ABA Online Handbook

Mission

The mission of our online ABA programs is to produce competent, science-informed practitioners who are solidly grounded in basic principles derived from the experimental analysis of behavior, who approach problems in a conceptually systematic way tied to those basic principles, who will attain BACB certification, who adhere to best data-based and evidenced-based ABA practices and who will continue to inform their practice with current research findings.

Programs

Florida Tech offers three graduate-level online programs in behavior analysis. Our programs meet the behavior-analytic coursework requirements for those pursuing the [BCBA/BCaBA] pathway 2 eligibility route for 2027 certification requirements.

M.A.  in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice (Major Code: 8156)
The 33-credit (315 semester content hours* plus 180 contact hours of additional coursework) M.A. in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice program (M.A. in BAPP) is designed for those who want to earn a master’s degree in behavior analysis and seek BCBA certification. This program includes Florida Tech’s 21- credit BCBA level certification courses, plus 12 additional graduate- level credits and a final program exam (FPE). Thus, this program satisfies both the BCBA degree and BCBA coursework requirements.

Online Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code: 8039)
The 21-credit (315 semester hours*) Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate program is intended for those who either hold or are working on a master’s degree and seek BCBA certification. This graduate certificate meets the BACB’s coursework requirements for certification under the 2027 certification requirements at the BCBA level. Students seeking BCaBA certification will meet the BACB’s graduate content hour education requirements after completing 18 credits in the first four semesters of the certificate’s program plan.

The ABA Online programs do not include a practicum, internship or fieldwork experience; thus, those seeking certification must accrue supervised fieldwork experience hours independent of the program to qualify for BACB certification. Per BACB rules, students may begin to accrue supervised fieldwork experience after beginning the first course in the program.

*The BACB makes a distinction between semester hours and quarter hours. Florida Institute of Technology is on a semester system in which 15 contact hours equals one credit.

Inactive Programs

We are not actively admitting for the following programs which meet the behavior-analytic coursework requirements for those pursuing the [BCBA/BCaBA] pathway 2 eligibility route for 2022 certification requirements. Students currently admitted into these programs will be able to continue and complete their sequence.

Assistant Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code: 8036, VCS # 51229)
The 16-credit (240 semester hours*) Assistant Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate program is intended for those who hold a bachelor’s degree and seek BCaBA certification. This graduate certificate program comprises ABAI-Verified Course Sequence number 51229 and meets BACB coursework requirements for certification at the BCaBA level.

Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code: 8037, VCS # 51228)
The 21-credit (315 semester hours*) Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate program is intended for those who either hold or are working on a master’s degree and seek BCBA certification. This graduate certificate program comprises ABAI-Verified Course Sequence number 51228 and meets BACB coursework requirements for certification at the BCaBA level.

M.A. in Behavior Analysis Practice (Major Code: 8155, VCS # 51228)
The 33-credit (315 semester content hours* plus 180 contact hours of additional coursework) M.A. in Behavior Analyst Practice program (M.A. in BAP) is designed for those who want to earn a master’s degree in behavior analysis and seek BCBA certification. This program includes Florida Tech’s 21-credit BCBA level ABAI-Verified Course Sequence (VCS # 51228), plus 12 additional graduate- level credits and a final program exam (FPE). Thus, this program satisfies both the BCBA degree and BCBA coursework requirements.

Locations and Schedules

ABA online Institute’s graduate certificate and master’s programs are 100% online. Though most of the coursework is completed asynchronously, attendance and participation in synchronous online meetings with an instructor is a required component for many of the courses within the program. Select a weekly meeting time that has an available seat and best fits your schedule. Following registration, any changes to an online meeting section must be made prior to the add/drop deadline for the semester. It is also important to keep in mind that all times listed on the Florida Tech website refer to Eastern time (EDT/EST).

Synchronous Course Components

Synchronous online meetings are accessed from within the course. Students choose their online meeting section at the time of registration. See each course syllabus for details and policies regarding online meeting participation and attendance. Failure to meet course attendance and participation requirements may result in failure of the course.

Academic Calendar

Students may begin any of the online behavior analysis programs in any fall, spring, or summer semester. Semesters are 15 weeks in spring and summer semesters, and 16 weeks during the fall to accommodate a 1-week break at Thanksgiving.

The academic calendar is published by the Office of the Registrar. Students are responsible for adhering to all deadlines published on the academic calendar. After choosing the semester at the top of the page, use the ABA Online schedule, do not use Florida Tech Online.

Course Offerings within the Semester

Starting in Spring 2025 all classes will began to phase into a full 15-week semester schedule and following the Online Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate program plan for 2027 standards.

Courses are offered at various times within each semester. Generally, each 3-credit course within the VCS certificate program is paired with a 1-credit course. The *3-credit courses run during the first 10 weeks of the 15-week semester with week 11 being a final exam. The 1-credit course run during weeks 11 through 15 of the semesters. Though subject to change, the following table provides a summary of when courses are expected to be offered within the semester. This timeline also includes the phase out of the 10-week, 3-credit versions of courses.

Course Timeline

Master's Degree Only Courses

MA & Certificate Courses

MA and Certificate Courses 2002 Certificate Course Phaseout

Congratulations! Once admitted, you are a Panther! Now the real work begins.

Tracks Account

Shortly after admission, Florida Tech student accounts (TRACKS) are created and Florida Tech email addresses are issued to students. TRACKS is Florida Tech’s account system that provides a single username and password for access to all university services granted to a user. Once the TRACKS account is created, the students will receive notification to activate the account. Follow the instructions within the email to activate your TRACKS account. Questions or issues related to TRACKS accounts or activation should be directed to the Office of Information Technology at 321-674-7284 or https://help.fit.edu .

Paws

Panther Access Web System (PAWS) enables students to register, add and drop classes, and access and print academic and personal information via the web. While on the PAWS home page, you will be able to view active course descriptions (by term), the class schedule and the current final examination schedule without logging in to the secure area of the system.

Communication

All official communication from the university and from the program faculty and staff will come through your Florida Tech email account. All graduate students are required to keep their Florida Tech email address active and check their Florida Tech email regularly. Students are responsible for all correspondence and information sent to their Florida Tech email account. Additionally, all electronic correspondences from students to faculty and staff must come from a secure Florida Tech email account. The university has an automated system that will often quarantine messages from personal email accounts. Messages from non-Florida Tech accounts risk being deleted and unread. We recommend ⭐ Favorite abaonline@fit.edu and abasupport@fit.edu in your student email (@my.fit.edu) account by using the star to receive your important program emails and announcements at the top of your inbox.

Orientation

There is no formal orientation for graduate students in the online ABA programs. Students should log in to the Admitted Students Portal and complete the steps listed there. ABA Online students are not required to pay the $300 tuition deposit.

Registration

It is important to register for classes based on the provided plan of study. Registration dates can be found on the academic calendar; select the semester at the top of the page and then select Behavior Analysis Online to view the correct calendar for the program. When registration opens for a given semester, students can view the Schedule of Classes for the term. If there is a disclaimer at the top of page warning that the schedule has not yet been updated, it means you are looking at a previous semester’s class list and need to wait for registration to open. All times listed are in the Eastern time zone (EST/EDT).

After deciding on class sections, students register for courses through their PAWS account. Please visit How to Register Using PAWS for instructions on how to register in PAWS .

1. Select Search by Term (e.g., Fall 2025) do not select (8-week).
2. Select the Subject: BEH Behavior Analysis
3. Select the course number g. 5041. Only add the 4-digit course number
4. Click Search for results or Advanced Search to narrow your
5. Select a section that has an open seat that you'd like to attend for the duration of the course and add Only select sections with a W (e.g., W02, W03, W04, etc.), as this indicates the online meetings for the ABA Online programs.
6. Submit

To drop a course:

1. Please visit How to Register Using PAWS for instructions (Step 15) on how to drop in PAWS before Friday of the first week of the semester.
2. After the first week of the semester, please email abaonline@fit.edu for assistance with dropping a

Tuition

Please visit the Tuition and Fees web page to see the current tuition rate for your program.

Tuition bills are issued by the Office of Student Financial Services shortly before the start of a semester. Tuition for the semester is due two weeks prior to the start of classes. Students who do not pay their tuition bill or make arrangements for payment, risk being dropped from their courses.

Financial Aid

For information about financial aid, please visit the Financial Aid web page.

To graduate from the M.A. in BAPP program, meeting the 2027 Educational Certification Standards for BACB exams through Pathway 2, requires the successful completion of 33 credits in the courses specified in the M.A. in BAPP program plan, all classes passed with a B or higher, a 3.0 GPA and passing a Final Program Examination (FPE).

To earn a certificate of completion and graduate from the Online Behavior Analyst graduate certificate program, for the 2027 Educational Certification Standards for BACB exams through Pathway 2, requires the successful completion of 21 credits (equivalent to 315 BACB instructional hours) in the courses specified in the Behavior Analyst program plan, all classes passed with a B or higher and a 3.0 GPA.

To earn a certificate of completion and graduate from the Online Assistant Behavior Analyst graduate certificate program, for the 2027 Educational Certification Standards for BACB exams through Pathway 2, require the successful completion of 18 credits (equivalent to 270 instructional hours) in the courses specified in the Assistant Behavior Analyst program plan, all classes passed with a B or higher and a 3.0 GPA.

The program plans below can also be found on the Plans of Study and General Advising web page. Courses are designed to be taken sequentially. It is imperative that students follow the plan of study when registering. However, we understand circumstances vary and “life happens.” Thus, program plans show the maximum number of course credits allowed per semester. At any time, students may take fewer credits per semester or take a semester off. Students are generally not permitted to register for more courses per semester than indicated on the plan of study or to take courses out of order, but taking fewer courses per semester is always an option.

M.A. in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice (Major Code: 8156)

*The final program exam (FPE) is a university graduation requirement for master’s students. It is taken during the final semester of the program. Register for BEH0002 as you would any other course taken in the final semester. Although the FPE is considered a zero-credit course, the only component is the exam. All Florida Tech graduate programs require a grade of B or better to pass a course. Thus, an 80% or higher is required to pass the FPE and graduate.

**There are some restrictions on the timing of the applied experience courses. Ideally, the Applied Experience courses are aligned with the 3-credit courses for their corresponding semester; however, for students who complete the Assistant Behavior Analyst or Behavior Analyst certificate program and then transfer to the master’s program, the following restrictions should be kept in mind.

• BEH5060 and 5065 must be taken by themselves (they cannot be combined with another 5060 courses in the same semester).
• BEH5061 through 5064 can be doubled up; ideally students will double up as early as possible in the program to get caught up with their 3-credit course/5060 pair up.

Online Behavior Analyst Certificate (Major Code: 8039)

Online Assistant Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code: 8038)

The M.A. in BAP program, for the 2022/5TH Edition Standards, requires the successful completion of 33 credits in the courses specified in the M.A. in BAP plan of study and passing a Final Program Examination (FPE).

The Behavior Analyst 5th Edition graduate certificate program, for the 2022/5TH Edition Standards, requires the successful completion of 21 credits (equivalent to 315 BACB instructional hours) in the courses specified in the BCBA plan of study.

The Assistant Behavior Analyst 5th Edition graduate certificate program, for the 2022/5TH Edition Standards, require the successful completion of 16 credits (equivalent to 240 BACB instructional hours) in the courses specified in the BCaBA plan of study.

M.A. in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice (Major Code: 8155, VCS #51228)

*The final program exam (FPE) is a university graduation requirement for master’s students. It is taken during the final semester of the program. Register for BEH0002 as you would any other course taken in the final semester. Although the FPE is considered a zero-credit course, the only component is the exam. All Florida Tech graduate programs require a grade of B or better to pass a course. Thus, an 80% or higher is required to pass the FPE and graduate.

**There are some restrictions on the timing of the applied experience courses. Ideally, the Applied Experience courses are aligned with the 3-credit courses for their corresponding semester; however, for students who complete the Assistant Behavior Analyst or Behavior Analyst certificate program and then transfer to the master’s program, the following restrictions should be kept in mind.

• BEH5060 and 5065 must be taken by themselves (they cannot be combined with another 5060 courses in the same semester).
• BEH5061 through 5064 can be doubled up; ideally students will double up as early as possible in the program to get caught up with their 3-credit course/5060 pair up.

Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code 8037, VCS# 51228)

Assistant Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate (Major Code: 8036, VCS# 51229)

The plan of study above is the standard plan for the BCaBA certificate program. Students who completed the course BEHP5011 under Florida Tech’s retired fourth edition VCS can find their plan of study online. Those who completed BEHP5011 and both ethics courses (BEHP5014B and BEHP5016B) can find their plan of study online

The plan of study above is the standard plan of study for the BCBA certificate program. Students who completed the course BEHP5011 under Florida Tech’s retired fourth edition VCS can find their plan of study online. Those who completed BEHP5011 and  both ethics courses (BEHP5014B and  BEHP5016B) can find their plan of study online.

Program Completion/Petition to Graduate

Students in the M.A. in BAP program are required to petition to graduate prior to their last semester in the program. The deadlines for petitioning to graduate vary from semester to semester, so it’s very important to check the Florida Tech Graduation Office to ensure that you petition to graduate prior to the deadline. Graduate students are charged a fee if they do not meet the deadline for their semester of graduation. Remember to scroll down the page to Behavior Analysis (5th Edition) after choosing the semester at the top of the page.

Although students in the certificate programs do not participate in commencement ceremonies, those who would like to receive their certificate of completion for the program must also follow the steps below.

Your first step is to run a Curriculum, Advising, and Program Planning (CAPP) report.

1. In PAWS select Student Profile —>Degree Evaluation
2. Select Current Term
3. Select MA-Behavior Analysis Practice (or your current program)
4. Select Generate New Evaluation

You can review your CAPP report and run this report at any time. Petition to Graduate is required to complete the graduation process forms are due prior to the semester of graduation. You can check for deadlines for the petition to graduate here: https://www.fit.edu/registrar/graduation/ .

If your CAPP report does not indicate you have completed or are registered for all necessary courses, please email abaonline@fit.edu for an evaluation of your program. If you took the fourth edition course BEHP5011, please note that the course is currently listed at the bottom of the report instead of in the first semester requirements. We are aware of this and are working with the registrar’s office on this update to the CAPP report.

Please note that the dates for commencement exercises will not coincide with actual graduation dates. Graduation ceremonies are only held in the Spring and Fall semesters for those earning a Master’s degree. Students graduating in a summer semester will still graduate through administrative process in the summer but may choose to attend a ceremony in the Spring or Fall. A thorough audit of all graduation requirements is conducted by the university prior to releasing transcripts or mailing diplomas. This typically takes several weeks after the semester ends.

Final Program Examination (FPE)

Master’s students only

The final program examination (FPE) is a comprehensive exam completed by all master’s students in the final semester of their program. Currently, the final program exam (FPE) track is the only track offered for students in the ABA online master’s programs.

The FPE is offered once per semester during week 11 of the term. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The FPE is an online, proctored, closed note/closed book examination. It is administered separately from any course. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass this exam. Passing the FPE is a university graduation requirement. Students may only take the FPE once per semester but will have up to three attempts across three separate semesters to earn a passing score of 80% or higher.

Students must register for the final program examination (course number BEH0002) when registering for their final semester in the in master’s program. Students will not be charged tuition or receive course credits for the exam as long as it is taken along with at least one (1) credit course. Students registering for the exam in a semester by itself after all other coursework is completed and students who re-take the FPE for a second or third time will incur a fee per exam.

The FPE is an exam that includes content from all courses within the VCS. Content from elective courses is not included on the FPE. Florida Tech’s VCS courses are designed to build competence in behavior analytic content. Mastering course content should also prepare students to do well on the FPE. The course BEH5040: Personalized System of Professional Improvement is offered in the final semester of the program. The goal of BEH5040 is to identify weaknesses in the mastery of content areas and to focus on strengthening the overall knowledge of principles and procedures within the science of behavior. The FPE is proctored and uses the same proctoring software used in previous courses.

Transcripts

All students should ensure that their final grades have been posted for their last semester prior to ordering transcripts. Master’s degree students who order transcripts through NSC before their degree is conferred will receive a copy of their transcripts showing their course grades, but not the conferral of their degree. Degree conferral is approximately four to six weeks after the close of the semester. Students receive a notification from the vendor used by Florida Tech when their degrees have been shipped.

Coursework Transcripts

Students who completed courses at Florida Tech must order their transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) via the Office of the Registrar.

Additional information about ordering transcripts can be found on our website at the following link: Transcripts .

Fourth-Edition Coursework

Any fourth-edition courses completed will appear on the transcript with a letter grade of T (for transferred). Florida Tech will add the transcript containing the letter grade as an attachment to the transcript sent to the recipient.

Students with fourth-edition course transfer credits will see the hold “ABA Online Combo Transcript” and/or “This student has holds on their Academic Record” this is an internal hold to alert our transcript department to send the fourth edition transcript. These holds will not prohibit you from registering.

Applying to the BACB

The BACB requires official transcripts of all completed coursework and documentation of an earned degree (bachelor’s degree for BCaBA certification and master’s degree for BCBA certification) and supervised field experience.

Transcripts should be sent from Florida Tech directly to the BACB. All transcripts can be sent electronically to the BACB through the National Student Clearinghouse with the exception of 4th Edition transcripts from courses taken at Florida Tech. Students must request a paper transcript to be sent for 4th Editon Transcripts.

Students who submit paper transcripts to the BACB must not break the seal on the envelope containing their transcripts. If the seal is broken, the board will not accept them as official. Students who have taken degree programs at other universities must order their official transcript from the school where their degree (undergraduate or graduate) was conferred.

Additional information on applying to take the BCBA Examination can be found here: BCBA Exam Info.

Evans Library

Students are required to use Florida Tech’s Evans Library to access articles for course reading and other assignments. Evans Library is your gateway to scholarly resources and services to support your research and academic needs. These include:

• Full-text journal articles, eBooks and reference sources
• Databases
• Subject and course research guides created by librarians
• Interlibrary loan services for articles not available in the Evans Library
• Tutorials (available 24/7)
• Research assistance

Students can access Evans Library by going to https://lib.fit.edu. You will need to log in with your TRACKS credentials to access library materials. The School of Behavior Analysis’ specific library page is also a great resource.

The library offers a series of video tutorials on conducting research that can be found on their YouTube channel. Their website also offers an Ask a Librarian feature that allows students to chat, text or email a librarian for assistance.

Accessibility Resources

Florida Tech is committed to equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in the participation of activities operated and sponsored by the university. Therefore, students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable and appropriate educational accommodations, including adjustments to the classroom or testing setting and modifications of housing or living conditions. The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) supports students by assisting with accommodations, providing recommended interventions, and engaging in case management services.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services provides assistance to students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and candidates. They help students develop career plans and job search skills.

Among their services is Handshake, Florida Tech’s main job resource database for full-time and part-time professional employment. Handshake allows students to search for opportunities based on their interests, majors and geographic location.

Information Technology

The Office of Information Technology assists students with technology support and can assist students in activating their TRACKS accounts or resetting their log-in credentials.

They also maintain an FAQ repository that provides answers to many commonly asked questions.

Students can contact the Office of Information Technology at help.fit.edu or by calling 321-674-7284. How to Install Office 365 on  Your Windows/Mac Device

Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services assists students with the Panther Payment Plan, tuition and fee payment, and 1098T tax information. They can be reached at acctmgmt@fit.edu (for questions about the payment plan).

Office of the Registrar

The Office of the Registrar provides numerous resources for students, including transcripts and enrollment verifications, academic standards and policies, the academic catalog and graduation.

The registrar’s office also publishes the academic calendars for each semester. After choosing a semester at the top of the page, ABA Online students need to scroll down to the Behavior Analysis Online section to see all important dates and deadlines for the ABA Online certificate and master’s programs.

Office of Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs is responsible for graduate degree program policy and administration from a student’s admission through graduation. It is a second academic home for graduate students and serves as the first place students can go for assistance beyond what their academic units can provide.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid assists students with federal (FAFSA-based) financial aid and other types of loans. Federal aid is available for degree-seeking students; it is not available for students taking one of the certificate programs. Any questions about financial aid should be directed to finaid@fit.edu.

Panther Payment Plan**

For information about the Panther Payment Plan, visit the Panther Payment Plan web page. Questions about tuition payments can be directed to acctmgmt@fit.edu or 321-674-7428.

Education Partner Program 10% Discount**

Ask us for more information on how your employer can join by emailing abaonline@fit.edu . The program provides a 10% discount on tuition for eligible student-employees enrolled in any one of our ABA online programs. It’s free to sign up!

Military and Related Benefits

GI Bill

The ABA Online programs may qualify for benefits through the G.I. Bill. Visit the Military and Veteran Student Services web pages for more information. If you have further questions, they can be reached at MVSS@fit.edu.

MyCAA

Students with eligible MyCAA benefits may be able to use their funding toward the Assistant Behavior Analyst Graduate Certificate program. Please email the program administrator, Chuck Conerity, at cconerity@fit.edu for more information.

Americorps

Eligible students may use the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award toward the fifth edition ABA Online graduate certificate programs. For more information, please email acctmgmt@fit.edu .

For descriptions of all courses in the online ABA certificate and master’s programs, please visit the Course Descriptions web page.

This section provides a general synopsis of some relevant graduate policies. Official graduate and department policies always take precedence.

Academic Integrity

Students’ professional behavior and conduct are considered a fundamental aspect of academic performance and, as such, a student’s professional or ethical conduct may be subject to review. Student behavior should also be in compliance with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s Ethics Code. Students must comply with all university policies, including those related to academic integrity, as well as applicable laws concerning intellectual property. See Florida Tech’s full policies on Academic Honesty.

GPA and Academic Progress

Complete information about academic progress and standing can be found on the Academic Probation and Dismissal web page. Further information about grade policies for graduate students can be found on the Grading System and Requirements for Master’s and Specialist Degree Students web page.

Final Program Examination

The university and the Office of Graduate Programs have specific policies regarding the administration of a Final Program  Examination.

Academic Warning, Probation an Dismissal

Students should refer to the Academic Probation and Dismissal for Master’s and Specialist Degree Students web page for the complete policy. 

Failed Courses and Students’ GPA

Students should refer to the Grading System and Requirements for Master’s and Specialist Degree Students for the complete policy on grades for graduate students. It is the policy of the ABA Online programs that courses that are not passed (an earned grade of B or better) must be completed before moving on to the next semester’s courses in their program plan.

Statute of Limitations—Graduate

Students should refer to the Statute of Limitation for Master’s Degree Students web page for complete information on the time limit for courses applied toward a graduate degree.

Others Areas of Importance

Areas that involve administration, such as how to obtain official transcripts, financial aid, diplomas and graduation fees are covered in the Florida Tech  Catalog. Students should consult the catalog for information on these topics and on the mission and purpose of the university, program, academic calendar, and course requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of deadlines, dates, programs, etc., that relate to their academic progress. We suggest that students retain good records of their studies at Florida Tech, including course syllabi and instructor information. It is also important to retain a copy of the Florida Tech catalog that describes course requirements for the year in which students began their studies. These items will be very useful in filling out various applications later in the student’s academic career and after graduation.

Bryon Neff, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Associate Professor, Director of the ABA Online Institute and Program Chair

bneff@fit.edu

Ph.D., Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology, 2011

Bryon Neff earned a Ph.D. in behavior analysis from Florida Tech, an M.S. in behavior analysis from the University of North Texas and
B.S. in biology from the University of Illinois. Prior to becoming the chair of the online program in behavior analysis, Bryon taught the following courses at Florida Tech: conceptual analysis of behavior, capstone and intensive practicum. He was also an organizational behavior management consultant whose focus was to conduct gap analyses, improve staff performance, provide leadership training and streamline systems within human service agencies, manufacturing, the automotive industry and educational systems. From 1997 to 2009, Bryon was a faculty member at the University of South Florida where he directed a statewide behavior analytic program that provided services, training and consultation to Florida’s foster care system and the Department of Children and Families. In addition to his passion for academic excellence, Bryon’s interests include caregiver training, teaching with acoustical guidance (TAG) and improving the performance of athletes.

Kara Wunderlich, Ph.D., BCBA-D, ABA Online Academic Coordinator and Assistant Professor

kwunderlich@fit.edu

Ph.D., Psychology, University of Florida, 2015

Dr. Wunderlich joined the School of Behavior Analysis in 2025 as a faculty member and Academic Coordinator for the ABA Online program. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Florida in 2015. She previously served as a faculty member in the special education and behavior analysis departments at the University of Georgia and Rollins College, respectively. Her research interests are diverse, encompassing automatically reinforced behavior, the scientist-practitioner gap, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Wunderlich has received numerous grants and awards, including the Cornell Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024. She has published and presented her work in both traditional behavior analytic outlets and in scholarship focused on teaching and learning in higher education.

In Memoriam

José Martinez-Diaz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, University Professor and SOBA Founder

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, emphasis in ABA, West Virginia University, 1984; M.A., Clinical Psychology, emphasis in ABA, West Virginia University, 1977; B.A., Psychology, University of Miami, 1973

José Martinez-Diaz, Ph.D., passed away in 2020.

José was a professor and associate dean of Florida Tech’s School of Behavior Analysis, which he founded. In addition, José was CEO of ABA Technologies, Inc., and an adjunct professor at Penn State’s Department of Special Education. He was a senior consultant for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), as well as a member Florida’s Behavior Analysis Peer Review Committee. He was also an officer and board member of the BACB for seven years. José was a past president of the Florida Association of Behavior Analysis and received its Charles H. Cox Award for Outstanding Service and Advancement of Behavior Analysis in Florida in 2005.

José earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in behavior analysis and therapy, from West Virginia University. His publications include a chapter on ethics in Cooper, Heron, and Heward, Applied Behavior Analysis (Second Edition) and an article on autism spectrum disorders in the National Health Review. His contributions to the School of Behavior Analysis and Florida Tech were many, and he is very much missed.

Adjunct Faculty, Staff and Partners

In addition to the program faculty, a team of individuals from Florida Tech, a team of behavior analysts, instructional designers, and teachers work to create and evaluate course content and to support students in an ongoing manner. Chiefly responsible for program content is Dr. Kristin Myers-Kemp and the ABA Online Instructional Design and Delivery teams.

Lead Instructional Managers

Lead Instructional Managers are assigned to each course within the instructional sequence. These individuals, all master’s and Ph.D. level BCBAs, are experts in the course content. Lead Instructional Managers oversee the implementation of the course and serve in an administrative and a student-support capacity.

Lead Co-instructors by Course

• BEH5041 and BEH5044: Corey Robertson, M.S., BCBA
• BEH5043 and BEH5047: William Carlucci, S., BCBA
• BEH5048 and BEH5050: Christi Reed, S., BCBA
• BEH5049, BEH5045 and BEH 5020: Carlos Zuluaga, S., BCBA
• BEH5042, BEH5051, and BEH5046: Christine Ratcliff, S., BCBA
• BEH5060-BEH5065:
• M.A. in BAP electives: Jan Montgomery, M.S., BCBA, Ed.D., LBA-NY

Instructors

Instructors are Board Certified Behavior Analysts who are fluent with the course material and bring their varied experiences and skills to the content via synchronous online meetings. The student’s assigned instructor is their first point of contact in the course and can provide assistance throughout the course.

Please visit https://www.fit.edu/behavior-analysis/faculty-and-research/aba-instructors/  for a comprehensive list of instructors.