Special Education, Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (MED)
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for this program include the following:
- Complete application for admission
- Admission to the College of Education and Human Development
- Baccalaureate degree in special education, psychology, speech language pathology, occupational therapy or social work from an accredited institution
- Professional certification/license/experience in a field related to autism/intellectual disability
- Statement of professional goals
- Two letters of recommendation
- Test of English as a Foreign Language required of all international students from countries in which English is not the native language; and 2.75 cumulative grade point average. (GRE – Not Required)
MEd in Special Education, concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDSP 603 | Experimental Analysis of Behavior | 3 |
| EDSP 605 | Concepts and Principles in Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 654 | Radical Behaviorism | 3 |
| EDSP 669 | Single Case Research Methods and Designs | 3 |
| EDSP 678 | Comprehensive Review of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 651 | Professional and Ethical Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 680 | Behavior Analytic Supervision and Consultation | 3 |
| EDSP 546 | Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication | 3 |
| EDSP 650 | Behavior Assessment | 3 |
| EDSP 671 | Behavior Intervention | 3 |
| Supervision (optional) | ||
| Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis 1 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students in the Intensive Practicum Option will take EDSP 653 during each semester in the program, for up to a total of 15 credit hours in the course.
Exit Assessment: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; grades no lower than B-minus in all coursework; completion of intervention proposal and presentation with a rating of Satisfactory; Target performance or better on all Hallmark Assessments; scored Target performance or better on Advanced Program rubrics; positive recommendation from the Special Education Program Committee.
Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
The Master's in Special Education concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis program’s Intensive Practicum Option is designed to prepare students for licensure as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Students in this option will complete a verified course sequence (VCS) for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Certification Exam. In addition to coursework requirements, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience to be eligible to take the BACB exam. With careful planning, students in this option may complete the 2,000 hours of supervised field experience during their time in the program. However, many students choose to complete a portion of the required supervised field experience hours after finishing the program and earning the degree. It is important for prospective students to understand that they will not be eligible to sit for the BCBA exam until they have completed all requirements, including 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork.
Students in the Master's in Special Education concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis program’s traditional option will complete a verified course sequence (VCS) for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Certification Exam, allowing them to meet the educational requirements for board certification. Only one practicum course is included in this sequence of coursework, making this a good option for working students. However, it is important to note that hours completed during the required practicum are separate from the fieldwork supervision hours required for the BACB exam. In addition to coursework requirements, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience to be eligible to take the BACB exam. Hours completed during the field-based practicum experience may be used toward both the course and the BACB fieldwork hours, as long as the requirements for both are met. In this option, students will complete most of the required supervised field experience hours on their own outside of the program. It is important for prospective students to understand that they will not be eligible to sit for the BCBA exam until they have completed all requirements, including 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. Because the supervised fieldwork hours are not completed during the program, the traditional option within the MEd in Special Education concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis at University of Louisville is not designed to prepare students for licensure immediately upon graduation in any US state or other jurisdiction.
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.
