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 MLFTC. Please connect with your assigned advising team when you have questions about the program and resources.

Phone:   480-884-0174 (advising team)

602-543-6358 (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.  

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 MLFTC 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 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 certificate 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. Watch this video to get an overview of how the iPOS will support you as you navigate the program requirements.

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.

Course Sequences

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'. It is important to discuss any variation from the sequence 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. 

If circumstances find you needing to veer from the recommended course sequence, please review the ABA Course Availability Grid to determine when courses are offered. Since courses are not offered each semester and the schedule is subject to change, we invite you to schedule an advising appointment to devise an altered course sequence together.

Session A, B, C and dynamically dated image

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

2024 Start Term

2023 Start Term

Note to students starting in fall 2023: SPE 563 is offered during session A and B. You will register for session B - class number 96486. 

*Optional* Supervised Fieldwork in Applied Behavior Analysis

Review the following information about the optional supervised fieldwork in ABA course. Then, navigate to the bottom of the section for next steps to gain permission to participate. 

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.

Qualifications:

In addition to the 1 credit hour of tuition, the course also requires a $1500 course fee. Students can accrue up to 500 supervised fieldwork hours in one semester of practicum (~30 hours/week).

Registration for the fall session is now open. The deadline to register for the fall session of SPE 580 is Friday, August 2. Begin the application process early since the course requires special permission to participate. See the steps required in the gray dropdown below.

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 Agreement - Once registered, a team member from Community Education Services (CES), will send directions on completing the ASU agreement. The agreement 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:

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.