Behavioral Education

» SPECIAL EDUCATION:
Behavioral Education

The Behavioral Education program prepares educators and behavior specialists to assess and support learners with special needs in diverse educational settings. The program was designed to address a nationwide shortage of educators with formal training in behavioral education; a shortage of graduate programs that focus on behavioral education in public school settings; and a shortage of Board Certified Behavior Analysts™. This program covers the methods, principles, and procedures of applied behavior analysis, with an emphasis on using behavior analysis and behavioral support in both specialized and inclusive general education settings. The course sequence is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board™ and meets the coursework requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst™ (BCBA) examination. Coursework includes topics such as behavioral assessment, descriptive analysis, demonstration of functional relations, measurement and intervention tactics, data display and interpretation, selection of target behaviors and goals, family issues, legal and ethical issues, and crisis management. This 52-credit program is designed to be completed within a two-year period.

Degree Options

Students may pursue a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) or a Specialist in Education degree (Ed.S.), an advanced degree that provides students who currently hold a master’s degree with an area of educational specialization. Each program of study is individually designed in consultation with the program coordinator and can be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis. Courses are offered on weeknights, weekends, and occasionally as one-week sessions.

Curriculum and Courses

Please download our Program Fact Sheet for more information on this program's curriculum, and see our "Courses" section to download a course catalog.

Behavioral Education Research

Students in the Behavioral Education program team up with faculty to implement, write, and publish research. They have the opportunity to present their work at national conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. Recent publications include:

The Effects of Word-Picture Associations on the Vocabulary Development of High School Students with Dyslexia
Task Analysis, Correspondence Training, and General Case Instruction for Teaching Personal Hygiene Skills
Bicycle Riding: Pedaling Made Possible Through Positive Behavioral Interventions