Program

Students will complete this 45-credit hour program over 18 months. Courses will be delivered in a hybrid  or online format depending on admission semester. 

Fall Admission:  Students admitted in the fall receive instruction in a hybrid format that requires in-person class meetings at the Modesto Maidique Campus and asynchronous online work. Students are responsible for meeting the FIU Online minimum technical requirements Class meetings comprise approximately 50% of the course contract hours and are usually held once a week between 9:00AM and 6:00PM. This schedule is subject to change. Students must complete supervised practicum experience during the second, third, and final semester of the program. 

Spring Admission:  Students admitted in the spring receive instruction in a hybrid Online Live format that requires synchronous class meetings via Zoom and asynchronous online work. Students are responsible for meeting the FIU Online minimum technical requirements Class meetings comprise approximately 50% of the course contact hours and are usually held twice a week, starting at or after 4:00PM EST. This schedule is subject to change. Students must identify an eligible site to complete supervised practicum experience in their local community during the second, third, and final semester of the program. 

Availability Requirements: As mentioned above, students in this program must have availability to attend classes either once a week on a week day (fall admission) or two week days a week after 4PM (spring admission). Additionally, they must have a minimum of 10 outside-of-class hours available over the span of at least two week days each week to successfully complete their practicum experience and capstone project requirements. 

Students in both cohorts must make satisfactory progress each semester in all areas of the program and complete a practicum and capstone project as part of the supervised research courses and their practicum experience. Please refer to our student handbook linked below for more details on what satisfactory progress requires in our program. Additionally, the practicum allows students the option to complete 1,500 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, and thus graduate from the program having met all of the requirements to sit for the BCBA exam. Exam preparation is included in the curriculum.

For more information, consult the Graduate Catalog or contact us at behavior@fiu.edu.

Courses

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

DEP 5068 Applied Lifespan Development (3). This course is designed to acquaint the student with various applications in life-span developmental psychology. An overview of general issues and areas of application is offered, and specific applications are considered.

EAB 5700 Introduction to the Concepts and Principles of ABA (3). In depth study of learning principles and methods of behavior change and complex learning processes, including Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior.

EAB 5701 Advanced Methods of Behavior Change (3). Behavior analytic assessment including descriptive assessment and functional analysis, identification of behavior function, assessment of skill deficits, and identifying treatment goals

EAB 5785 Organizational Behavior Management & Supervision (3). A study of behavior analytic principles in organizational contexts, including performance analysis, behavioral systems analysis, organizational culture, leadership and supervision.

EAB 5797 Single-Case Research Methods (3). Intensive study of designs, strategies, and methods of single-case behavioral research. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

EAB 5937 Special Topics in Behavior Analysis (1). Clinical applications of the science of behavior analysis are broad. Students will expand their breadth and depth of knowledge of the field by learning how the applications of the science apply to clinical populations outside of autism.

EAB 5917 Supervised Research (2). Dedicated to supervised research in applied behavior analysis including for the non-thesis completion project.

EAB 6005 Advanced Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis (3). A critical examination of the theory, concepts, and principles of applied behavior analysis. The course will cover historical figures and events that led to the development of the field. Prerequisite: Graduate standing

EAB 6717 Science and Practice of Verbal Behavior (3). Behavior is analyzed by function. Structural and developmental issues as well as implications for language training and ethical application integrated throughout. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

EAB 6770 Behavioral Technologies (3). Evaluating interventions, staff training, managing treatment teams, as well as, data-based evaluation of teaching procedures, behavior outcomes and team member performance. May be taken twice for credit.

EAB 6780 Ethical Code in Behavior Analysis (3). Ethical issues in clinical Behavior Analysis are examined including selecting behavior targets, monitoring intervention success, and transferring control to existing environmental contingencies.

EAB 6941 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (3). This course guides students through the required practicum experience. Course discussion and requirements include documentation for certification, working with clients, and developing skills required of BCBAs. 

EAB 5060 Behavior Analysis Career Development (3). A graduate-level course on career applications of behavior analysis and preparing students for life after graduation. This course course equips students for the BCBA certification exam based on the 5th edition task list content while providing stimulating activities for career preparation. 

Practicum

Regardless the admission cohort a student belongs to, they will enroll in EAB 6941 Practicum in Behavior Analysis during the second, third and final semester of the program, for a total of 9 credits of practicum. Students may accrue up to 1,500 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, and thus graduate from the program having met all of the requirements to sit for the BCBA exam. Students must complete the minimum practicum requirements to graduate from the program.

Students must have a minimum of 10 outside-of-class hours available over the span of at least two week days each week to successfully complete their practicum experience and capstone project requirements. 

Note: It is not required to accrue all 1,500 or 2000 hours of fieldwork hours while enrolled in the program to successfully graduate with your degree.

Regardless of the number of practicum hours worked per month, the following BACB requirements must be met at an approved or affiliated practicum site:

• No fewer than 20 practicum hours accrued in a calendar month
• Monthly supervision of at least 5% of total experience hours
• Individual supervision must be at least 50% of all supervision hours
• Unrestricted activities must be a minimum of 60% of total hours
• A minimum of 4 supervisory contacts per calendar month, for at least 15 minutes each time
• At least one direct observation conducted by the supervisor each calendar month

Students must complete their practicum experience in an approved and/or affiliated practicum site. Practicum site eligibility requirements:

• Provide all of the 2022 BACB supervised field work requirements per calendar month
• Complete the BAMS Supervision Training (details below)
• Students may not sign non-compete forms
• Site must not have RBTs hired as indepedent contractors
• Faciliate the completion of the capstone project to include:

  1. Helping practicum students identify a minimum of three participants

  2. Provide students the opportunity to work with clients that are not currently under the student's care (not their direct client/case)

  3. Provide students the opportunity to target behaviors that are outside of the treatment plan that may not be medically necessary (i.e., not billable)

  4. Provide students the opportunity to recruit staff and caregivers for interventions targeted towards caregivers or staff

  5. Provide students the opportunity to engage in a minimum of 60% indirect work, including work that is in addition to their client responsibilities.

  6. Provide students the opportunity to work with clients who do not require punishment procedures or physical restraint as part of intervention programs.

To learn more about the program's expectations for students and sites/supervisors during the practicum experience and completion of the capstone project we invite you to view the supervision training video posted below. Starting January 2024, all site supervisors working with our students will be required to complete the BAMS supervision training (this is not the same as the BACB required supervision training). The training requires viewing the posted video below and responding to questions that accompany the training with 100% accuracy. We offer free CEUs to all supervisors who complete this training. Please email behavior@fiu.edu if you wish to complete this training to be eligible to supervise our students. 

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Graduate Certificate Program

The Department of Psychology offers a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis for individuals who already have a graduate degree and wish to complete the coursework required to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Behavior Analysis Resources

In addition to general Psychology Graduate Resources, these sources and organizations may be useful to students:

• BAMS Student Handbook
• BAMS Capstone Handbook
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board
• BCBA Handbook
• 2022 Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts