Assumption MA in ABA Program Recognized for Exceptional Experiential Education
Assumption University’s Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program has earned recognition from the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) as a Tier 2A program. This achievement highlights the program’s commitment to providing students with a comprehensive and exceptional learning experience in applied behavior analysis.
“This recognition acknowledges the quality of training Assumption’s ABA program provides in both its classroom and experiential learning components,” Dr. Karen Lionello-DeNolf, director of Assumption University’s ABA program said. “Our students will benefit from this designation, as upon graduation, they will qualify to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam under the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s Pathway 1.”
The ABAI is a renowned organization dedicated to promoting the science of behavior analysis. To qualify for Tier 2A recognition, Assumption University’s MA in ABA program completed a rigorous and comprehensive self study in which the program was evaluated against the nine standards of the ABAI’s Tiered Model of Education: mission curriculum, outcomes, administration, resources, faculty, student services, public disclosure, program contents.
According to the ABAI, Tier 2A recognition is awarded to degree programs that demonstrate a dedication to supervised experiential learning in addition to quality education. Assumption University now becomes the only higher education institution in New England whose behavior analysis training program holds Tier 2A designation.
Assumption University’s Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis is a 46-credit program designed to take two years to complete. Students receive a well-rounded education through a combination of engaging behavior analysis courses and on-site fieldwork in various settings including public schools, in-home and clinic-based service agencies, and adult/adolescent residential programs.
“Many of our program alumni are able to secure a position and advance their careers in the setting where they completed their practicum,” Lionello-DeNolf noted.
Assumption University’s ABA program holds key partnerships with leading local organizations, including the New England Center for Children, PBS Corps, Key Autism Services, The Community Autism Therapists, Behavioral Concepts Inc., the Applied Behavior Institute, and Central Massachusetts Collaborative, that provide students with valuable fieldwork experiences and networking opportunities.
Students who complete Assumption University’s ABA program meet the degree, coursework and 1,500-2,000 hours of fieldwork experience requirements to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam and to apply for licensure as an applied behavior analyst in Massachusetts. In 2021, graduates of Assumption University’s ABA program posted a 75 percent pass rate for first time exam takers of the BCBA exam (national average 60 percent).
In addition to the ABA Master’s degree, Assumption University also offers a 37-credit certificate of advanced graduate study program, an undergraduate minor, and a dual degree program in applied behavior analysis.
Learn more about the Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program at Assumption University by clicking here, or by attending one of the virtual admissions sessions taking place in October and November 2023.