Behavior Analysis (MS or EdS)

Simmons University's Master of Science in Behavior Analysis campus-based 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 other areas, including animal training, organizational behavior management, higher education, and behavioral medicine, among others.

Our campus-based Master of Science in Behavior Analysis program is one of the few master’s programs across the world that are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI),and was the first master's program in New England to be accredited by ABAI. Our program outcome data are reported annually. Our campus-based Master of Science program meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s 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%.

Why Study Behavior Analysis at Simmons?

The need for behavior analysts has continued to increase across the nation since 2010. 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 degree 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 the basic principles of behavior, behavior change methodologies, and application of the science across a wide range of clinical practice and research domains.

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

Master of Science in Behavior Analysis admission requirements

Students interested in applying to our Master of Science in Behavior Analysis campus-based program should submit the following:

• A $75 nonrefundable application fee
• A completed online application
• Current résumé or CV Statement of purpose
• Two academic or professional letters of recommendation
• Official college transcripts from every college or university attended. Must include degree conferral

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

What will you learn in our Behavior Analysis Master's Program?

Simmons’s Behavior Analysis Master’s program prepares students for the BCBA® exam, and for leadership roles in the implementation, evaluation, and administration of applied behavior 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.

What can you do with a Behavior Analysis degree?

The U.S. demand from 2023-2024 for employees credentialed as a BCBA® or BCBA-D® rose 58%, with Massachusetts ranking second nationwide amongst states with the highest demand. Those who relocate to pursue graduate studies at Simmons benefit from a robust job market in Massachusetts with many providers of ABA services.

Upon completing the Simmons 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 wide practice and research opportunities in both experimental and applied settings, graduates may go on to open a clinical practice or focus their career on a specialized area of practice, such as behavioral medicine, organizational behavior management, animal training, instructional design, or a related field. Graduates may also 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 in higher education. 

Details about our Master’s in 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 students to sit for the BCBA® exam. Our Behavior Analysis degree program is completed part-time, with classes available in the evenings to allow flexibility for students working in the field. To earn either the MS or EdS degree, students must complete 40 credits and a thesis research project, which is completed during Practicum courses. To prepare for Practicum, students must begin working by the end of the first semester; we provide support to help students 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 affect 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.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or the Board Certified Assistant 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.