Master of Arts in Applied Psychology: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Applied behavior analysts use their special training to produce meaningful and socially significant changes in behavior in community, home, educational and work settings.

ABA Highlights

• Provides advanced training and professional credentials
• Designed to fill the critical need for highly trained behavior analysts
• Prepares students for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
• Career opportunities include working with children with autism spectrum disorders

About Our Program
Students in Rider’s Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) graduate program learn how to apply behavioral principles to solve performance problems, build new behaviors and strengthen existing appropriate behaviors. Our curriculum ensures that you will be qualified to assess, design, implement and evaluate ABA programs for a range of populations in a variety of fields.  You will gain a compassionate understanding of individual differences and the skills needed to develop strategies that will impact behavior and learning.

Rider’s convenient location between Philadelphia and New York City, offers you rich opportunities for internship placements and employment as a applied behavior analyst in education, business, government and non-profit organizations.

The Added Value of National Certification Preparation
Rider’s program is working with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® to meet the course and fieldwork requirements necessary to sit for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination.  This important credential will increase your marketability as a practitioner.

Career Opportunities
Applied behavior analysis offers a wide range of career choices because  expertise in measuring, analyzing and changing behavior is needed in many areas, including:

• Addictive behavior
• Animal management
• Autism therapy
• Behavioral safety
• Behavioral medicine
• Business
• Developmental disabilities
• Education
• Environmental conservation
• Forensics
• Human factors and user interface design
• Industrial safety
• Juvenile delinquency
• Medical training
• Organizational structures
• Parenting and child management
• Sports performance

Course Information
Required ABA Core (24 credit hours)
Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
Observational Methods and Functional Assessment
Single Subject Research Design and Analysis
Creating Effective and Ethical Behavior Intervention
Interventions for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Language Assessment and Interventions
Social Skills Assessment and Interventions

Electives Courses (6 credit hours — any two courses listed below)
Psychological Tests
Cognitive Development
Health Psychology
Advanced Developmental Psychology
Drugs and Human Behavior
Psychology of Family
Developmental Psychopathology
Aging and Brain

Practicum Requirement (6 credit hours — two semesters)
Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (supervised)

Special Career Opportunities in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Over the past 20 years, the number of children identified with autism spectrum disorder has grown steadily, with New Jersey leading the nation in diagnosed cases.

In recent years, applied behavior analysis (ABA) has shown remarkable success in helping students learn, particularly children with autism spectrum disorders, as well as individuals with mental retardation, brain injuries and other disorders. With the growing number of children presenting with unique behavioral challenges and requiring additional supports, mental health providers, agencies and school districts are increasingly seeking the services of professionals with highly specialized training in applied behavior analysis (ABA).

As a result, board certification as an applied behavior analyst is becoming increasingly important, providing professionals with enhanced training and credentials to work with children and adults with learning and mental health needs.

Rider University’s ABA program is designed to respond to this demand regionally and nationally.  It builds on our successful undergraduate and graduate programs in psychology and special education to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of clinical psychology and thorough training in ABA techniques. Students gain real-world experience through internships, networking and mentoring as a result of our longstanding, successful relationships with nationally recognized schools and organizations providing services for children with disabilities.

Distinguished Faculty
Rider students learn from the best. Our professors are dedicated and passionate teachers. Fully 96 percent of our full-time faculty members hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their field.

Our faculty members have strong faculty expertise in behavior analysis, research methods and applied research, as well as developmental disabilities and special education. The psychology department has longstanding, successful relationships with nationally recognized, local private schools providing services for children with disabilities.