UMass Online
Behavioral Intervention in Autism
Online Graduate Certificate Program
Award Winning, BACB Approved Graduate Certificate Program
for Autism Professionals and Parents of Autistic Children
Developed in collaboration with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, the Behavioral Intervention in Autism certificate 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.
Program Highlights:
- Developed in collaboration with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center
- Winner of Sloan-C Award for Outstanding Teaching and Learning Program
- 100% online program
- All courses are Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) approved
- Just 4 courses to earn the Behavioral Intervention in Autism certificate
- Just 5 courses to be eligible for BCBA certification exam
- No GRE or TEFL required
The Online Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program Offers Two Tracks:
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.
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 to meet coursework requirements towards national certification as a Behavior Analyst.
BIA Certificate Track Required Courses include:
- Introduction to Behavioral Intervention in Autism
- Teaching and Positive Behavioral Support in Autism
- 2 Courses from the Electives List
BIA Certificate Track Elective Courses include:
- Measurement and Experimental Design in Behavioral Autism
- Functional Analysis and Treatment of Challenging Behavior
- Behavioral Intervention Program Models in Autism
- The Family System
- Psychological Approaches to Child Maltreatment
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Preparation Track Required Courses include:
- Introduction to Behavioral Intervention in Autism
- Teaching and Positive Behavioral Support in Autism
- Measurement and Experimental Design in Behavioral Autism
- Functional Analysis and Treatment of Challenging Behavior
- Behavioral Intervention Program Models in Autism
Course Descriptions
47.501 Applied Developmental Psychology
Provides a life span developmental perspective on individual and social adaptation and change. Examines appropriate theory and research, and illustrates the influences of environmental, social and cultural factors. 3 credits.
47.504 The Family System
Studies family processes and the interplay between the family and other social, cultural, and socio-economic systems. Topics include parental roles, changing family structures, racial and ethnic factors, and interactions between family, work, and community. 3 credits.
47.508 The Child in the Community
This course is designed to provide a perspective on the role of the community in the lives of children and adolescents, and the influences of youth on the dynamics of the community. The changing developmental needs of children and adolescents will be explored in the context of interrelated community social institutions including family, school and employment settings, child welfare, and law enforcement. Topics discussed will include socialization, education, socioeconomic status, childcare and safety. Prerequisite: undergraduate coursework in developmental psychology, or 47.501 3 credits.
47.509 Psychological Approaches to Child Maltreatment
The course addresses the painful topic of Child Maltreatment in the context of research on optimal, typical, and unacceptable treatment of children, as maltreatment cannot be considered apart from acceptable and even optimal treatment. The impact of maltreatment on the development of the child from the first growth of physical organs in the prenatal infant through the development of moral reasoning in the adolescent is addressed. Both theories and research will be discussed. 3 credits.
47.561 Introduction to Behavioral Intervention in Autism
This course provides an introduction to the causes and diagnosis of autism, scientific validation, applied behavior analysis, and ethical treatment. Students also learn to write functional objectives, plan positive reinforcement, and design an applied measurement system in the context of developing Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Eduction plans. The isse of culturally appropriate interventions is addressed Prerequisite: coursework in the psychology of child development, or permission. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: Coursework in the psychology of child development, or related experience.
47.562 Teaching and Positive Behavioral Support in Autism
This course covers the application of specific behavioral teaching procedures, including prompting, reinforcement, shaping, chaining, error correction and generalization methods, and the development of instructional plans. Emphasis is placed on procedures and plans to teach communication, social, self-help and pre-academic skills. Application of such methods in inclusive clasroom settings is also considered. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: 47.561
47.565 Measurement and Experimental Design in Behavioral Autism
This course provides advanced coverage of measurement methods used in behavioral intervention. It also offers in-depth coverage of the "within-subject" experimental designs commonly used in behavioral research and practice. Component analysis and parametric analysis methods, and ethical considerations in research, are also covered. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: 47.561
47.566 Functional Analysis and Treatment of Challenging Behavior
This course covers the purpose, rationale and methods used in conducting and interpreting functional analyses of challenging, or "maladaptive", behaviors (self-injury, stereotypy, agression). It also describes the full range of behavioral procedures used to decrease or eliminate these behaviors, with emphasis placed on ethical interventions and the desirability of least restrictive and non-aversive strategies. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: 47.562
47.568 Behavioral Intervention Program Models in Autism
This course explores how educational environments can be designed to maximize learning. Different models of effective, evidence-based behavioral intervenions are analyzed. The use of teaching activity schedules and staff training to build supportive educational settings is also covered. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: 47.562
All of the online autism courses that are part of UMass Lowell's Graduate Certificate in Behavioral Intervention in Autism may be counted towards the online Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Studies Option, with the balance of the required courses focusing on curriculum development and instructional practices in a K-12 school setting.
Students interested in this Master's degree program must first complete the online Autism Certificate Program before applying into this program. The M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Autism Studies Option is a 10 course (30 credit) master's program which can be completed entirely online.
FAQs about the Online Certificate Program in Behavioral Intervention in Autism and the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Credential
1. What is an Applied Behavior Analyst?
An Applied Behavior Analyst is someone who has in-depth knowledge of the field and methods of the study of the science of behavior. Behavior analysis services help people learn new behaviors, increase or reduce existing behaviors, and teach individuals when to use specific behaviors in specific instances. The scope of these services ranges from addressing challenging behaviors of an individual person to changing the behavior of an entire organization or community.
Behavior analysts provide services to individuals, families, group homes, schools, mental health agencies, hospitals, industrial and business settings, and other agencies working with individuals who require intensive behavioral training and / or consultation. Training and consultation are performed in the areas of educational and adaptive living strategies, challenging behaviors, and staff management. Special populations such as individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities have been shown to benefit greatly from ABA services. ABA is also frequently used in the field of education from typical students to students with disabilities.
2. What is the difference between the certificate and certification?
The certificate is designed for people who do not have a master's degree, and who are interested in gaining some knowledge and skill in this area to enhance their resume, or who wish to work towards starting to earn a master's degree. Certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Behavior Analyst is only available for people who already possess a master's degree in a relevant field and who already have, or will be able to obtain, supervised experience in applied behavior analysis.
3. Is this program just for people who want to become a BCBA certified behavior analyst?
No, the program offers 2 tracks. The BIA track requires only 4 courses and is an excellent option for educators, parents of autistic children, and health and human services professionals. To pursue the 4 course certificate, you only need to hold bachelor's degree.
It should be noted that many parents take the BIA track program. Enabling families to access affordable and competent behavior analysts is an urgent problem because this is not an area in which "do-it-yourself" programming is advisable. Often, however, particularly for persons living far away from services, parents will have to assume major responsibility for their children's intervention programs.
The BCBA preparation track requires 5 specific courses to be taken, as dictated by the BACB. Candidates for this track MUST already have a master's degree in psychology, human services, education, etc.
4. What type of work will I be qualified to do after completing this program?
Whether you pursue BCBA certification or not, the program's courses are designed to provide you with the skills needed to work effectively as a behavior specialist with people on the autism spectrum, and there is great need - in schools, clinics, and elsewhere - for professionals with these skills. However, it is often necessary for education and health care professionals to be licensed, and this certificate does not ensure that you would be able to meet all the requirements for licensure.
5. Can I get my BCBA Certification once I've completed the 5 required courses?
No, this sequence of courses has been approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) to meet their coursework requirement for certification. For full BACB certification, students also have to complete the "mentored or supervised experience" requirement (for which they must make their own arrangements), Finally, students must pass a certification exam administered by BACB. For additional information, please visit http://www.bacb.com.
6. Is a BCBA certified Behavior Analyst the same as an Autism Specialist or Therapist?
Behavior Analysis is an approach to human behavior that is not defined by a single diagnostic issue like Autism. There are behavior analysts who work in prevention of violence at the Centers for Disease Control, there are others that consult to Fortune 500 companies on employee motivation and productivity, and still others that train Human Service Animals. None of those BCBAs necessarily have any knowledge, training, or skill in working with people with Autism and yet they may well hold the BCBA credential based on their training and supervision in those other very important areas.
7. How much will I earn as a BCBA certified professional?
That really depends on your expertise, experience, education and position. Here are some examples of BCBA certified professionals and their median salaries.
| BCBA Certified Professional |
Median Salary |
| Applied Behavior Analyst |
$57,777 |
| Behavior Analyst |
$48,547 |
| Consultant, Education / Training |
$53,000 |
| Clinical Psychologist |
$73,000 |
| Director, Clinical Services |
$63,000 |
| Special Ed Teacher, PK, K, Elementary |
$42,000 |
| ABA Home Therapist |
$40,000 |
Figures provided by Payscale.com
8. What is the career outlook for a Behavior Analyst / Specialist who specializes in Autism?
The demand for behavior analysts far exceeds the number of persons with the expertise required to provide effective ABA programs. The diagnosis of autism is increasing rapidly. 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.
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