Applied Behavior Analysis

(Graduate Certificate) 

Are you a new student? We recommend taking time to review the New Student Checklist.

Academic Advising

We are here to support your success and experience while at the MLFC. Please connect with your assigned advising team when you have questions about the program and resources.

Phone:   480-884-0174 (advising team)

480-965-5555 (department)

Email:     ABAadvising@asu.edu (advising team)

GraduateEducation@asu.edu (department)

Appointment:  https://calendly.com/aba-advising-team   


For tips on preparing for an advising appointment and different ways to connect with us, see the Academic Advising page on this site.  

Chelsea - Academic Advisor, Sr.

Click here to meet the academic success team!

Your academic advising team works together to keep you informed, on track for program completion, and supported throughout your program. Here is some information about the roles within the team.


Academic Advisors:


As the core members of your advising team, we will interact with you most frequently. We are experts on your program requirements and are available to assist with program related questions. We are also familiar with ASU and MLFTC resources and will refer you, as appropriate, to ensure you are fully supported.


Other members of the advising team:

Max works primarily with new students. If you have questions about items on the new student checklist, registration, or submitting your first draft of the Plan of Study (iPOS), he can assist you. 

Christie coordinates advising-related functions, working mainly behind the scenes, though you may hear from her occasionally.

Program Description and Policy Information

Students are encouraged to read and understand the MLFC Student Handbook for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program, as well as familiarize themselves with the ASU Graduate College Policy Manual.

For more information on this program please visit:

ASU students and faculty are expected to act with integrity in their educational pursuits - discover what academic integrity is and why it is important.

*This program does not lead to teacher certification. For information on special education programs that lead to teacher certification, visit the Master of Education in Special Education information page.*  

Click here to learn more about program coursework and expectations

Program structure and time commitment

The courses in this graduate program are rigorous and accelerated, composed of online and offline activities, as well as team projects and meetings. Each course will require students to allocate 15-20 hours per week to view videos or interactive online modules, read supporting materials, complete quizzes, and engage in live (video/audio) discussions with peers. Courses in this program are not self-paced. Each course is organized into modules, ranging from 5-7 days in length.  All readings, assignments, meetings and activities must be completed during the scheduled dates of the module.  

Live discussion and offline activities

Courses include a required live, synchronous discussion component, in which students will arrange meeting times with peers/team members throughout the course. Each meeting will last approximately 1 hour in duration. It is important to plan to allocate sufficient time for ‘offline’ activities such as written assignments and reading. The amount of time spent on offline activities and independent study will vary by student and course, but can be significant.  

Assignment completion for mastery of content

Students are required to complete all assignments within each module, during the dates scheduled for the module, mastering course content prior to moving onto the next one. Falling behind in one module may negatively impact your ability to integrate feedback and be successful in subsequent modules and the course. The goal is content mastery, not simply course and program completion. To ensure that students demonstrate competency with each of the objectives of the course and program - regardless of total points accumulated on assignments within the course, each individual assignment must be completed in order to receive a passing grade for the course. 

Consult with instructor with questions about course content and/or expectations

Review the course syllabus and schedule for course specific details. Consult with your Course Instructor (CI) and/or Lead Instructor with questions about course content and expectations.

Plan of Study (iPOS)

The interactive Plan of Study (iPOS) is a tool to help you navigate the program requirements and identify your path to completion. The iPOS is required and must be submitted during your 1st semester to maximize its usefulness as a planning tool. For general iPOS information, please visit the Plan of Study (iPOS) page in the Student Resources section. 

For this program, an academic advising appointment is not required to complete the iPOS.  

The iPOS will require you to complete the following 5 pages at a minimum, in the order listed:

An approved iPOS must be on file before applying for graduation. It is used by the graduation office to determine if all requirements for your program have been satisfied before awarding your certificate.

We have provided guided instructions with screenshots below to help you complete the iPOS independently.

Course Sequence/Schedule

Upon admission to the program, each student in the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program is assigned a schedule of courses referred to as the 'course sequence or schedule'. It is important to discuss any variation from the schedule with an academic advisor. A complete list of required coursework for the program, in no particular order, can be found on the ASU Online Graduate Certificate website. 

It is important to discuss any variation from the recommended schedule with an academic advisor. The complete list of required coursework for the program, in no particular order, can be found on the ASU Online Degree website. If circumstances lead you to veer from the recommended course schedule, please review the ABA Course Availability Grid for the semester you were admitted (Fall 2023 to Spring 2025, or Summer 2025 and beyond) to determine when courses are offered. Since courses are not offered each semester and the schedule is subject to change, we encourage you to arrange an advising appointment to devise an altered course schedule together. 

Session A, B, C and dynamically dated image

The course schedule for this program is designed to promote mastery of course content by offering one course at a time. During one semester, students complete one course during the first half (session A) and another during the second half (session B) for a total of 6 credits. Dynamically dated courses, such as the optional, 1 credit SPE 580 Practicum in ABA course, have unique start and end dates.


To determine the sequence in which we recommend completing the courses in the program, click the link below that corresponds to the year when you started the program. The specific course schedule will also include the term (fall, spring, or summer). 

2025 Start Term


Course Sequences for programs not listed will be available on/around the date that registration opens for the related semester per the ASU Academic Calendar. 

2024 Start Term

*Optional* Supervised Fieldwork in Applied Behavior Analysis

Review the following information about the optional supervised fieldwork in ABA course. 

This course, SPE 580 Practicum in ABA, provides a qualified supervisor in accordance with the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) experience requirements. Students are responsible for identifying a fieldwork site and will engage in supervised activities centered on the application of behavior analytic tasks associated with developing, maintaining, and oversight of behavior analytic programs. They may also engage in designing, implementing, and monitoring trainings for parents and staff. Students will gain experience in application of BACB Task List 5th edition (TL5) Content Areas. Offered on a semester basis - Fall, Spring and Summer - for approximately 16-17 weeks.

For more information on BCBA fieldwork requirements, please visit www.bacb.com and review the BCBA Handbook.

>>The application for Summer 2025 will be available the week of February 17 with a registration deadline of April 7. <<

Review the drop-down menu below for steps to gain permission to participate. Get started early since the process is lengthy!

Click here for steps required to participate in SPE 580

Please begin by completing these required action items, in order:

1)  Self-enroll in Canvas - Click here to enroll and complete Modules 1-3. You must be logged into your MyASU account to access Canvas.

2)  Register for Course - If approved to move forward after completing the modules, you will receive an email from your advising team with permission to register. It is important to register by the deadline to secure a space. 

3)  Complete ASU Acknowledgment - Once registered, a team member from Community Education Services (CES), will send directions on completing the Acknowledgment to your employer. The acknowledgment should be finalized before the course starts to maximize the accrual of hours. If not finalized by the Tuition and Fees Refund deadline, consider withdrawing to avoid being held responsible for payment of tuition and fees.

Important Notes:

Qualifications to Participate in SPE 580 (Practicum): 

In addition to the 1 credit hour of tuition and may require additional fees. Contact Student Business Services at sbs@asu.edu for questions about charges to your account. 

Program Completion

During your last semester of the program, you must apply to graduate, in order to ensure your certificate can be awarded. Please be sure you have an approved iPOS on file before applying.  When you are ready to submit the application:

Review the steps to apply for graduation on the University Registrar Services webpage. 

Please note: Applying for graduation (completion of program) is not the same as registering for ceremonies - only students earning a graduate degree, not a graduate certificate, are eligible to participate in ceremonies. 

BACB Information

Website: Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)