Program Overview

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Applied Behavior Analysis (BCBA) Program

The Applied Behavior Analysis (BCBA) program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The program is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) under the 5th Edition Standards.

Program Overview

Behavior analysis is a scientific approach to analyzing behavior and how the environment affects it. The science of behavior analysis focuses on principles about how behavior works, or how learning takes place. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the use of those tactics and principles to address socially important problems, and to bring about meaningful behavior change.

Career Opportunities

Behavior analysts function as individual clinicians or are employed in organizations in numerous fields, including education, behavioral medicine, mental health, disability, and children's services, business, and institutions of higher learning. Behavior analysts often supervise associates or other personnel in the implementation of intervention services, or consult to other personnel.

Program Outcomes

The program aims to enable students to:

• Demonstrate a solid content knowledge base that enables them to deliver effective educational and professional services based on current research, theory, and practice
• Employ multiple pedagogical and professional strategies and tools to enable them to be effective practitioners in educational settings and deliver services that promote students' intellectual, social, and emotional development
• Understand the diverse cultural, linguistic, learning, and social strengths and needs of all populations, and incorporate and demonstrate sensitivity to the richness of diverse cultures when providing educational and other school services
• Employ technology to deliver information, instruction, and professional services to all members of the school community
• Reflect on professional practice to make educational decisions and enhance student learning
• Demonstrate positive dispositions that enable them to work as effective educators, citizens, and practitioners within the school and broader community

Program Details and Curriculum

The curriculum in the ABA course sequence is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board 5th Edition Task List standards. Coursework will provide the foundation for acquiring the skills necessary to become a behavior analyst. The coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at Mercy University will provide candidates with the appropriate number of coursework hours required to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Required Courses

• EDUC 519 Basic Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for BCBA
• EDUC 521 Evidence-Based Instructional Methods for BCBA
• EDUC 524 Single Subject Research Designs in Education for BCBA
• EDUC 525 Foundations and Ethical Considerations for Practice as Behavior Analysts for BCBA
• EDUC 526 Functional Assessment and Positive Behavior Supports for BCBA
• EDUC 527 Verbal Behavior for BCBA
• EDUC 528 Supervision and Collaboration for Professional Behavior Analysts

Admission Requirements

If you have not obtained a Master's Degree, please apply to one of Mercy's Education programs. If you already have your Master's Degree and are interested in applying to the Post-Master's course sequence in Applied Behavior Analysis, then please complete a non-matric application. In addition to the documents requested in the general application, the School of Education requires the submission of:

• Goal statement
• Resume
• Transcripts (graduate)
• One recommendation

Full-Time Faculty

• Kathy-Anne Jordan, Associate Professor, Special Education
• Christine A Lang, Associate Professor, Special Education
• Susan A Lapidus, Associate Professor, Special Education
• Sudha Ramaswamy, Professor and Chair, Special Education and Educational Leadership

Part-Time Faculty

• Regina Martorello, Instructor, Special Education
• Sean G Turner, Senior Lecturer, Special Education