Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (CERT)

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program requires a graduate application to the Graduate School

Applicants must also have the following:

  • A master's degree in Special Education, Psychology, or Behavior Analysis from an accredited institution 
  • Official transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation related to the applicant's work with individuals with autism
  • Professional Goals Statement
  • Current Resume
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) is required of all students who completed their degrees from outside the United States in which English is not the native language.

Those intending to seek certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) must hold a master's degree in Education, Psychology, or Behavior Analysis.

Program Requirements

Program Coursework

EDSP 644Applied Behavior Analysis3
EDSP 650Behavior Assessment3
EDSP 654Radical Behaviorism3
EDSP 669Single Case Research Methods and Designs3
Midpoint Assessment
EDSP 546Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication3
EDSP 651Professional and Ethical Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis3
EDSP 671Behavior Intervention3
Exit Requirements
Minimum Total Hours21

Midpoint Assessment: Completion of EDSP 650 Hallmark assessment task with a rating of Satisfactory. Grades of “B-” or better in all certificate courses prior to Midpoint: EDSP 644, EDSP 654, EDSP 669 and EDSP 650.

Exit Requirement: Completion of intervention project and presentation with a rating of Satisfactory and grades of B- or higher in all certificate courses.

The graduate certificate in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification, you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures