Behavioral Analysis (MS or EdS)
Faculty
Russell Maguire, Asst. Professor, Chair, Grad Program Director, Behavior An
Ronald Allen, Associate Professor of Practice
David Palmer, Adjunct Faculty
Gretchen Dittrich, Associate Professor of Practice
Description
Simmons’s highly respected Behavior Analysis program prepares students for leadership roles in the implementation, evaluation, and administration of applied behavioral analytic principles and methods. Our innovative curriculum emphasizes contemporary research and the fusion of applied behavior analysis with other scientific fields. While many students in our Applied Behavior Analysis programs are drawn from the fields of education and special education, the potential applications for this degree vary widely and include behavioral medicine, organizational behavior management, instructional design, and animal training.
Students have two degree options – the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and the Master of Science (M.S.) The Ed.S. degree program is an advanced graduate degree that provides a student who currently holds a master’s degree with an area of educational specialization. The M.S. meets the educational needs of an individual who holds a bachelor’s degree and is seeking a master’s degree. The program of study is 42 credits.
Learning Outcomes
Requirements for entry into program
Costs- Including financing and fellowships / assistantships
$1000 per credit hour
Activity Fee $52 per semester
Delivery Mode or Modes Available (full-time, part-time, locations, technologies, etc.)
The Behavior Analysis Master’s degree is offered at the Simmons campus and online.
Degree requirements
Credits
The Masters / Ed Specialist degree in Behavior Analysis is 42 credits.
Core, Pre-requisite, and elective course requirements and progression, etc.
| BEHV 424 | Introduction to Behavior Analysis | 4 |
| BEHV 415 | Introduction to Single Subject Research_Designs | 4 |
| BEHV 426 | Behavioral Assessment | 4 |
| BEHV 427 | Methods for Changing Behavior I | 4 |
| BEHV 434 | Methods for Changing Behavior II | 4 |
| BEHV 430 | Legal and Ethical Issues | 4 |
| BEHV 445 | Advanced Topic Applied Behavior Analysis | 4 |
| BEHV 461 | Mentoring Supervision I | 4 |
| BEHV 462 | Mentoring Supervision II | 4 |
| BEHV 465 | Theoretical & Applied Issues in_Skinner's Writings | 4 |
| | Master’s Thesis Seminar | |
Capstone, placement, internship, practicum, etc.
Mentoring and Supervision (8 credits)
There are two mentoring courses, taken in consecutive terms. These courses provide individualized and group supervision to students using the basic principles of behavior analysis in the classroom or work setting. They fulfill the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s requirements for completion of supervision under the Intensive Practicum category.
Students will meet individually with an appointed Individual BCBA Supervisor for one 90-minute meeting per week, and will meet as a small group with a Simmons College Group BCBA Supervisor for a second 90-minute weekly meeting.
Students must work at an approved site throughout the mentoring program. Students must work a minimum of 10 hours per week every week of the mentoring term to meet BACB® Eligibility Standards for supervision. However, Simmons College recommends students work 30 hours per week to ensure they accrue sufficient hours. Students must complete a total of 750 work hours in the approved settings over the course of the supervision experience (2 terms). A minimum of 10% of these work hours must be supervised. More than one setting may be combined to fulfill these requirements.
Responsibilities include direct and clinical service provision to human clients for whom behavior analytic services are appropriate. Per BACB standards, no more than 50% of the hours worked may be direct services. Clinical responsibilities include designing and/or monitoring behavior analytic programs, overseeing implementation of programs by others, conducting behavior analytic assessments and analyses, training other service providers to implement behavior analytic programming, and data analysis.
Concentrations, specializations, etc.
Licensure, certification, etc.
Simmons College course sequence in Behavior Analysis is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board™ and meets the coursework requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst™ (BCBA) examination.
BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons uses the same curriculum as our on-campus Master of Science in Behavior Analysis program, which is one of only 20 master’s programs accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Graduates of our on-campus programs boast an average Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) examination pass rate of 79%, compared to the national average of 60%.
Dual (and other) degree options
Other program information
Master's Thesis Seminar (2 credits)
The master’s thesis is a research project that builds throughout the course of the program, resulting in a manuscript that presents an original piece of single-subject, behavior analytic research.
Throughout the program, you will meet in live, weekly sessions with a thesis advisor who will help you design your research question and plan for data collection. You will conduct research in the field and will complete a research thesis that describes your study and the gap in the literature it addresses. Once your research is complete, you will defend your thesis in front of a panel of faculty members. The result of this project is a piece of high-quality, original research of publishable quality in the field of behavior analysis.
Through the thesis process, you will gain knowledge of advanced single-subject research methodologies. This assures that you will leave the program with the advanced knowledge and skills that will enable you to read and incorporate behavior analytic research into your applied clinical work. In addition, you will learn how to write research in a scientific, technical manner, crafted according to the APA format.