Master of Education in Special Education — Applied Behavior Analysis

The Augustana University Master of Education in Special Education — Applied Behavior Analysis (M.Ed. SPED — ABA) Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).

Apply for upcoming terms:

• Fall 2023 — Deadline of Friday, Aug. 18, 2023

Application requires official transcripts, minimum 3.0 GPA, a letter of recommendation, personal statement and evidence of employment. If your plans have changed, information about withdrawal dates is available.

Evidence of Employment in a Behavior-Related Setting

Students in this program must maintain employment in a behavior-related setting for a minimum of 30 hours per week to complete a total of 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork across 15 months of clinical practica. Notify the M.Ed. SPED ABA program coordinator, Dr. Kathleen Cook, if any employment situation changes.

Residency Requirement

Admission is limited to residents of the United States (U.S.), Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom (U.K.).

The Augustana M.Ed. SPED ABA Program provides an eligibility pathway to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, only individuals who reside in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K. may apply for BACB certification. Since the program is aligned with requirements for BACB certification, admission is limited to the residents of the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K.

Augustana University seeks to prepare graduates of the Master of Education in Special Education — Applied Behavior Analysis (M.Ed. SPED ABA) program to apply for certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts and to become competent practitioners in the applications of ABA in various settings, including schools, clinics, hospitals and early intervention settings.

Outcomes

Meet the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s requirements to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination, which includes:

• Graduate degree
• Behavior-analytic coursework (BCBA 5th Edition Task List)
• Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis (BCBA 5th Edition Task List)

The graduate degree program in the Sharon Lust School of Education emulates the Circle of Courage philosophy focusing on belonging, mastery, generosity and independence. The program is designed to enhance an individual’s ability to create positive learning environments by building classrooms and schools that promote belonging, mastery, generosity and independence. Graduates of the program have experienced and been taught to use these values in applications of ABA with individuals with unique needs from diverse backgrounds.

The partnership between Augustana University and HOPE Group Clinical provides the critical program component of supervised fieldwork experience. 

• The VCS coursework outcomes (based on the BCBA 5th Edition Task List) have been closely aligned with Hope Group’s supervision curriculum to ensure that students receive in-depth exposure to concepts, principles and practical applications within applied behavior analysis.
• The three 5-month practica with supervised fieldwork experience run concurrently with VCS coursework.

More about the HOPE Group’s history and mission

Tisha Denton, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA | tdenton@hopegroupclinical.com

Tisha Denton is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) who has experience providing behavior analytic services in schools, communities, clinics and homes. Denton has also had administrative experience in each of these settings. Denton serves on the Committee for Behavior Analysts within the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners — the regulatory entity that oversees the public safety of those receiving behavior analytic services and licenses all behavior analysts in the state of Arizona.
 
Denton’s areas of expertise include ensuring high-quality treatment outcomes are achieved, creating efficient clinical tools and systems for clinicians and robust mentoring and internship opportunities, as well as enthusiasm for treating severe and complex behaviors in individuals with behavioral, developmental and/or neurological disorders.
 
Denton earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in applied behavior analysis from the University of Kansas and Arizona State University, respectively.

Jessica Rydberg, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA | jrydberg@hopegroupclinical.com

Jessica Rydberg is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), serving as the quality coordinator for HOPE Group Clinical. Rydberg has worked both as a teacher and BCBA, and has served in an administrative capacity in the school setting. She has experience working with a variety of individuals in community and home settings and in the development and review of clinically-appropriate goals and treatments, as well as developed and led a variety of clinical training.

Rydberg’s areas of expertise include developing and providing a high-quality, comprehensive supervision experience for individuals working towards becoming behavior analysts and ensuring quality clinical interventions and outcomes for clients receiving ABA services.

Rydberg earned a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, Master of Education from Long Island University and completed ABA coursework through Florida Institute of Technology.

The Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program provides an eligibility pathway to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA):

Note About State Licensure

Many states in the U.S. currently have licensure rules for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and more states are in the process of implementing rules.

• Behavior Analyst Certification Board list of states with licensure rules

Although graduates of the Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program will meet eligibility requirements for the BCBA examination, board certification will not necessarily lead to immediate licensure in many states. Augustana and HOPE Group Clinical are committed to helping each student accrue fieldwork hours that meet their state licensure rules in addition to the BCBA field experience requirements. However, students in the AU M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program are ultimately responsible for being informed on and meeting their state licensure rules, as applicable, prior to practicing as a BCBA.

A M.Ed. SPED — ABA can lead to fulfilling employment as a Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) in many areas, including but not limited to schools, clinics, hospitals and early intervention settings.

The Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program has been designed for students who are working in behavioral settings, such as:

• Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
• Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
• Special education teacher
• Anyone who wishes to further their education and specialization in applied behavior analysis

Graduates of the Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program will have met the three requirements to apply for the BCBA exam:

• Graduate degree
• Completion of a Verified Course Sequence (VCS; approved by the Association of Behavior Analysts International)
• Completion of fieldwork experience (through online, supervised practica in the student’s work setting)

Because this program is offered online and the clinical practica (supervised fieldwork) are completed in the students’ work settings, the degree requirements can be attained while the master’s students maintain their lifestyles.

Additionally, this program’s cohort model grants opportunities for collaboration with mentors and fellow students. The groups of up to 15 students offer varied perspectives and knowledge.

All applicants in this program must have earned a bachelor's degree. However, since the degree leads to specialization in ABA and eligibility to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination, the undergraduate degree may also be in an area other than education.

This program is taken over a 16-month period. Courses should be taken in the order offered. The three 5-month practica for supervised fieldwork experience run concurrently with coursework.

A minimum of 30 course credits are required for graduation:

• 21 credits of Verified Course Sequence (VCS)
• 9 credits for practica (supervised fieldwork experiences) 

Coursework and supervision of fieldwork experiences are offered completely online.

No, degree completion in this program encompasses the three required components of BCBA’s Pathway 2 (see BCBA-2022 Eligibility Requirements Handbook, p. 9), including a Verified Course Sequence of behavior-analytic coursework and concentrated supervised fieldwork. As such, transfer credits will not be accepted.

The cost is determined by cohort. Students entering the program in a particular term will have the same rate of tuition throughout the program. 

For more information, visit the graduate tuition page.

Yes, financial aid is available to qualified students for core courses in this program.

Official transcripts showing proof of completed degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better, from the undergraduate institution mailed directly to the Augustana Office of Graduate Education. Electronic transcripts can be sent to graduate@augie.edu.

• A copy of current teaching license
• Name of one reference with contact information 
  • Good sources for a letter of recommendation would be a current employer or mentor who can speak about your work ethic and motivation, as well as a former professor who can address your potential for success in a graduate program.
• Name and contact information of one administrator, supervisor or human resource officer at your place of employment who is qualified to: 
  • Verify your employment in a behavior-related setting
  • Acknowledge that you would accrue field experience hours in the work setting with online supervision provided through this program. 
• A 400-500 word essay (specific instructions are included in the application)
• A non-refundable application fee of $60

Submit an application along with the following items:

• An indication of applicant’s completion of a program leading to licensure
• Contact information for one character reference and one employer representative
• A 400-500 word typed essay (specific instructions are included in the application)
• A non-refundable application fee of $60
• Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution and any graduate courses be mailed directly to the Augustana Office of Graduate Education. Electronic transcripts can be sent to graduate@augie.edu.

Cohorts are offered on a rotational basis. Completed applications are reviewed upon submission, with rolling admission. Students will be assigned to the next available cohort unless they stated a preference for a later start.

• Fall cohorts (limit of 15 students) — Deadline expected in August
• Spring cohorts (limit of 15 students) — Deadline expected in late January

The fall cohort begins at the end of August. The spring cohort begins in February.

Augustana has a strong collection in place to support graduate students’ studies. As part of registration, all graduate students receive an Augustana ID (virtual) with a library barcode to ensure remote access to library resources. Research support will be provided by librarians via phone, chat, email and texting. Interlibrary loan services are available to supplement research needs. Library staff will assist with technology support inquiries and facilitate referrals to the ITS Help Desk and/or instructional technologist.

Degree requirements for this program is 30 credits, which includes:

• 21 credits of Verified Course Sequence
• 9 credits of concentrated, supervised fieldwork experiences 

Graduates of this program will meet the three requirements to apply for the certification examination from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. However, certification does not necessarily lead to immediate licensure in many states.

Applying for Certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst

The Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program provides an eligibility pathway to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA):

Note About State Licensure

Many states in the U.S. currently have licensure rules for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and more states are in the process of implementing rules. View the Behavior Analyst Certification Board list of states with licensure rules.

Although graduates of the Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program will meet eligibility requirements for the BCBA examination, board certification will not necessarily lead to immediate licensure in many states. Augustana and HOPE Group Clinical are committed to helping each student accrue fieldwork hours that meet their state licensure rules in addition to the BCBA field experience requirements. However, students in the AU M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program are ultimately responsible for being informed on and meeting their state licensure rules, as applicable, prior to practicing as a BCBA.

Learn more about ABA from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), which establishes practice standards, administers examinations and provides ethics requirements and a disciplinary system for its certification programs.

Yes, a behavioral work setting is necessary for students to complete the concentrated fieldwork requirements within three 5-month practica that run concurrently with coursework. Augustana has partnered with HOPE Group Clinical to offer the three practica, which follow a fieldwork curriculum aligned with coursework and the BCBA (5th ed.) Task List. Students who are employed full time in a behavioral setting will have the opportunity to accrue the required number of concentrated fieldwork experience hours within the 16-month graduate program course sequence. 

Note that requirements for degree completion in M.Ed. SPED — ABA include both coursework and practica.

A Verified Course Sequence (VCS) is a set of courses that has been verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) as meeting basic coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA courses have received VCS verification from ABAI.

BCBA applicants will need to meet additional requirements (i.e., supervised field experience hours, completion of master’s degree) before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. Students of the Augustana M.Ed. SPED — ABA Program will have the opportunity to complete all components required to apply for the BCBA exam while completing their degree.