A minimum GPA of 3.0 a minimum1000 on the GRE (Verbal + Quantitative) and three letters of recommendation (at least two letters must be from college/university faculty with whom you have taken classes and/or worked closely), a resume, and a personal statement describing your academic history as it relates to behavior analysis, your relevant experiences with ABA, and your career goals are needed to apply to the program. Undergraduate majors from psychology, education, counseling or other related degrees are welcome to apply as long as the pre-requisite courses have been completed. Experience in applied behavior analysis is desirable and in recent years incoming students have 1-3 years of hands-on experience.
Prerequisite courses: 12 credits in psychology including
Applied Behavior Analysis (behavior modification)
Conditioning and learning
Research methods.
A grade of B- is required for each prerequisite course. Students may apply for admission before completing the prerequisites but must complete them before beginning coursework in the program.
Non-degree Seeking Students
Students wanting to register for graduate courses without being an FSU undergraduate student or having been admitted to the program may be able to do so as a special (non-degree seeking) student. This option could be beneficial for people seeking CEUs for BACB certification or people working towards certification (See 'Special Students' in the FSU Graduate Bulletin for more information). Special students may enroll in a maximum of 5 content courses and may not enroll in practicum. All special students wanting to register for graduate classes in Applied Behavior Analysis must
- have taken the prerequisite courses (Research Methods, Conditioning and Learning, and Applied Behavior Analysis) and earned a grade of B- or better,
- get permission of the instructor prior to registration and, for students wishing to enroll in multiple semesters,
- earn a grade of B or higher in each Applied Behavior Analysis graduate course in order to register for each subsequent semester. The requirement for completion of the prerequisites may be waived with the permission of the instructor and program faculty in cases where the student has had practical experience in the field as a behavior analyst and wants to take a graduate course for CEUs or certification purposes.
Contact Information
grad-info@psy.fsu.edu
or call 850-644-2499.
Explore the Psychology Department's webpages.
Above link will open in a new window outside of the FSU PC site.
Career Opportunities with this Degree
Most graduates of the Master's program receive 2-4 job offers. Graduates are currently employed in behavior analysis throughout the country from Massachusetts to California. In each of the past four years a student applied for and was accepted into a doctoral program. All graduates who have taken the examination have achieved Board Certified Behavior AnalystTM status on their initial attempt.
Behavior analysts are employed in a variety of treatment, education and rehabilitation settings including: autism, behavior and learning disorders, developmental disabilities, performance management, parent and child interactions, child abuse and neglect, behavioral safety, school consultation, curriculum development and evaluation, parent and staff training, and language development. Employers include profit and non-profit agencies and consulting firms. Entry-level salaries for those with a master's degree in ABA range from $35,000 - $75,000 depending on experience and expertise.
Degree Plan Sheet
This is a non-thesis program approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board specifically designed to train students to become effective behavior analysts at the master's level. Typically, students complete the program in 5 semesters by taking the sequence of courses shown below. A grade of B- or better is required for each of the courses. In addition, students complete a portfolio of their practicum work and need to pass a comprehensive examination during their final semester.
Fall of first year
Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Research Methods in ABA
Developmental Psychology
Spring of first year
Methods of ABA
ABA in Education and Performance Management
Biological Psychology
Summer of first year
Professional and Ethical Issues in ABA
ABA in Developmental Disabilities and Autism
First Practicum
Fall of second year
ABA in Mental Health and Aging
Second Practicum
Spring of second year
Skinner's Theory
Third Practicum
The program's specialties are in developmental disabilities, autism, and school applications; however, we have remarkable community support allowing students to gain practical experience with a variety of other populations and settings. These have included child foster care, fitness facilities, juvenile detention, daycare centers, and nursing homes.
Training Model
The program is designed to produce well-rounded professional behavior analysts with emphases on a thorough knowledge of behavior analytic principles, practical experiences, and the ability to communicate both to consumers and professionals. Students are provided the opportunity to gain a variety of practical experiences working individually or collaboratively. This is afforded through class assignments as well as during the practica which are closely supervised by faculty or other approved Board Certified Behavior Analysts working in the community. In addition, ethical practices are emphasized.
Unique Aspects of the Program
Currently, all classes are offered via interactive television between the Tallahassee and Panama City campuses with the ABA faculty alternating between the locations to ensure consistent faculty/student contact. This allows students the option of living in either of these cities and has resulted in a roughly equal distribution between the two. The emphasis on practical applications and presentation skills has resulted in 44 of the students having been authors on 41 presentations at professional conferences over the past four years. Assistantships (typically includes a stipend and tuition waiver) in which students work in settings as behavior specialists have been provided for all current students who have sought them. The remainder of students are employed in other behavior analytic positions.
Students have the opportunity to become active in the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (www.FABAworld.org).
Psychology Resident Faculty
Dr. Kelley Knapp-Kline
Psychology
phone: (850) 770-2242
kkline@pc.fsu.edu
Vita
Faculty Web Site (leaves FSU PC site)
Dr. Al Murphy
Psychology
phone: (850) 770-2251
amurphy@pc.fsu.edu
Vita
Sarah A. Lechago
Psychology
phone: (850) 770-2251
slechago@pc.fsu.edu
Vita
toll-free (866) MyFSUPC (866-693-7872)
