Applied Behavior Analysis: M.S. & M.A.

Ouachita General Graduate Admissions Requirements:

• Conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution
• 2.5 minimum GPA on a 4.0 scale (individual programs will delineate more specifics)
• Completed application, which includes a statement of purpose
• Three references
• Minimum English proficiency requirements for international students are as follows:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
    At least 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)
    At least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
    At least a 6.5 on the IELTS exam

Admissions Requirements for the M.S. or M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis:

• Meet general university graduate admissions requirements
• A minimum GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale*
• Brief interview with ABA fieldwork coordinator

*Conditional admission is considered for applicants who meet all other admissions requirements and have a GPA below 3.000, but not lower than 2.500.

*Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:  Personal Statement: Writing; Personal Statement: Goals/Program Fit; GPA; Letters of Reference; Related Experience; and Persistence/Motivation.

*A GRE score is not required for admission to the ABA program.

While fieldwork placement is not required for admission, it is required for enrollment in the Master of Science degree program. Fieldwork placement requires a significant time commitment of at least 25 hours per week. A Ouachita Memorandum of Understanding/Supervision Agreement must be received by July 1. While Ouachita will assist with this process, the student is expected to take the lead in finding an appropriate placement. In some cases fieldwork placement may require relocation to an available fieldwork placement site.

See the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's BCBA Fieldwork Requirements for additional information about the expectations for fieldwork. If you cannot devote this time to the program and your placement, you will not be able to complete the program requirements for the Master of Science degree in applied behavior analysis.

Ouachita has partnered with the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) to expand students’ access to quality training sites for accruing fieldwork experience to attain BACB certification. BHCOE is an international accrediting body that provides certification to agencies meeting specific standards of quality. Of the clinical partners listed below, those accredited by BHCOE are noted with an asterisk.

Current clinical partners:

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – the historical, theoretical and philosophical foundations of behaviorism, as well as the conceptual analysis of behavior, with particular emphasis on radical behaviorism.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – the concepts and principles of applied and experimental behavior analysis.
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – behavioral measurement, data collection systems, graphical representation and visual analysis of behavioral data, and experimental design with particular emphasis on single subject research designs.
4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – ethical and professional issues as they pertain to behavior analytic research and practice.
5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – behavioral assessments and selection of assessment-derived behavioral interventions, particularly as they pertain to behavior reduction and behavioral acquisition.
6. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – the application of principles of behavior as behavior-change procedures, with particular emphasis on the implementation of behavioral interventions to increase and decrease behavior of social significance.
7. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and competence in – behavior analytic personnel supervision, training, consultation and performance management.
8. Students will demonstrate competence in behavior analytic clinical skills with particular emphasis on professional practice and service delivery model across a variety of populations and settings, including and beyond Autism and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.
9. Students will demonstrate competence in conducting applied behavior analytic research.
10. Students will demonstrate knowledge of – and develop competence in – one or more specialized areas of behavior analysis.