The Department of Psychology

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OPTION

The M.S. in psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis  (ABA) option is comprised of 55 quarter units, including courses offered by the psychology department and the division of special education and counseling.  The ABA option trains students in the concepts, principles, and procedures of behavior analysis, giving special consideration to their application in the areas of counseling and behavioral medicine, and in educational settings with both normal children and those with special needs. The program is designed for graduate students who plan to work as behavior analysts, specialists, or consultants with a Masters degree, and for those who wish to pursue doctoral training in behavior analysis. The program is currently accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International and it meets the course requirements to sit for the BACB exam.

Application

The application must be accompanied by a brief, but complete, letter of intent containing a personal summary of your interest in ABA and any training and experience you have had in this area.  Also, at least two academic letters of recommendation and official transcripts must be submitted with your application.  In addition to the application, letters of reference and transcripts, a personal interview with the ABA faculty is required. Deadline for applications is February 1^st. Applicants will be notified of their application status by April 1^st.

Core Courses

In Psychology

PSY 417          Single-Case Research Design

PSY 421          Psychology of Learning and Behavior

PSY 428          Introduction to Analysis of Behavior

PSY 500          Seminar in Learning and Behavior

PSY 528          Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis

PSY 595          Fieldwork in Psychology

Behavior Analysis Elective(s)

PSY 538          Seminar in Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis

PSY 596          Comprehensive Examination

PSY 598          Graduate Directed Study

or

PSY 597          Graduate Research (Thesis Preparation)

PSY 599          Thesis

In Counseling

COUN 501            Behavior Analysis in School and Agencies

COUN 502            Adv/Behavior Therapy

COUN 504            Applications of Behavior Analysis to Education

COUN 592            Behavior Interventions for Severe Behavior Problems (4)

COUN 593            Practicum: Consultation and Staff Development

Interested students should contact the Department of Psychology at California State University Los Angeles (323) 343-2250, or contact the program Director, Dr. Hank Schlinger at hschlin@calstatela.edu.