB Approved Coursework
Supervised Field Experience Included

This BACB approved post graduate certificate program is designed to assist behavior analysts and those working in related fields with updating their licensure and further expanding their expertise related to developmental disabilities, geriatric conditions, behavioral and learning difficulties, and mental illness. This certificate prepares students to sit for the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Applicants must have a master's degree in a related field and five years' experience. The program can be completed in under a year, depending on field supervision availability.

• Behavior Analytic Theory
• Measurement, Evaluation, and Ethics
• Human Performance Engineering I & II
• Intervention Design
• Intervention Evaluation
• BCBA Supervised Practicum*

*Completing supervised practical work experience required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board while enrolled in an approved program, such as this one, can lead to a significant reduction of required field experience hours (1,000 versus 1,500).

• Child & Adolescent Psychology - Graduate Certificate
• School Psychology - EdS

Psychology / Applied Behavioral Analysis
Master of Science

Qualify for BCBA Certification
BACB Approved Coursework

Pursuing a Master of Science in Psychology from Kaplan University offers students a unique opportunity to blend the rich, academic tradition of psychology with exciting, contemporary applications of the science. The BACB approved program will focus on the processes that underlie the individual human experience and behavior, as well as core knowledge, theories, and research in the field. Students of the Applied Behavioral Analysis specialization will focus on the developmentally disabled, the autistic, and individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Students will utilize behavioral concepts and theories, and develop assessment and intervention skills.

Psychology / Applied Behavioral Analysis - Bachelor of Science
The BACB approved Applied Behavioral Analysis specialization will explore behavioral development from birth to adolescence. Students will extensively examine design, analysis, and application of learning theories and behavioral principles to understand what motivates human behavior. They will learn the skills required for a myriad of jobs, including working with autistic children and adults with special needs and assisting certified behavioral analysts who conduct research or create behavior modification programs.

The BS in Psychology program offers an Advanced Start option. If you earned an associate's or bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college, and you are interested in a career that focuses on human behavior and development, the Advanced Start Bachelor of Science in Psychology is for you. The degree is also designed to prepare you to pursue graduate studies in psychology. Full-time students can complete this program in as little as 2 years.

• Psychology / Child Development - BS
• Early Childhood Development - BS

Special Education / Autism - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Special Education program at Drexel University seeks to produce professionals who are equipped with the fundamental skills, knowledge, and competencies they will need to meet the needs of students at risk for and with disabilities in multiple settings. The Autism concentration is designed for those who seek additional expertise in this critical need area. It will provide knowledge and skills for working with both students with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome as well as effective teaching methods, interventions, and supports.

Special Education - Master of Arts in Education
The Master of Arts in Education (MAED) with a specialization in Cross-Categorical Special Education is a graduate degree program preparing candidates for teacher licensure in the field of special education. Candidates for this program have already earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to gain the pedagogical skills and knowledge that will assist them in becoming effective special education educators. The program’s curriculum includes orientation to the exceptional child, foundations and methodologies of mild disabilities, diagnosis and assessment of disabilities, structured English immersion, reading and language arts instruction, inclusion strategies, and collaboration and resource management for the special educator.

Throughout the program, students are required to complete verified field experiences with the focus of each observation relating to specific course content. Documentation will be maintained in the student’s electronic portfolio.

For program disclosure information, click here

Play Therapy - Graduate Certificate
Help your youngest, most vulnerable clients improve their mental well being with a therapeutic approach that's entirely natural to them - play. Capella's five-course graduate Play Therapy certificate, one of few available online, addresses the core academic content areas required by the Association for Play Therapy to earn its Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and Supervisor (RPT-S) credentials. You will learn play therapy theory, methodology, and applications with expert faculty who live (and love) what they teach. The faculty leaders who created the courses - and all instructors in the program — are registered play therapists or registered play therapist supervisors. Whether you're in psychology, counseling, social work, speech therapy, or a related discipline, this Play Therapy certificate can help you deepen your therapeutic connection with the kids you serve.

Child and Adolescent Development - Master of Science
The Child and Adolescent Development curriculum is designed to provide you with the knowledge, theory, and best practices needed to promote and support the development of children and adolescents. Courses cover such topics as prenatal, child, and adolescent development; familial, societal, and cultural influences; psychological and educational measurement theory; and research methodology. People likely to be interested in this specialization include professionals working in social services, health care, government, and education who wish to pursue leadership positions in organizations that serve children and adolescents.

• Addiction Counseling - MS
• Counseling Psychology - MS
• Studies in Human Behavior - MS

Child Development / Preschool & Infant/Toddler - Bachelor of Science
With the Dual Concentration (Preschool and Infant/Toddler), you examine the foundations of development and the importance of relationships to the social and emotional well-being of infants and toddlers. You also explore the roles and responsibilities of the preschool professional and the development of language and vocabulary, social skills, and scientific and mathematical concepts in preschool children. Through the Making Connections courses, you keep up-to-date with discussions and explorations of current research, trends, and issues that are impacting the lives of young children, their families, and your work as an early care and education professional.

The Bachelor of Science in Child Development courses are based on the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). These standards are critical indicators of quality in early childhood care and education and their inclusion reflects the integrity of the Walden learning experience as well as its relevancy in an educational setting.

• Child Development / Preschool - BS
• Child Development / Infant & Toddler - BS
• Special Education (Non-Licensure) (Grades K-12) - MSEd
• Special Education - PhD
  

Inclusion Education - Graduate Certificate
This certificate program serves teachers who wish to develop more effective inclusion settings for all of their learners. It is a 15-credit online program for educators, both teachers and administrators, who wish to have more background with respect to inclusion practices and concerns. This unique concentration explores methods and strategies for teaching all students in inclusion settings, with a special course on the range and use of assistive technologies. Furthermore, participants will review formal and informal procedures for assessing special needs students and utilizing the results to inform and plan instruction. Finally, the concentration teaches the ability to apply special education law to different settings and includes a practicum to integrate inclusive education learning.

Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

A Career Working with Autism

Demand for Autism Professionals

The demand for qualified Autism professionals is very strong , as diagnoses of ASD have increased significantly in recent years and there is still a lack of trained ASD-specific professionals. More than 500,000 individuals under the age of 21 are currently diagnosed with autism. According to the U.S. Department of Education, autism is expected to have a continued growth rate of 10 percent to 17 percent annually. The Centers for Disease Control estimates an increase from 1 in 150 to 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder. Such dramatic numbers and a shortage of qualified autism specialists create a strong demand for trained professionals. In fact, according to the Florida Association of Behavior Analysts, there are 4 job openings for every BCBA.

Autism and Behavior Analysts

Certified Behavior Analysts who are trained specifically in Autism have many career options. They can work in many settings (homes, schools, hospitals, residential facilities, rehabilitation centers, and more). They can work with both children and adults. Despite the age of client, setting, and/or scope, the typical work of a Certified Behavior Analyst includes: 1) Interview and learn more about target behaviors of client(s); 2) Conduct direct and indirect assessments of behavior(s); 3) Propose strategies for behavior change based on assessment results and knowledge of effective treatment plans for similar issues;
4) Implement the intervention; 5) Collect data before and during the intervention;
6) Evaluate effectiveness of behavioral intervention; 7) Make modifications if necessary and plan for maintenance and generalization.

Autism and Teachers

Autism or ABA focused training and education has become increasingly important for teachers. With rising ASD diagnoses, it is highly likely that a teacher will encounter an autistic student in the classroom. To prepare for ASD students, teachers can pursue degree and certificate programs that specialize in Autism or Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Even if the coursework is in ABA without a focus on Autism, the teacher will have many of the tools needed to effectively assess and work with an Autistic student. In fact, applied behavior analysis has been the treatment of choice for autistic behavior for the past 30 years.

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