MA in Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Gain skills to help you advocate for those with disabilities and improve the teaching strategies used to impact their success in the classroom.

Enhance Student Performance with a Master’s in Special Education and focus on Behavior Analysis

Learn to identify social significant behaviors and use behavior intervention to help students improve in the classroom. By pursuing a master’s degree in special education with a concentration in applied behavior, you’ll gain skills for collecting data on behaviors, implementing behavior change procedures and evaluating progress. This MA in Special Education curriculum aligns with the Council for Exceptional Children's Advanced Content Standards and meets the 5th task list coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination.

As a Master of Arts in Special Education, ABA student, you will:

  • Define, measure and assess behavior using evidence-based best practices.
  • Explore different strategies for experimental design.
  • Explore evidence-based best practices for gathering and evaluating behavioral data.
  • Understand factors that influence behavior change.
  • Learn appropriate educational technology for addressing and identifying behavioral needs.

Next Session

Fall I (Aug 26, 2024)

Estimated Tuition

Ways to Learn

Online

Discover Affordable Education

At UMass Global, our goal is to change your life through affordable education. We work with you to find grants, scholarships, tuition discounts, and low interest loans to keep your costs down.

Program Benefits that Benefit You.

Ethical Excellence

Grow professionally by embracing ethical practices and impactful research to support special needs communities.

Aligned with Standards

Aligned to the highest national standards in leadership, including the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Education Leaders Standards.

ABAI Verified

Become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with our nationally recognized ABAI course sequence that meets the 5th task list coursework requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA examination.

WSCUC

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

What can you do with Special Education: Behavior Analysis

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    Compared to a brick and mortar, the professors are more open and I was able to learn better from them. The online community is what kept me going. I think this is the first time in my life that I can say I am proud of myself. 
    Leonard W.
    MA in Special Education, Behavior Analysis
    Amy J.
    I took the Autism classes [through Extended Education] and found the passion of special education, which I really never thought of as an option. I finished the Autism program and enrolled in the Master of Special Education.  I have learned to reflect on my teaching and determine if I am reaching all students and on how to better reach any struggling students.
    Amy J.
    MA, Special Education

    Admission Requirements

    Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

    • Completed application
    • 2.75 grade point average (GPA)
    • Hold a current special education teaching credential or take EDUU 511 Collaboration For Inclusive Schooling
    • Resume showing at least part-time employment in a field which uses Applied Behavior Analysis (i.e., education, medicine, social work, occupational or speech therapy)
    • Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate coursework was completed or attempted
    Transcripts

    Only credits from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

    HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MASTER'S IN BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS? Request more information>

    Master of Arts in Special Education Program Curriculum

    • Code Course Name Credits
       Prerequisite:    
       EDUU 511

       Collaboration For Inclusive Schooling for current special education credential

      (not required for students in the Teaching and Learning program)

      3
       Core (18 credits)    
      EDUU 600 Research and Evaluation Methods

      3

      EDUU 630 Leadership and Policy in Special Education

      3

      EDUU 631 Program Development and Organization in Special Education

      3

      EDUU 632 Advanced Assessment and Program Evaluation in Special Education

      3

      EDUU 661 Collaboration in Special Education

      3

      EDUU 633 Special Education Capstone

      3

      Emphasis Area Elective Courses

      12-21

      When applying, students must select one emphasis area from the options below.

       

      Total Credits

      33-42

    • Students admitting into the Behavior Analysis emphasis area must be employed at least part-time in a field of employment which uses Applied Behavior Analysis. It is strongly recommended that candidates complete their Behavior Analysis emphasis area courses prior to taking the core courses. ABA courses are taken in sequential order at a maximum of one course per session. See an advisor for more information.

      Code Course Name Credits
      EDUU 692 The Science and Philosophical Underpinnings of Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 693 The Foundational Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 694 Using and Analyzing Measurement, Data and Experimental Design in Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 695 Assessment to Guide and Evaluate Intervention in Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 696 Selecting and Implementing Interventions for Behavior Change in Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 697 Program Oversight, Collaboration and Management in Applied Behavior Analysis

      3

      EDUU 698 Ethical Behavior and the Compliance Code for Applied Behavior Analysis   
      Total Credits

      21

    Want More Information About Teaching?

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Learn more about special education and strategies that can prepare you for the classroom.

    How long does it take to earn an MA in Teaching with a Preliminary Education Specialist, Extensive Support Needs Credential?

    To earn the SPED credential portion, you will need to complete 36 credit hours of coursework — 18 introductory block credits (six courses) and 18 content area block credits (six courses), along with 10 or 12 credit hours of internship teaching or student teaching. From there, earning your Master of Arts in Teaching will require an additional nine credit hours (three courses).

    The credential can be earned as quickly as 10 to 12 months, with the MAT adding two to four extra months. This timeframe assumes you take two courses per eight-week session, and it may vary depending upon the session in which you start.

    Remember, should you choose the UMass Global Internship Pathway, you can begin intern teaching as the teacher of record in a classroom after only four courses. That way you can start earning a salary while finishing your credential and MAT courses.

    How does adding a Master of Arts in Teaching benefit me beyond having my bachelor’s degree and this extensive support needs special education teaching credential?

    Earning a master’s in teaching has numerous benefits for an educator. Here are a few key benefits:
    • Expertise — You’ll expand your skills as an educator through the additional courses needed to earn your MAT, which all focus on broader issues in education.
    • Increased salary potential — Most school districts offer higher pay tiers depending on the level of education.
    • Career options — Having a master’s degree expands career options into areas such as curriculum coordinator, department head, assessment director, and various administrative roles.
    • Expanded teaching — Should you choose at some point to broaden your teaching from the special education realm, an MAT can allow you to do so, although you may still have to gain subject matter
    • expertise if you move into a completely new area. Still, your MAT would open possibilities teaching at community colleges, doing educational consulting, working at education nonprofits, and other options.

    What is a Preliminary Education Specialist, Extensive Support Needs Credential?

    A Preliminary Education Specialist, Extensive Support Needs Credential authorizes the holder to teach students with extensive support needs, including those with moderate to severe disabilities, in grades K-12 and through age 22 in California. This credential prepares educators to work in specialized and inclusive settings, focusing on individualized education plans (IEPs), behavior support, communication strategies, and adaptive skills. It is the initial credential required for those seeking to enter the field of special education with a focus on students who require more intensive support and specialized instruction.

    How does a Preliminary Education Specialist, Extensive Support Needs Credential differ from other special education credentials?

    The Preliminary Education Specialist, Extensive Support Needs Credential is distinct from other special education credentials primarily due to its specialized focus on students with moderate to severe disabilities, multiple disabilities, autism, or other serious impairments. The other California special education credentials are for Early Childhood Special Education, Mild to Moderate Support Needs, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Standards Visual Impairments.

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