BA200: Conceptual Foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis

This course introduces fundamental concepts and philosophical underpinnings of behaviorism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). You will learn about the historical developments related to radical behaviorism, the current trends in ABA, and the future of professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis. Other topics include the goals of behavior analysis and the dimensions of ABA. You will also learn to differentiate between behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior, ABA, and professional practice. This course will prepare you to look at behavior from the perspective of radical behaviorism.

Quarter Credit Hours: 5 | Prerequisite: Open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA285: Ethics in Behavior Analysis

This course provides an in-depth study of the ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities of behavior analysts in practice and research following the current Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) ethics code. The course will emphasize core ethical principles, structured ethical decision-making, and culturally responsive practice, as outlined by the BACB. You will develop competence in identifying, interpreting, and applying ethical and professional standards to real-world clinical, supervisory, and research contexts. You will learn to navigate common ethical dilemmas using flowcharts and decision frameworks, critically analyze scenarios, and demonstrate ethical reasoning aligned with the BACB values and legal requirements.

Quarter Credit Hours: 5 | Prerequisite: BA200 (Can be taken concurrently); open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA400: Foundations of Behavior Analysis

In this course, you will develop a foundational understanding of the concepts and principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). You will learn to identify and distinguish among key terms in behavior analysis. The course will guide you through the terminology and processes related to respondent and operant conditioning, reinforcement and punishment contingencies, schedules of reinforcement, motivating operations, stimulus control, and generalization. You will also examine the vocabulary associated with verbal behavior, rule-governed behavior, and emergent relations. This course emphasizes precise use of technical language to prepare you for advanced study in behavior analysis.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA200; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA410: Introduction to Experimental Analysis of Behavior

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), focusing on the scientific study of learning and behavior. Through exploration of historical antecedents, experimental methodologies, and animal models, you will gain an understanding of the foundations of learning. Key topics include classical and operant conditioning, schedules of reinforcement, extinction, avoidance, punishment, and stimulus control. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations, such as the use of nonhuman animals in research, and the implications of ABA in various fields including phobias, aversion therapies, and medical applications of conditioning.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA200; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA420: Methods of Behavior Analysis

This course covers behavioral measurement techniques and single-case experimental designs used in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). You will develop skills in behavioral measurement systems, including defining and measuring behavior while ensuring the validity and reliability of behavioral data. You will also learn various data display methods and visual analysis techniques to interpret behavioral data. The course also examines how single-case experimental designs assess intervention effectiveness and establish experimental control.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA410; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA430: Behavior Assessment

This course provides an overview of the assessment practices foundational to effective behavior-analytic services. You will learn how to review and interpret relevant client records, identify appropriate behavior-analytic services, and prioritize meaningful, culturally responsive behavior-change goals. Emphasis is placed on implementing functional assessments using indirect, descriptive, and experimental methods. You will develop competencies in selecting and applying assessment strategies that honor client values, cultural backgrounds, and environmental factors.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA420; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA435: Supervised Experiential Learning

This course provides the opportunity to begin the supervised experiential learning process required for certification as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). You will participate in an applied behavior analysis (ABA) experiential learning experience that meets all Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requirements. You will be under the supervision of a qualified BCBA supervisor to develop essential skills in professional practice at your approved training site. Your fieldwork activities must be consistent with current BACB supervision guidelines, the contemporary science of behavior analysis, and focus on assessment and intervention procedures that support socially significant behavior change. You will evaluate your fieldwork experience and propose suggestions for organizational improvement in accordance with professional standards. This course requires you to devote at least 15 hours per week to applied behavior analysis tasks that integrate theory and academic content, with hands-on supervised experience, accruing a minimum of 150 supervised fieldwork hours. This course is designed for undergraduate students seeking to develop professional competencies in a structured, supervised fieldwork environment.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA430; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA440: Behavior Intervention

This course introduces core principles of behavior change in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), focusing on the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions to increase socially significant behaviors and reduce maladaptive ones. You will learn to develop, apply, and evaluate basic behavior intervention plans while considering cultural, contextual, legal, and ethical factors across diverse settings. Key strategies include reinforcement, punishment, extinction, antecedent interventions, generalization, maintenance, verbal behavior analysis, and function-based interventions across diverse settings.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA435; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only

BA450: Organizational Behavior Management

This course applies Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles to organizational settings through the framework of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). You will examine how performance systems, supervisory practices, and organizational contingencies influence staff behavior and effectiveness in human service organizations and related community settings. Emphasis is placed on the selection, implementation, and evaluation of behavior-change procedures used to improve employee performance, supervision outcomes, and organizational effectiveness. Topics include performance measurement, feedback and reinforcement systems, function-based selection of behavior-change interventions, implementation of performance improvement strategies in supervisory contexts, and systematic evaluation of behavior-change outcomes. Instruction emphasizes data-based decision-making, ethical application, and the systematic implementation of behavior-change procedures within OBM and supervision settings.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: BA440; open to Applied Behavior Analysis students only