Simmons University's Master’s in Behavior Analysis program is perfect for students looking to enter the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), become Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®) and make a 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 the areas of animal training, organizational behavior management, higher education, and behavioral medicine, among others.
The need for BCBA® trained professionals has never been greater. BCBAs® not only do well professionally, but they also do meaningful work, as recognized on the Payscale.com list of "Best Jobs for Do-Gooders", where Behavior Analyst appears in the top ten. Graduates of our Master’s in Behavior Analysis program work with individuals within the autism community, neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, people with acquired brain injury, and individuals with mental health conditions.
Our Behavior Analysis degree students learn from faculty with expertise ranging from experimental behavior analysis and verbal behavior to behavioral medicine and organizational behavior management. You'll graduate with your Master’s in Behavior Analysis ready to pursue a career in a variety of traditional and emerging fields. With a focus on teaching the science of behavior, Simmons University provides Behavior Analysis degree students with an in-depth understanding of analytics, the history of the science, and opportunities to read and analyze research.
Simmons University also offers a PhD in Behavior Analysis and an online Master of Science in Behavior Analysis.
Students interested in applying to our Master’s in Behavior Analysis program should submit the following:
Learn more about applying to our Master’s in Behavior Analysis.
Scholarship OpportunitiesScholarships 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! |
Our Master’s in Behavior Analysis on-campus program was the first master's degree in New England to be accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). We offer a Verified Course Sequence and exceptional preparation for the BCBA® exam — with on-campus students achieving a first-time pass rate of 75% in 2021, as compared to the national average of 60%.
Simmons’s Behavior Analysis program prepares students for the BCBA® exam, and for leadership roles in the implementation, evaluation, and administration of applied behavioral analytic principles and methods. Our rigorous, practice-based curriculum focuses on contemporary research and the full range of applications of behavior analytic principles, across various domains, populations, and clinical practice. Throughout the program, students will examine the concepts and methods of applied behavior analysis within the following areas: Functional assessment and analysis, Ethics, Evidence-based instructional methods, Verbal behavior, Experimental analysis of behavior, Experimental design and research, and Supervision.
Our Behavior Analysis degree program is completed part-time, with classes available in the evenings. To earn either the master’s or educational specialist (EdS) degree, students must complete 40 credits.
Upon completing Simmons’ BCBA® program and earning certification, many of our graduates advance their careers by pursuing supervisory roles in their current fields. However, with wide potential uses for the Master’s in Behavior Analysis in both experimental and applied settings, graduates may also choose to launch a career in a different field—such as education, behavioral medicine, consulting, organizational behavior management, instructional design, or animal training.
Behavior Analysis degree graduates may choose to continue their studies at the doctoral level in order to contribute to the growing body of behavior-analytic research or to pursue opportunities to teach at the college level. Positions requiring BCBA® or BCBA-D™ certification increased by 5,852% throughout the U.S. between 2010 and 2021, and Massachusetts ranked second nationwide for job postings requiring one of these two credentials. Those who relocate to pursue graduate studies at Simmons benefit from a robust job market in Massachusetts with many providers of ABA services.
Our Master’s in Behavior Analysis graduates have gone on to found schools, establish their own practices, pursue doctoral degrees, and assume leadership roles in schools and clinics throughout the region.
Simmons University’s Behavior Analysis program can be completed as an MS or EdS and prepares students to become BCBAs®. Interested in learning more about our program? Apply or request more information today!
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. 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.
Students complete two 4-credit Practicum courses during the 4th and 5th semester of the program to meet the experiential learning requirements to graduate. Students must secure a worksite that satisfies the program standards and the Association for Behavior Analysis International accreditation standards for experiential learning. The worksite and worksite clinical supervisors are vetted and approved by Simmons University faculty, at the discretion of the faculty, before a student may begin Practicum.
Students who are currently working in the field at a site that meets BACB fieldwork standards under supervision of a worksite BCBA who meet BACB supervision standards may begin accruing BACB fieldwork hours at their worksite during term 1 of the program.
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.
Here you can review a state by state breakdown of comparable 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 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.
Admission options and prerequisites vary by program. Learn more about the requirements for the MS or EdS in Behavior Analysis.
Our Behavior Analysis program prepares students for leadership roles in the implementation, evaluation and administration of applied behavioral analytic principles and methods.
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