Applied Behavior Analysis

According to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board based on the Labor Insight™ database, demand for behavior analysts in the United States is increasing each year since 2010, with an overall increase of 5,852% over the past 12 years (789 jobs in 2010 to 46,960 jobs in 2021). In North Carolina, the demand for behavior analysts has a 44% increase from 2020 to 2021. One pathway to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is to obtain a master’s degree, complete behavior-analytic coursework, and complete practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. The Department of Special Education and Child Development at UNC Charlotte offers two routes for individuals to pursue their careers in the field of behavior analysis: Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis and M.Ed. in Special Education and Child Development: Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration. Both programs are fully online and consist of behavior-analytic coursework in a Verified Course Sequence (VCS), which is a set of courses that has been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International as meeting specific coursework requirements, content hours, and faculty standards.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses (21 credit hours) 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.

SPED 5200: Concepts and Principles in Behavior Analysis
SPED 5201: Science and Philosophy of Behavior Analysis
SPED 5202: Supervision and Consultation in Behavior-Analytic Programming
SPED 5203: Ethics, Compliance, and Professionalism in Behavior Analysis
SPED 6225: Behavior Analytic Intervention in Communication
SPED 6502: Behavioral Assessment
RSCH 7113: Single-Case Research

Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (21 credit hours)

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis is designed for individuals (a) who hold a master’s degree or are pursuing a master’s degree either at another institution or in a different program at UNC Charlotte and (b) who wish to become a BCBA. This program offers 21 credit hours of coursework that has been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International toward the requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements (including completion of a master’s degree and supervised field experiences) to be eligible to take the examination. Professionals such as teachers or therapists who wish to gain knowledge in the content area but do not plan to become board-certified behavior analysts also make great candidates for the program. Candidates enrolled in the Graduate Certificate program will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the content areas required for becoming a BCBA based on the BCBA Task List (5th Edition). The program is accepting Fall Admissions only.

M.Ed. in Special Education and Child Development: Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (33 credit hours)

The concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis is designed for individuals who are interested in seeking a master’s degree and in fulfilling the coursework requirements for becoming a BCBA. The coursework in the Applied Behavior Analysis concentration includes a VCS that meets the coursework requirements (5th Edition) set forth by The Behavior Analyst Certification Board to sit for the BCBA examination. Candidates enrolled in the Applied Behavior Analysis concentration will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the content areas required for becoming a BCBA based on the BCBA Task List (5th Edition). Candidates also will develop practical research skills through coursework and completion of their own research projects. Note: Fall Admissions will likely lead to most timely completion of the program.

Contact Information

Dr. Ya-yu Lo, M.Ed. Special Education/ABA Program Director, ylo1@charlotte.edu
Dr. Leslie Bross, Graduate Certificate in ABA Program Director, lbross@charlotte.edu

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of individuals with special needs through behavior analytic practice? If so, click here to learn more about the requirements for the Master of Education in Special Education and Child Development: Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration, graduate student financial aid, and the graduate application process.