Behavior Analysis Practice, M.A.

Get Your Master's in Behavior Analysis Practice Online

Florida Tech’s online Master’s in Behavior Analysis Practice (M.A.) offers students a high-quality educational experience, working with experts in the field, and flexible scheduling to accommodate busy professionals. The M.A. program requires students to complete 33 credits of coursework, including 21 credits in courses verified by the as meeting the for certification at the BCBA® level. Additional credits are designed to assess, build, and strengthen practical competencies in applications of behavior analysis.

Highlights

• 33 total credits of coursework
• 100% online convenience for students
• Graduate in as few as six semesters
• Three easy enrollment periods each year (fall, spring, and summer)
• Live weekly meetings with co-instructors
• ABAI verified course sequence – Master’s/BCBA/BCaBA®/(5th ed.)

Program Cost

• $495 per credit hour for certificate courses within the master's program.
• $940 per credit hour for master's courses within the master's program.

The university's board of trustees has approved these tuition and fees for the academic year 2023–2024. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.

These cost estimates below are not included in your bill but are expenses you may incur during your attendance. These estimates are also used to calculate your financial aid offer.

Students are subject to a Final Program/Doctoral Comprehensive Exam fee if a student is not registered for, at least, a 1 credit class during the same semester as the FPE.

Program Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education:

• Spring (January)
• Summer (May)
• Fall (August)

Example Courses

• Principles of Behavior Analysis
• Ethics for Behavior Analysts
• Applied Experience in Behavior Analysis
• Measurement and Experimental Design
• Assessment and Intervention

ABAI-Verified Course Sequence

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified this program as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (VCS #51228) examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

Course Sequence Information
51228 BCBA 5th Edition (BACB® - Fifth Edition)

Program Mission

The mission of the M.A. Behavior Analysis Practice online degree program 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 BCBA certification, who adhere to best data-based and evidenced-based ABA practices, and who will continue to inform their practice with current research findings.

Specializations and Applications

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) provides a scientific, systematic, and strategic approach to learning behavior and teaching. It is often implemented as an intensive therapeutic or educational practice and focuses on socially significant behavior. It is characterized by ongoing and systematic observation, data collection, and frequent evaluation of learner progress. ABA therapies primarily focus on building functional skills but also address replacing behaviors that interfere with the individual’s ability to learn or effectively function in their daily life. Practitioners of ABA currently work in various areas, including education, healthcare (including mental health), business management, sports, animal training, and other areas where learning and improved performance are goals. ABA has no “one size fits all” strategy; every challenge is different, every individual unique.

Flexible Schedules, Flexible Learning

The online format provides advantages through flexible scheduling and improved instructional standards, which include a combination of asynchronous and synchronous delivery. With new cohorts starting three times per year in January (spring), May (summer), and September (fall), students can begin a sequence at their convenience to fulfill degree and/or BCBA requirements. The full M.A. program can be completed in as few as six semesters. Likewise, Florida Tech’s contemporary learning management systems allow course lectures to be accessed from a user’s computer or mobile device, as well as to facilitate student interaction and education on-the-go. Rest assured, our dedicated Student Services and technical support teams are also available via phone and email throughout the week for your needs.

Renowned Instructors and Community

Join your BCBA-certified co-instructor for a live meeting each week. Online meetings with co-instructors allow students to clarify content and get their questions answered in real-time. Students may also decide to engage with our burgeoning online community. Connect with peers and instructors through discussion boards and social media for a truly supportive student experience.

Florida Tech co-instructors go through a rigorous interview and training process and receive continuous feedback on their performance to ensure that they are providing top quality instruction and support to students. Each student has an assigned co-instructor from whom they can get an email response within 24 hours, and many co-instructors are well-known for going above and beyond the call of duty to support their students’ learning.

Designed for Student Success

With its intuitive user experience and comprehensive instructional framework, the ABA online program is designed to bolster students’ retention and sequenced to provide in-depth instruction to students about the concepts, principles, and procedures of applied behavior analysis. Each course serves as a foundation for the knowledge and skills required for BCBA and BCaBA examination, as defined by the Fifth Edition BACB Task List. Because the Embedded Course Sequence is verified as meeting BACB® instructional requirements, students never have to worry about whether their coursework will count toward certification.

The BCBA/BCaBA Task List is organized in two major sections, Foundations, which includes basic skills and underlying principles and knowledge, and Applications, which includes more practice-oriented skills.

Section 1: Foundations

• Philosophical Underpinnings
• Concepts and Principles
• Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation
• Experimental Design

Section 2: Applications

• Ethics (Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts)
• Behavior Assessment
• Behavior-Change Procedures
• Selecting and Implementing Interventions
• Personnel Supervision and Management

Graduate Outcomes

Over the years, Florida Tech ABA Online students have demonstrated consistent, high-ranking performance on BACB certification exams. As we like to say, “there are no coincidences" regarding Florida Tech success metrics.

Earn a Doctoral Degree

After receiving your master's in behavior analysis practice, you may consider applying for a doctorate in behavior analysis at Florida Tech. The behavior analysis graduate program at Florida Tech offers a Ph.D. for students looking to pursue further study in this discipline. Ph.D. graduates become behavior-analytic researchers, instructors, and practitioners. Florida Tech professors expect graduates of the behavior analysis doctorate program to approach the world from the perspective of a behaviorist; to continue to contribute to behavioral research; to inform their practice with current research findings; to obtain academic and professional positions; and to effectively manage other behavior analysts under their supervision.

Careers in Behavior Analysis

ABA practitioners know that certification is the key to job growth and security. There is a growing need for well-trained board-certified professionals in behavior analysis, in schools' early intervention programs, day programs, residential settings and home-based programs. Certification in behavior analysis will provide the opportunity to access a wide range of career options.

Behavior Analysis Career Fields

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst®
• Special Education Teacher
• Human Resources Professional
• Children and Family Services
• Clinical Researcher
• Behavior Researcher
• ABA Training Coordinator
• University/College Professor
• Organizational Behavior Management Career
• Registered Behavior Technician®
• Clinical Director/Supervisor
• Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)
• Therapist School Interventionist
• Life Coach
• Animal Training and Care
• Owner/Director of Child Care Center
• Health Coach
• Personal Health and Wellness Trainer
• Non-Profit Sector
• Career Financial Behavior
• Animal Behaviorist
• Zoo Animal Trainer

Subspecialty Areas in Behavior Analysis

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• ADHD
• Mental Health Disorders 
• Gerontology
• Forensics
• Behavioral Gerontology
• Behavioral Pediatrics 
• Health and Fitness
• Behavioral Medicine 
• Sports
• Life Coaching
• Environment/Sustainability 
• Parenting
• Education/Special Education
• Animal training
• External/Internal Business Consultant
• Training/Learning and Development 
• Instructional Design
• Continuous Improvement 
• Organizational Development 
• Human Resources