Special Education, MA - Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis

Special Education, MA

Course Delivery

On Campus, Online, Hybrid

Total Credits

30 Credits

About the Program

placeholder

This program is ideal for students seeking advanced professional preparation and research opportunities in applied behavior analysis.

This Applied Behavior Analysis emphasis in the Special Education MA focuses on inclusive and comprehensive behavior intervention. There is a serious shortage of qualified teachers with skills to effectively implement inclusive behavior intervention strategies in the Pikes Peak Region schools as well as across the state and beyond. This course sequence meets the minimum content hour requirements for Board Certified Behavior Analyst eligibility. This program provides the coursework for students to complete the additional requirements to become licensed as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), which would require them to complete independent practicum hours and pass the BCBA exam.


Focus of Study

This program provides the coursework for students to complete the additional requirements to become licensed as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), which would require them to complete independent practicum hours and pass the BCBA exam.

This program is most suitable for:

  • Teachers who want to learn inclusive behavior intervention strategies, behavior analytic principles, and continuing education credits
  • Individuals who want to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) interested in completing an MA in Special Education
  • Individuals who want to earn a Master's Degree in Special Education w/a focus on inclusive behavior intervention
  • Individuals w/ an existing MA who wish to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
  • Current Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) who would like to earn a Master of Arts Degree and promotion toward Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

Interested in becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst? See the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Requirements website for details.


Program Requirements

The Applied Behavior Analysis emphasis in the Master of Arts in Special Education requires 30 credits to be completed at the graduate level. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students must complete 9 credits of core classes and 21 credits of emphasis coursework.

Students must either have taken an Introduction to Special Education course prior to beginning the program coursework.


Program Coursework

  Courses Credit Hours
Emphasis Courses
  • SPED 5001 - Foundations in Special Education (pre-requisite course)
  • SPED 5021 - Designing Positive Classroom Environments
  • SPED 5300 - Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
  • SPED 5301 - Behavior Analytic Teaching
  • SPED 5302 - Applied Behavior Analysis Assessment and Interventions
  • SPED 5304 - Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • SPED 5306 - Applications and Skills in Applied Behavior Analysis
21 Credit Hours
Special Education Core Courses
  • SPED 5000 - Disability Studies in Education
  • LEAD 5700 - Introduction to Research and Statistics
  • CURR 5090 - Master's Research Project
9 Credit Hours

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.


Admission Details

Program Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
  • Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better
  • Three letters of reference
  • Career goal statement
  • Current resume
  • Interview with a faculty advisor

General UCCS Admissions:
To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional Resources for Admissions: