Online Master of Behavior Analysis

Students seeking transfer course credit from another institution must submit a Transfer Credit Interest form for consideration during the admissions process. At the Chair’s discretion, up to two courses (or 8 credits) may be accepted for transfer credit provided the course work was completed at an ABAI-accredited or ABAI-recognized program, and the course content is comparable to content addressed in courses offered by the program. If transfer credit is approved, it is the student’s responsibility to review BACB® standards for course transfer credit. Note: Acceptance by the Department of Behavior Analysis of course work for transfer does not guarantee that the BACB® will accept the transferred content.

Requests are approved only if the coursework meets the current curricular requirements of the program, and submitting a request does not guarantee the credits will be accepted for transfer.

Transfer Credit Policies:

• Credit is not granted for more than the face-value credit assigned by the host institution.
• Quarter-hour credits transfer at two-thirds of a semester hour.
• No credit is given for courses completed toward another degree.
• Students must have received a B (84%) or better in the course to receive transfer credit.
• An official transcript must accompany the transfer credit form.
• A copy of the syllabus must accompany the transfer credit form.
• No credit is given for courses taken more than 5 years before the date of the application for transfer credit.
• Students may not replace core curriculum with alternative electives taken at other institutions.
• Transfer credit requests must be made prior to registration for the student’s first term.

Board Certification

Individuals pursuing the Board Certified Behavior Analyst^® (BCBA^®) credential must adhere to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board^® (BACB^®) Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts and the BCBA® Handbook while pursuing the BCBA^® credential and thereafter. 

Individuals pursuing the BCBA^® credential must self-disclose information that may affect certification status, including but not limited to:

• Violations of ethics standards
• Physical or mental health conditions and substance use disorders
• Investigations
• Agreements or actions, including court orders and decisions and/or civil or criminal charges

Individuals pursuing the BCBA^® credential should consult the BACB^® website regarding self-reporting for additional details and guidance. Failure to Self-Report to the BACB^® may result in ineligibility to sit for the BCBA® exam, despite successful completion of the Behavior Analysis degree program.

Individuals who have a criminal record may have difficulty finding employment, depending on federal, state, local, and company policies. Individuals who are unable to secure work in a behavior analytic agency may be unable to accrue BCBA® supervised fieldwork hours, affecting exam eligibility. 

The BACB^® will provide guidance on eligibility to sit for the BCBA^® examination, and that BACB^® guidance supersedes and is independent of guidance provided by the Simmons University Behavior Analysis degree program, as the BACB^® is the final arbiter of BCBA® examination eligibility.

Practicum: Experiential Learning and Thesis Degree Requirements

Individuals who have a criminal record may have difficulty finding employment, depending on federal, state, local, and company policies. Individuals who are unable to secure or be placed in an approved Practicum Site may be unable to accrue practicum hours (i.e., Experiential Learning hours), and/or may be unable to meet the practicum course requirements, including thesis research, affecting degree completion eligibility. 

This information is provided in good faith to applicants as of June 11, 2020.

The Behavior Analysis program leads to a Master of Science (MS) or Education Specialist (EdS) in Behavior Analysis. This program is intended to lead to exam eligibility for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst^® (BCBA^®) examination, and not an individual certificate or license. Some, but not all, states license Behavioral Analysts, with name of license and requirements varying by state. Generally granting of the degree, fulfilling the Behavior Analyst Certification Board^® (BACB^®) requirements to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst^® (BCBA^®), and passage of a background check is sufficient for licensure in most states.

Students are encouraged to review state licensure requirements, including a determination of eligibility for the national certifying exam. This information provided is designed as a baseline determination of whether the program meets national exam eligibility requirements and not individual state specific requirements. Specific state license requirements may be applicable and/or require additional standards. Exam eligibility, licensure requirements, and appropriate pathways are subject to change and may differ based on individual student backgrounds, including coursework taken outside the scope of the program. Students must do their own due diligence to determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.