Coursework & Practicum Training
Classroom course requirements
Students must complete classroom coursework (three courses per semester) totaling 25 semester hours, with formal practicum training adding 17 additional credit hours. Courses are taken on a fixed schedule over Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Required courses are listed below. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc has approved a subset of these courses as meeting its coursework requirements.
Course Number |
Title |
Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
PSYC 8560 |
Human Operant Behavior |
3 |
PSYC 7240 |
Methods for Studying Individual Behavior |
3 |
PSYC 8550 |
Applied Behavior Analysis I |
3 |
PSYC 7910 |
Practicum in Applied Psychology |
6 |
Course Number |
Title |
Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
PSYC 8550 |
Applied Behavior Analysis II |
3 |
PSYC 6960 |
Seminar in Autism Spectrum Disorders |
3 |
PSYC 8540 |
Behavioral Pharmacology |
3 |
PSYC 7910 |
Practicum in Applied Psychology |
6 |
Course Number |
Title |
Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
PSYC 8520 |
Conceptual and Theoretical Analysis in Psychology |
3 |
PSYC 7110 |
Ethics and Problems of Scientific and Professional Psychology |
1 |
PSYC 6960 |
Seminar in Developmental Disabilities |
3 |
PSYC 7980 |
Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone Project |
5 |
Practicum training
Students must complete an intensive practicum that provides formal training in service delivery settings involving individuals with developmental disabilities as well as typical individuals. The practicum component involves 20 hours per week of on site training during all three semesters at various sites. These sites presently include public schools, an early intervention preschool for children with autism spectrum disorders, a day program for individuals with mental retardation, consulting with foster and adoptive children and families, and a school-based treatment facility for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. In addition, students participate in a consulting program involving varied consumers within the east Alabama geographical area.
Students receive mastery-based training on a comprehensive set of practical skills and must complete an applied capstone project. Practicum training experiences are conducted by the Director of the ABA Program and three, full-time Master's level staff who are BCBAs. In addition, two BCBA doctoral students in the Department of Psychology are substantially involved as supervisors in this program. Furthermore, students are supervised at some practicum sites by Board Certified Behavior Analysts employed by agencies providing practicum sites. The practicum curriculum is based on the 2005 Task Standards of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board, and each students must demonstrate mastery of each standard. In addition to participating in on-site practicum activities, each week students attend a two-hour practicum class, small group practicum supervision sessions, and individual supervisory sessions. The practicum component of this degree program has been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as meeting its Intensive Practicum requirements.