Special Education, Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (MEd)
Applied Behavior Analysis (MED) Application Deadline
Course Catalog
Master of Education in Special Education - Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): SPE_MEDAUO, SPE_MEDABI
Program Information
The non-teaching master's degree in Special Education is designed to advance the knowledge and expertise of professionals who are delivering services for children and adolescents with disabilities through comprehensive-care centers, institutions, hospitals, clinics, day care centers, preschools, and community programs. This program is not designed to lead to teacher certification.
The program offers two different options for students: the Intensive Practicum Option (Degree & Fieldwork) which requires in-person practicum coursework with all other courses online, and the Traditional Option (Degree only) that is completed 100% online.
Intensive Practicum Option
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 face-to-face option will complete a course sequence that satisfies the course requirements 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.
Traditional Online Option
Students in the Master's in Special Education concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis program’s traditional option will complete a course sequence that satisfies the course requirements for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Certification Exam, allowing them to meet the educational requirements for board certification. This option DOES NOT include supervision. In addition to coursework requirements, students must independently complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience to be eligible to take the BACB exam. In this option, students will complete all 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.
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) | ||
EDSP 653 | 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 program offers two different options for students: the Intensive Practicum Option (Degree & Fieldwork) which requires in-person practicum coursework with all other courses online, and the Traditional Option (Degree only) that is completed 100% online.
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. In addition to coursework requirements, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience to be eligible to take the BACB exam. In this option, students will complete 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/about/departments/academic-planning-accountability/disclosures/professional-licensure.
For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: https://louisville.edu/online/About-Us?tab=disclosures.
More about Applied Behavior Analysis (MED)
The Program's structured practical training system offers students the opportunity to practice the skills learned in the classroom across a variety of populations and settings. Full-time students dedicate around 15 hours per week to their practicum coursework across four of their five consecutive semesters. Students are assigned to community sites where they gain a wealth of experience working with a variety of populations in schools, clinics, and hospitals alongside talented BCBA professionals. The program is proud to have partnerships with the following community providers.
- Bluegrass Center for Autism
- Clinical Behavior Analysis
- Heartfelt Solutions
- Jefferson County Public Schools
- Lee Specialty Clinic
- LittleStar ABA Therapy
- Meaningful Day Services
- New Vista
- Oldham County Schools
- Shelby County Public Schools
- Stephens Behavior Consulting
- Walden Behavior Solutions
With the permission of the Program Coordinator and the approved community site, qualified full-time students may be allowed to accumulate fieldwork hours at their places of employment.
Teacher education candidates should visit the Educator Preparation Program page and review the expectations listed under the "Review These Teaching Profession Expectations" section.
The primary benefit of enrolling in the full-time option is the program facilitates the acquisition of fieldwork hours under a variety of settings and supervisors. In other words, the program arranges site placements and supervisors for the students and helps arrange relevant practical training activities. This ensures that when students graduate from the program, they have developed competencies across a variety of settings and patients/learners. This breadth of practical training helps students become more marketable when seeking employment after graduation. Students enrolled in the program full-time are expected to complete 15-20 hours of practicum each week and participate in weekly group supervision meetings. Practicum schedules will vary depending upon site needs.
A limitation for enrolling as a full-time student is that practicum placements are almost always unpaid. Historically, some full-time students have been able to simultaneously hold part-time employment while enrolled. Full-time employment for a full-time student is very strongly discouraged given the time requirements for practicum and didactic coursework.
The primary benefit of enrolling as a part-time student is the possibility of accumulating some fieldwork hours while employed by an agency offering applied behavior analysis services. However, potential applicants should be aware that employers may not offer compensation for the majority of the fieldwork hours trainees are expected to accumulate. This is because 60% of the fieldwork hours accumulated by a trainee must be acquired while engaged in unrestricted activities. Unfortunately, many of these types of activities are not billable by service providers. More information on the difference between restricted and unrestricted activities can be found in the BACB's Fieldwork Standards document.
A limitation for enrolling as a part-time student is the potential lack of variety in settings that comes with acquiring all fieldwork hours with a single employer. Additionally, students enrolled part-time are expected to facilitate the accumulation of their fieldwork hours on their own. For students interested in sitting for a BCBA certification examination, this involves ensuring that they have a qualified BCBA supervisor overseeing their work and are following the BACB's Fieldwork Standards.
Applicants interested in the program are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the program coordinator, Dr. Jon Burt. To schedule a meeting, send a quick message to jon.burt@louisville.edu along with a few options indicating dates/times when you are available to meet.
Please contact Betty Hampton at betty.hampton@louisville.edu if you wish to apply after the priority application deadline for the fall semester. The program does not consider applicants for the spring semester.
100% Online
M.ED in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis) can be completed 100% online!
FAQ: M.Ed in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis)
The job outlook for behavior analysts is fantastic. There is a large demand for behavior analysts and too few of us to fill the need. All of our past graduates have accepted employment offers in the field while still enrolled in the program. For more information, please see a recent Workforce-Demand Report published by the BACB.
Behavior analysts make very competitive salaries. According to Payscale.com and Indeed.com, the annual average salary for a master's level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is between $58,000 and $68,000.
No, the training offered in the program is self-contained and does not require a specific bachelor’s degree. However, experience working or being around developmentally disabled populations is recommended prior to starting as the vast majority of behavior analysts work with these populations after graduating.
The University's tuition rates can be found at the Office of Admissions website. Historically, the university has been able to offer graduate assistantships to some students enrolled in the program.
The program is well-respected and received by our students. Exit survey data from our last two cohorts show that the program scored a 5 out of 5 average rating from graduating students evaluating the program's overall quality.
The program admits a cohort of 20 students or less every Fall. Priority applications are due June 15th, although late applications may be accepted.
Yes, we strongly encourage you to reach out and setup an appointment to speak with us about the program and more generally about a career in behavior analysis. During our meeting, we can discuss your career goals and determine whether the program is a good fit. If you wish to setup a meeting please contact the Director of Special Programs, Betty Hampton, at betty.hampton@louisville.edu. When you reach out, please include some dates and times you are potentially available to meet and indicate whether you would prefer to meet in-person or over the phone.