Applied Behavioral Analysis Specialization

Azusa Pacific’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certificate program offers comprehensive preparation in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for successful careers in education, psychology, and social work.

BCBA Certificate

23 units

For more information: (626) 815-5026

NOTE: A Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) coordinator must approve admission to this emphasis. Admission to the BCBA program course sequence requires a separate application with the Student Services Center and interview with the BCBA committee.

The following nine-course sequence in applied behavior analysis, in its entirety, meets the 315 classroom hours of graduate-level instruction in the specified content areas established by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB). Graduate students in the program must successfully complete all of the courses listed below to qualify to sit for the BCBA examination. Individual courses taken with a non-BCBA instructor or outside of APU’s BCBA nine-course sequence may not meet BCBA requirements. Contact the BACB for additional information.

Requirements

ABA 505Foundations In Applied Behavior Analysis3
ABA 504Single-Case Designs: Measurement and Experimental Evaluation of Behavior3
ABA 503Theory and Philosophy of Behavior Analysis3
ABA 515Behavior Intervention3
ABA 500ABA Fieldwork I1
ABA 514Functional Behavior Assessment in Applied Settings3
ABA 534Organizational Behavior Management3
ABA 524Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis3
ABA 510ABA Fieldwork II1
Total Units23

Special Note: A behavior analyst is certified by the BACB after passing the BCBA certification exam. To sit for the exam, a candidate must apply directly to the BACB and provide evidence of the following: a master’s degree in behavior analysis, education, or psychology from a qualifying institution; a passing grade in each course (note: the School of Education requires grades of B- or higher in its graduate courses), comprising a total of at least 315 classroom hours of graduate-level instruction from an approved university in the specified content areas established by the BACB; and completion of 1,500 hours of independent fieldwork in behavior analysis supervised by a qualified BCBA. Azusa Pacific University does not provide this supervision. For more information regarding the certification process, visit the BACB website.

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic concepts and principles from the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
    2.
  2. Learn single-subject design and how to collect, display, analyze, and interpret data using continuous and discontinuous measures.
    3.
  3. Implement procedures and systems related to behavior change from the perspective of applied behavior analysis (ABA).
    4.
  4. Conduct personnel supervision that is behavior analytic in nature.
    5.
  5. Apply the industry's ethical guidelines to their practice in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA).
    6.
  6. Conduct functional behavior assessment. This includes descriptive assessment (review of records, interview, observation, interpretation), functional analysis, and developing intervention plans.
    7.
  7. Apply coursework in a fieldwork setting, supervised by a qualified professional.