Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) /
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Master of Science in Education Program
Program Description
The Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Education Program in Applied Behavior Analysis is a joint program between the College of Education and the Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts.
The program seeks to enable students to work proficiently with the coherent system of concepts and principles of behavior analysis, preparing them for professional careers as education professionals in a variety of environments. The core principles and techniques of applied behavior analysis are broadly applicable; hence, the interdisciplinary character of this program. The program provides competencies for diverse types of work, such as programming for people with disabilities, devising arrangements for more effective instruction and classroom management, teaching strategies for effective behavior management in home settings, and designing and improving performance, productivity, and safety in organizations.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Students who have completed the Master’s program in ABA may become Board Certified Behavior Analysts. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board requires 15 credit hours of approved coursework, in addition to supervised experience, in order to qualify for the examination. The examination may also be taken by people who have graduate degrees in areas relevant to education and psychology and who take Temple’s five-course sequence. For more information on the examination, students should contact the Behavior Analyst Certification Board at www.bacb.com.
Temple’s ABA program has had its ABA courses pre-approved for students who wish to take the examination. Contact the program for a list of pre-approved courses.
Program Requirements
The program requires 33 semester hours and includes seven classroom courses, two practica, and a master's project. No comprehensive examination is required
Most students complete the program part time in two to three years. Full-time enrollment is also available and takes about one and a half to two years to complete. Students must be available to take courses during the daytime and the evening hours.
Students may earn no more than two grades of B- quality, nor more than one F, beginning with the semester during which they apply to the program. Students must achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average at graduation.
Admission Requirements
A complete application will include:
- A completed Graduate School Online Application
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited colleges or universities attended.
- Official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken no longer than 5 years prior to application.
- Three professional letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from former and current professors who can provide insight into the applicant's abilities and talents and can comment on the applicant's aptitude for graduate study. If already working in the field, the applicant may include letters from professional colleagues.
- Statement of goals: The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words in length and should demonstrate a strong interest—and experience—in Applied Behavior Analysis. The statement should also include the following elements: your specific interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.
- Personal interview is required. Applicants will be contacted to schedule your interview.
Although some exceptions apply, an applicant must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average to be admitted.
Application deadlines:
- October 1 for spring admission.
- April 1 for fall admission.
Submitting Your Materials
The Office of Graduate Academic & Student Affairs in the College of Education at Temple University receives supporting application materials for graduate admissions via the Interfolio service. See the Application Checklist for complete details on how to submit your application materials.
Contact Information
For information of the program,please contact
Matt Tincani, Ph.D., BCBA-D
phone: 215-204-8073
e-mail: tincani@temple.edu (email preferred)
College of Education
Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology in Education
Temple University, Ritter Hall 367
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
