Behavior Analysis (PhD)
Lead, discover, and elevate the field of behavior analysis
Make significant contributions to the science and practice of behavior analysis through Simmons University’s PhD in behavior analysis program. You’ll join a community of qualified behavior analysts and position yourself to advance the field through research, scholarship, and leadership.
Our PhD in behavior analysis is offered through live online classes, providing you with access to the program from anywhere in the country and the opportunity to collaborate closely with faculty and peers.
What will you learn in the PhD in behavior analysis program?
At Simmons University, you’ll develop the skills to design, conduct, and interpret experimental research in behavior analysis. You’ll join ongoing lab meetings led by departmental faculty, where you’ll engage directly with faculty research and collaborate with fellow doctoral candidates.
Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to conduct and publish research alongside Simmons’ behavior analysis faculty. Current areas of faculty research include:
- Stimulus equivalence
- Conditioned reinforcement
- The analysis of verbal behavior
- Induced behaviors
- Behavioral medicine
- The analysis and management of negatively reinforced responding
- Training of BCBAs and caregivers
- Supervision
You’ll benefit from Simmons’ long-standing professional collaborations with clinical and research organizations across New England and beyond. Thanks to the University’s reputation as a pioneer in the field, you’ll find that leading clinical and research groups are eager to partner with you on impactful research.
As a student in our PhD in behavior analysis, you’ll have the opportunity to gain experience in the field of academia by working as a Simmons University Department of Behavior Analysis teacher’s assistant, course instructor, and tutor for the Master of Science (MS) and Educational Specialist (EdS) degree programs. The EdS and MS degree programs are designed for individuals pursuing Board Certification (i.e., BCBAⓇ), and are offered on campus in Boston (for both the MS and EdS degrees) and online (for the MS degree).
PhD in behavior analysis: Program overview
This is a fully remote, online doctoral program. Most of your classes meet once a week on weekday evenings, making it easier to balance coursework with your professional schedule. At times, the department hosts on-campus or hybrid events that you will be invited to attend.
You’ll complete 48 semester hours in total.
The program is self-paced, allowing you to progress at a pace that suits your goals and workload. Most students work full-time while taking two classes per semester — typically a course and a lab — to graduate within four to seven years. To earn your degree, you’ll complete six required courses, three special topics courses, and 12 hours of Dissertation Lab, and you’ll complete and defend your dissertation.
Eligibility requirements
Candidates* eligible for admission should have the motivation and capacity to conduct and disseminate basic and applied behavior analytic research (e.g., presentations at professional conferences and publications in peer reviewed behavior analytic journals).
Eligibility requirements include a conferred master’s degree or higher in behavior Aanalysis or a related field (i.e., psychology, health science, and special education)
The candidate must meet one of the following criteria:
- Must be licensed and/or certified in the country where they clinically practice
- Two years of experience in the following practice areas (research experience preferred):
- Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Organizational Behavior Management
- Animal training
- Translational research
- Behavioral Medicine
*Please note that the PhD program at Simmons is an online degree-seeking program. We welcome both domestic and international applicants to apply as long as said applicant is eligible based on the criteria detailed above. The PhD program is not eligible for F-1 visa sponsorship, and does not yield in eligibility for the BCBA exam.
What can you do with a PhD in behavior analysis?
Post-graduation, most students apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Doctoral® (BCBA-D®) credential. With a PhD, our graduates accelerate their careers in behavior analysis, and have assumed impactful leadership roles in a variety of settings, including research, education, academia, advocacy, and clinical work, among others.
Our Faculty
Russell Maguire
Adjunct Faculty
Ronald Allen
Professor of Practice and Director of the Doctoral Program for Behavior Analysis
Gretchen Dittrich
Associate Professor, Chair of the Behavior Analysis Department, and Director of the Master's Program
Judah Axe
Adjunct Faculty
Kylan Turner
Adjunct Faculty
Philip Chase
Adjunct Faculty
Claudia Campos Fleitas
Adjunct Faculty
The Behavior Analysis (PhD) Program in the News
Alums Use Behavior Analysis to Bring Joy to Dogs and Their Families
As co-founders and co-owners of The Dog Behavior Institute, Ran Courant-Morgan and Dr. Stephanie Keesey-Phelan have found an innovative application for their behavior analysis specialization. We spoke with them about the mission of the Institute, the intrinsic rewards of their profession, and why they chose Simmons.
Brian Jadro '21PhD on Using Behavior Analysis to Support Sustainability
Jadro reflects on the incredible professors and great research opportunities he had at Simmons, saying “I've had great opportunities to extend the application of behavior analysis because of the professors and colleagues that I worked with at Simmons.”
Leading Humans and Bull Terriers: Terri Bright ’08MS, ’13PhD Founds MSPCA-Angell Behavior Department
Before coming to Simmons, Bright had a private practice as a dog trainer and realized she wanted to learn more about animal behavior. With support from professors, Bright made the connection that "for pets and humans, the same principles apply."