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Behavior Analysis (MS or EdS)

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Launch your career in Behavior Analysis

Simmons University's Master of Science in Behavior Analysis campus-based program is perfect if you’re looking to enter the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®), and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. 

BCBAs® are known for their work in improving quality of life, communication, and learning outcomes, particularly for neurodivergent individuals. However, BCBAs® may also practice in other areas, including animal training, organizational behavior management, higher education, and behavioral medicine, among others.

A legacy of excellence in behavior analytic education

Our campus-based Master of Science in Behavior Analysis program is internationally known for excellence in behavior analytic education. We’ve been a leader in the field since 1998. Our program is one of the few master’s programs worldwide that is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), and was the first master's program in New England to receive accreditation from ABAI. 

Our campus-based program meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® degree and coursework requirements to apply for the BCBA® exam under Pathway 1 (accredited programs). Our curriculum offers exceptional preparation for the BCBA® exam — with on-campus students achieving a first-attempt pass rate of 67% in 2024, as compared to the national average of 54%. Our program outcome data are reported annually.

Why study Behavior Analysis on campus at Simmons?

The need for behavior analysts has continued to increase across the nation since 2010. The US demand from 2023–24 for employees credentialed as a BCBA® or BCBA-D® rose 58%, with Massachusetts ranking second nationwide among states with the highest demand. If you choose to relocate to pursue graduate studies at Simmons, you’ll benefit from a robust job market in Massachusetts, which has many providers of behavior analytic services. 

Our rigorous curriculum focuses on the science of behavior, behavior analytic research methods, and broad applications across a wide range of clinical and research areas. Throughout the degree program, you’ll become scientist-practitioners, developing an in-depth understanding of the basic principles of behavior, assessment and behavior change methodologies, evidence-based instruction, and professional and research ethics. Our campus-based program prepares you for a variety of research, clinical, and leadership roles post-graduation.

Within the Practicum coursework, you’ll develop, conduct, and analyze outcomes of a thesis research project under the supervision of the Thesis Committee. On campus, you may utilize the behavior analysis research lab spaces and equipment to conduct your thesis research. 

Our lab spaces support underrepresented areas of behavior analytic research, including physical activity, health and wellness, public speaking, and skill development for college students, among other areas of research. Throughout the thesis and practicum experience, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of behavior analytic research and the scientific method, research ethics and processes, and dissemination of research outcomes. 

As a student in our program, you’ll learn from faculty with expertise ranging from the experimental analysis of behavior and verbal behavior to behavioral medicine and organizational behavior management. You’ll graduate ready to pursue a career in a variety of established and emerging areas of behavior analysis. 

Simmons University also offers a PhD in Behavior Analysis and an online Master of Science in Behavior Analysis.

What will you learn in our Behavior Analysis master's program?

Simmons’s Behavior Analysis Master’s program prepares you for the BCBA® exam, and for leadership roles in the implementation, evaluation, and administration of applied behavior analytic principles and methods. Our rigorous curriculum focuses on the science of behavior, behavior analytic research, and the application of behavior analytic principles across broad domains, populations, research lines, and clinical practice. 

Throughout the campus-based Master of Science in Behavior Analysis degree program, you will examine the concepts and methods of behavior analysis within the following areas: 

  • Basic principles of behavior
  • Functional assessment and analysis
  • Professional and research ethics
  • Behavior change methodologies and evidence-based instruction
  • Verbal behavior
  • Experimental analysis of behavior
  • Experimental research design
  • Supervision

What can you do with a Behavior Analysis degree?

Upon completing the Simmons campus-based Master of Science in Behavior Analysis program and earning BCBA® certification, many of our graduates advance their careers by pursuing supervisory, consultative, and leadership roles in the field. However, with practice and research opportunities in both experimental and applied settings, you may go on to open a clinical practice, focus your career on a specialized area of practice, or continue to conduct research. 

The Practicum coursework and thesis research requirement in the campus-based program equip you with the research experience needed to pursue a doctoral degree post-graduation. You may choose to continue your studies at the doctoral level to further advance your knowledge, disseminate behavior analytic research, or pursue opportunities to teach in higher education.

Details about our Behavior Analysis program

Simmons University’s Behavior Analysis campus-based master’s program can be completed as a Master of Science (MS) or Educational Specialist (EdS) degree, and prepares you to sit for the BCBA® exam. Our Behavior Analysis degree program is completed part-time, with evening classes that offer you flexibility for working in the field. 

To earn either the MS or EdS degree, you must complete 40 credits and a thesis research project, which is completed during Practicum courses. To prepare for Practicum, you must begin working by the end of the first semester; we provide support to help you find an appropriate worksite.

Department of Behavior Analysis Mission Statement

  1. To make the philosophy, theory, and science of behavior analysis explicable and accessible to individuals in an optimal position to effect meaningful educational, social, and behavioral changes.
  2. To generate and publish innovative research by fusing behavior analysis with relevant findings from other scientific disciplines.
  3. To include, whenever possible, students as authors on presentations and publications.
  4. To demonstrate how behavior analysis can influence the breadth and depth of issues centered on the human condition.
  5. To prepare students to pass the Behavior Analysis Certification Board’s examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

ABAI Accreditation Board Masters Seal

 

The Master of Science Degree in Behavior Analysis in the campus-based program is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board.

The degree and coursework meet the requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination under Pathway 1 (accredited program). Applicants will need to meet additional eligibility requirements and demonstrate they reside in an authorized country before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. 

Credits

The MS and EdS degrees in Behavior Analysis require 40 credits and students will complete Practicum experiential learning courses for 2 terms for students admitted to the program on or after the Spring, 2023 term.

Required Didactic Courses

Please note that courses are labeled BEHV for campus courses and BEHVO for online courses.

BEHV/O415 Introduction to Single Subject Research Designs 4
BEHV/O424 Introduction to Behavior Analysis 4
BEHV/O427 Methods for Changing Behavior I 4
BEHV/O426 Behavioral Assessment 4
BEHV/O430 Legal and Ethical Issues 4
BEHV/O434 Methods for Changing Behavior II 4
BEHV/O445 Advanced Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis 4
BEHV/O465 Verbal Behavior 4

Required Experiential Learning Courses

Please note that courses are labeled BEHV for campus courses and BEHVO for online courses.

BEHV/O470 Practicum Orientation 0
BEHV/O471 Practicum I 4
BEHV/O472 Practicum II 4

Optional Elective Courses

Please note that courses are labeled BEHV for campus courses and BEHVO for online courses.

BEHVO466 Autism Spectrum Disorders 3
BEHV495 Independent Study 1

Practicum

Students complete two 4-credit Practicum courses (8 credits, total) during the 4th and 5th semester of the program to meet the experiential learning requirements to graduate. Students must secure a practicum site that satisfies the program standards and the ABAI accreditation standards for experiential learning. The practicum site and site supervisors are vetted and approved by Simmons University faculty, at the discretion of the faculty, before a student may begin Practicum.

Students must complete behavior analytic supervised experience hours at the approved practicum site for a minimum of 5 hours per week (45 hours per semester). Students must complete 90 behavior analytic supervised experience hours to be eligible to graduate. Students meet weekly with their practicum instructor, and complete experiential learning activities and projects to develop clinical and research skills. Across the two Practicum courses, students complete a thesis research project.

Prior to registering for Practicum courses, students complete a 0-credit Practicum Orientation course during term 3 of the program. The Orientation helps prepare students for the Practicum experience and familiarizes students with program requirements.

Licensure, certification, etc.

This program is intended to lead to coursework and degree eligibility for the BCBA® examination, and not an individual certificate or license. Some, but not all, states license behavior analysts, with the name of license and requirements varying by state. Specific state licenses may be more 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 should do their own due diligence and determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.

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. Specific state licenses may be more 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 should do their own due diligence and determine the appropriate pathway and license type for themselves.

The BACB® provides a state by state breakdown of licensure status and requirements. Students should review the licensure requirements and plan accordingly, should they wish to relocate post-graduation.

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.

Licensure

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.

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. 

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 coursework 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:

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

Learn more about applying to our Master of Science in Behavior Analysis campus-based program.

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships ranging from $10,000 – $20,000 are available for qualified applicants. Because we value Behavior Analysis, we are investing in the next generation of leaders!*

*Applicants who work for an organization that has an agreement with Simmons are not eligible for scholarships, but do benefit from cost savings. If you are an employee at one of these organizations, please reach out to your organization representative for more information.

Spotlight on Behavior Analysis Students and Alums

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Dr. Stephanie Keesey-Phelan '13MS, '20PhD, the dog Beacon, and Ran Courant-Morgan '13MS enjoy a spring day at Simmons

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.

Headshot of Terri Bright

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."

Our Faculty

Gretchen Dittrich photo

Gretchen Dittrich

Associate Professor, Chair of the Behavior Analysis Department, and Director of the Master's Program

photo of Ronald Allen

Ronald Allen

Professor of Practice and Director of the Doctoral Program for Behavior Analysis

Headshot of Judah Axe

Judah Axe

Adjunct Faculty

Photo of Emily Perry

Emily Perry

Assistant Professor of Practice and Curriculum and Data Manager

Laura Hanratty

Laura Hanratty

Associate Professor of Practice and Practicum Director

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