Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
Enhance your career and your ability to support children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities with UMass Lowell's Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. This seven-course online program is intended for psychology, education, childcare and human services professionals. There is a shortage of skilled professionals trained in the science of behavior analysis. The Behavior Analysis Certification Board® (BACB) established rigorous guidelines to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) to fill this need.
This program was created in partnership with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The Applied Behavior Analysis certificate courses will help you prepare for the BCBA certification exam. Classes impart the knowledge to fulfill the supervised fieldwork experience, during which you will provide ABA services in schools, homes and other settings using behavior analysis. Since 2005, more than 1,400 students have completed UMass Lowell's program, successfully passed the exam, and found meaningful employment in a variety of settings all over the world.
Earn Your Certificate in as Little as 12 Months
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified that this program's courses meet the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. In order to take the BCBA certification exam, applicants must possess a minimum of a graduate degree. For more details on eligibility requirements, please visit www.bacb.com.
Career Outlook
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Some of the courses included in the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program can be counted towards UMass Lowell's Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies. We also offer a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Applied Behavior Analysis and Education Option M.Ed. program, which can be completed entirely online. Learn more about UMass Lowell's ABA programs.
Curriculum Outline
- 7 Courses / 21 Credits
Required Courses (7 / 21cr)
- PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5820 Measurement and Experimental Design - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5830 Philosophical Underpinnings of Behavior Analysis - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5840 Behavioral Assessment - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5850 Professional and Ethical Issues in Behavior Analysis - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5870 Behavior Change Procedures - Available Spring 2023!
- PSYC.5890 Implementation and Supervision Practices in Behavior Analysis - Available Spring 2023!
Please note: PSYC.5810 is a prerequisite or co-requisite for PSYC.5820, and a prerequisite for PSYC.5830 and PSYC.5850. PSYC.5810, PSYC.5820 and PSYC.5840 are prerequisites for PSYC.5860 and PSYC.5870. The recommended sequence is: PSYC.5810 and PSYC.5820 together in one semester, then either two or all three of the following: PSYC.5830, PSYC.5840 and PSYC.5850, followed by the remaining two or three courses. Students taking one course at a time are urged to follow the numerical sequence.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis.
Prerequisites:
PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis, and PSYC.5820 Measurement and Experimental Design.
Prerequisites:
PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis.
Prerequisites:
PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis, and PSYC.5820 Measurement and Experimental Design, and PSYC.5840 Behavioral Assessment.
Prerequisites:
PSYC.5810 Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis, and PSYC.5820 Measurement and Experimental Design, and PSYC.5840 Behavioral Assessment.
Graduate Certificate Requirements
Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.
Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .
Completing a Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Tuition & Fees
At UMass Lowell, we believe that students should have as much information as possible up front so they can make informed decisions before enrolling in a degree program or signing up for a course.
Tuition for all undergraduate courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition for all online graduate courses is also the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition is priced per credit. To calculate the tuition for a course, simply multiply the per-credit tuition by the total number of credits per course. Exception: If the total number of course contact hours is greater than the total number of credits, the per-credit tuition is instead multiplied by the total number of contact hours.
Spring 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Online | $585 | $1,755 |
| Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
| Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
| Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
| Graduate Online Education Courses in the Ed.D. and Ph.D.**** | $495 | $1,485 |
| On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Degree and Certificate Application | $50 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Costs for Textbooks and Additional Materials
The total cost for required textbooks for students accepted into this program will be $600–$800 (depending on whether you buy books new or used). In addition, students will need to purchase a license for access to learning modules for a one-time fee.
Please note: Most of these costs will be incurred up front, when students enroll in their first course. Students will, however, continue to use the basic textbook, the digital textbook and the modules in all subsequent courses as they progress through the program.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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Applying into an Online Graduate Certificate Program
UMass Lowell Graduate Certificate Programs provide knowledge and expertise that are vital in today's rapidly changing workplace. In many cases, graduate certificate courses may be applied toward a master's degree at UMass Lowell. Most graduate certificates consist of four courses, for a total of 12 graduate credits. This is a great way to earn a graduate-level credential on the way to earning your master's.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Holders of an appropriate bachelor's degree
HOW TO APPLY?
Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest. When you're ready, you can apply online or download an application at http://www.uml.edu/grad.
There is a $50 application fee for all programs except engineering and business, for which there is a $75 application fee. NO Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs. Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree with the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Students who complete a graduate certificate with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better in a UMass Lowell graduate certificate program (3.20 or better in a graduate certificate from the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) may be able to waive the GRE when applying to a related master's degree. Note: the GRE is not required for many master's degrees including education, criminal justice and more. Graduate Certificate Programs must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and with not more than one course with a grade below B. Courses completed for one certificate may not be used for other certificates. Once you have completed all of the courses required for your certificate, please complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form.
For specific information regarding any of the above application materials (which may vary for some programs), please see UMass Lowell's Graduate Application Requirements at https://www.uml.edu/Grad/Process/.
Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Each application is processed — and each applicant notified — as soon as all admissions materials have been received and reviewed. For additional details, please visit https://www.uml.edu/grad/.
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before they have formally applied into the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
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Career Outlook
To help you make an informed decision about continuing your education, we access real-time labor market data to provide up-to-the-minute employment information including:
- Job postings for the occupations this program will prepare you to pursue
- Demand for specific positions within the industry
- Salary information (nationwide and by region)
- Expected career growth rate over the next 10 years vs. total labor market growth rate
With this information, you'll have a clear understanding of the return on investment you can expect from this program and which skills can help you to further increase your earning power.