About the M.S. and Ed.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
National Louis University’s advanced degrees in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) will deepen your study in behaviorism and ABA interventions in research and practice. Both degrees will prepare you to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination® and will equip you to work in multiple settings and with multiple client demographics, including, but not limited to, children with autism or related disorders and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through NLU’s master’s (M.S.) and post-master’s educational specialist (Ed.S.) degrees in ABA, you will learn the fundamental underpinnings of behavioral learning theory and will be trained in core practitioner skills, including assessment techniques, the design of skill acquisition and behavior reduction programming, and staff training and management strategies.
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. Applicants will have to meet additional requirements to qualify. BCBA exam pass-rate data for all verified course sequences is available here.* (*Pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation.)
Program Highlights
Flexible Class Options
Choose between on-campus and blended (online courses with in-person meetings) formats to fit your degree around your busy schedule. Our program is designed to accomodate the lifestyles of working professionals.
Systemized Learning
Build your skills gradually, as the heaviest course loads are taken one class at a time during your first year. Finish your M.S. degree by designing and conducting your own experiemental thesis under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
Career Readiness
Take advantage of career planning opportunities and individualized advising to prepare yourself for the job market. Whether you want to work in schools, hospitals, a private practice or in another setting, we’ll connect you with the resources to jumpstart your professional journey.
Cost-Effectiveness
Enjoy our competitively priced ABA programs, which are less expensive than many similar programs in the area. For complete information, see our Tuition and Fees page.
Degree Options
Master of Science (M.S.): The M.S. degree is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree who are looking for a program that focuses on training well-rounded behavior analysts in the professional practice of applied behavior analysis through an emphasis in the theoretical and scientific underpinnings of behaviorism.
Education Specialist (Ed.S.): The Ed.S. degree, as a post-master’s degree, is designed for individuals who already hold a master’s in education, counseling, psychology, social work, speech language pathology, rehabilitation sciences, or other related fields who wish to deepen their knowledge of ABA and integrate the professional practice of ABA into their current professional domains.
Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S. Curriculum
Applied Behavior Analysis, Ed.S. Curriculum
What You Will Learn
In both the M.S. and Ed.S. programs, you will learn about the historical and philosophical underpinnings of behavior analysis, as well as its fundamental concepts and principles. The M.S. degree will culminate in designing and conducting your own behavioral-analytic experimental thesis.
In the classroom, you will learn core practitioner skills, including assessment techniques, the design of skill acquisition and behavior reduction programming, and staff training and management strategies. Highlights of what you’ll learn include:
Assessment and Intervention
Skills assessment; Reinforcer and preference assessments; Design of behavior-analytic instructional programs; Conducting functional behavior assessments: Design of function-based behavior reduction programs.
Supervision and Training
Assessment of performance deficits; Design of behavior-analytic training programs; Supervision best practices; Ethical guidelines of supervision; Management strategies.
Theory and History
Radical behaviorism and other behaviorism theories; Foundational concepts of behavioral analysis; Basic and applied research; Seminal basic research articles.
Analysis and Research
Defining and measuring behavior; Creating graphical displays for analysis; Single-subject research design; Ethical concerns and violations in research.
Career Outlook
Career opportunities for those with an advanced degree in Applied Behavior Analysis are abundant and varied. The Bureau of Labor Statistics* projects jobs for Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors to increase 25 percent from 2019-2029, much faster than average.
Increased demand for Behavioral Analysts is seen in almost every state, with Illinois ranking in the top 5 states in terms of demand. Per ZipRecruiter,** the average salary for a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst in 2020 was $76,719.
An advanced degree in ABA can set you up for a career in these fields, as well:
- Consumer Behavior Analyst
- Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
- Human Resources Professional
- School Counselor
- Special Education Assistant
- Social Worker
**https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-BCBA-Salary-by-State
