30 Best Online Master’s in Behavioral Psychology

University of Cincinnati's Master of Education in Foundations in Behavior Analysis is a comprehensive online degree program consisting of 10 courses; six of which have been BCBA-verified. Required courses include Ethics for Behavioral Practice and Research; Family Intervention and Early Intervention; and Child Development.

Although UC's M.Ed. courses are spread out over 15 weeks, it's possible to complete this program in as little as five semesters. Admitted students may also transfer up to nine semester credit hours from a regionally accredited graduate school.

The Esteves School of Education at The Sage Colleges offers a comprehensive online Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism. This 34-credit program can be completed in as little as two years.

Required courses may include Behavioral Assessment, Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysts, and Core Skills in Autism. Students may also decide to complete an optional practicum sequence in addition to an optional thesis.

All Sage College faculty are Board Certified Behavior Analysts who are experienced in working with children and adults affected by autism spectrum disorders. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and new students can enroll for Fall and Spring semesters.

The University of West Florida offers a unique online MA degree in Exceptional Student Education as part the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or NCATE.

UWF's online students benefit from live interaction with professors and peers through weekly online class meetings.

UWF's BCBA-verified course sequence includes topics such as Positive Behavior Support and Systems, Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Behavior Assessments, Interventions, and Outcomes. In addition, students are required to complete a cognate program involving either Special and Alternative Education, or Applied Behavior Analysis.

While UWF conveniently offers five start dates per year, applicants should note how online degrees are not available in every U.S. state.

Graduate students of the University of Washington's College of Education can earn an online double M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education. WU's BACB-verified course sequences are taught using synchronous online learning methods for topics such as Educating Students with Autism, Special Education and The Law, and Becoming an Ethical and Professional Behavior Analyst.

While UW's double M.Ed. requires to complete a senior capstone, completing the 750-hour intensive practicum is optional. UW has been highly ranked amongst the top 100 U.S. universities for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM-related degrees, by U.S. News and World Report.

The College of Saint Elizabeth's online Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis is ideal for students who intend to sit for the BCBA exam. CSE's 30-credit degree program requires courses such as Behavior Analysis and Learning, Applied Ethics, and Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice. In addition, CSE also offers an 18-credit Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis.

While CSE requires applicants to have a 3.0 GPA or above, submitting a GRE score is not required for admission. U.S. News and World Report have ranked College of Saint Elizabeth amongst some of the best regional universities in the Northern U.S.

Do you need extra time to complete your MA degree? Unlike other online Master's programs, students of West Virginia University's online MA in Special Education are able to complete their degree within eight years. WVU's 36-credit program offers an MA with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis and allows students to complete a capstone course in preparation for the BCBA exam.

Required courses include Designing Single-Case Research, Naturalistic and Functional Analyses of Behavior, and Professional Ethics for Behavior Analysts. WVU has been ranked among the top public schools and national universities by U.S. News and World Report.

Ball State University offers a unique Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on studying autism spectrum disorders. BSU's 30-credit program is offered through the university's Teachers College and can be completed online in less than two years.

This specific MA program is ideal for current teachers, psychologists, ABA therapists, or other human service professionals preparing for their BCBA exam. Required courses include Behavioral Consultation, Professional Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Intervention and Treatments for Persons with Autism. BSU students can choose to enroll in one, or two courses each semester.

The Master of Science degree in Behavior Analysis at Simmons University is offered entirely online and can be completed in 19 months. Along with weekly interactive online classes, all SU students will fulfill the 750 hours of mentoring and supervision necessary to sit for the BCBC exam.

SU's 40-credit program requires courses such as Ethics and Legal Issues, Verbal Behavior, and Mentoring and Supervision. Applicants do not need to submit their GRE score for admission.

Drexel University Online now offers a MS in Applied Behavior Analysis through four 10-week quarters a year. DU's MS program is ideal for those who currently work as special education teachers, school psychologists, social workers, and in related professions.

Required courses include Behavioral Interventions, Measurement, and Experimental Design, Consultation, Systems Change, and Supervision. DU students may also choose between a practicum concentration or an autism spectrum disorders concentration and, in addition, a lesson study, thesis, or practitioner capstone track.

Graduate students can now earn an MA in Psychology with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth. UMass's 36-credit program is designed to be completed in three years, although the university also offers an 18-credit Applied BCGC to be completed in only two years. Required courses include Child Development, Child Psychopathology, and Behavioral Interventions.

While many courses are offered online, UMass's degree requires an on-campus component as well. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Bay Path University offers an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis with the option of completing a Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders. BPU students have the option to enroll part-time or as a full-time student in order to complete the 36-credit degree.

Required courses include Ethical Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Change Systems in Education. Completion of this program leads to the eligibility to sit for the BCBA certification exam. GRE and GMAT scores are not required for admission. BPU's class schedule begins every February and October.

McNeese State University now offers a BACB-approved MA in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis. Professors will emphasize the development of both assessment and intervention skills through a 55-credit non-thesis program.

Required courses may include Behavioral Assessment, Psychopathology, Social and Cultural Diversity, Verbal Behavior, and Ethics for Behavior Analysts. While courses are offered entirely online, all graduate students must complete an internship in the McNeese Autism Program or the Clinical Applied Behavior Analysis Academy. Applicants must have a minimum score of 285 on the GRE.

Unlike most other universities for Applied Behavior Analysis, MS in Special Education at Texas A&M University-College Station doesn't require applicants to have a teaching certificate. With an emphasis on ABA, this 36-credit program can be completed entirely online in just two years.

Required courses may include Behavior Management, Assessment in School Settings, Consultation in Special Education, and Transition from School to Work. While applicants are not required to submit GRE scores, prospective students should have experience in working with disabled populations and familiar with behavior analysis theories.

The Florida Institute of Technology offers an MA in Professional Behavioral Analysis through a hybrid program focused upon the values: "Quality," "Convenience," "Time," and "Value." In order to earn an MA, FIT requires students to complete 24 credit hours of online coursework. The remaining 21 credit hours must be completed in-person at an approved site.

After completing one's coursework, students must pass a comprehensive 150 multiple choice exam, which will help prepare them for the BCBA exam. Admission to FIT is accepted year-round and school terms begin in January, April, July, and October.

National University now offers an online MA in Human Behavior through its College of Letters and Sciences. Admitted students must complete at least 54 quarter units of graduate work, including 10 core classes, and two electives.

Required curriculum includes Theories of Behavior Change, Creative Leadership, Personal and Professional Ethics, and Stages of Adult Development. NU's program is ideal for those with specific ambitions in the fields of supervision, management, and administration. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and new students can begin classes any month of the year.

The online Master of Education in Special Education at Texas Tech is a 36-credit degree program with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis. Offered through TTU's College of Education, this program's course sequence meets the requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA exam.

Required courses include Applied Behavior Analysis, Single Subject Design, Functional Behavior Assessment, and Ethics and Professional Conduct. All courses are taught by certified behavior analysts. TTU allows students to transfer up to six credit hours. Applicants can only apply for Fall or Spring admission.

Western Connecticut State University offers students a chance to earn an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis completely online. WCS's Education and Educational Psychology Department prepares students for the BCBA examination by providing supervised independent fieldwork, practicum, and an intensive practicum.

Required courses include Grant Writing for Applied Behavior Analysis and Assistive Technology for Applied Behavior Analysis. All graduate students must complete a capstone project in Applied Behavior Analysis in addition to a research course.

Unlike any other degree listed so far, Saint Joseph's University offers an MS in Criminal Justice with a Behavior Analysis concentration. SJU's unique 36-credit program is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and is made up of four core courses, seven concentration courses, and one elective course.

All courses can be completed entirely online and may include Behavior Analysis Consulting, Basis for Behavior Change, and Behavior Analysis and Crime Prevention. Applicants should have at least one year of applied behavior analysis working with clientele or volunteer experience.

Offered through its Department of Educational and School Psychology, the University of Southern Maine is home to a comprehensive MS degree in Educational Psychology. While attending USM, graduate students can also choose to specialize in Applied Behavior Analysis.

USM's 36-credit program is made up of 12 courses with required courses including Research Methods and Techniques, Behavioral Principles of Learning, Psychopathology, and Professional Ethics. Courses can be completed online with both synchronous and asynchronous delivery.

Applications to USM are accepted on a rolling basis. All applicants must have a minimum combined verbal and quantitative GRE test score of 290.

Arcadia University's Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis is a comprehensive degree program that can be completed entirely online. AU's 36-credit M.Ed. is offered through Arcadia's School of Education and requires courses such as Cultural Foundations of Education, Procedures for Behavior Change, and Ethics and Professionalism.

Additionally, all graduate students must complete an action research project to earn their degree. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board has approved the six-course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA exam.