Welcome!
Watch the ABA New Student Orientation Video
To help orient you to the program and give you the information needed to successfully begin this program, watch the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Orientation Video, and then complete the New Student Checklist.
To view/bookmark the Orientation Video on YouTube please follow this link: MLFC ABA New Student Orientation Video
New Student Checklist Overview:
Meet with our new student success specialist in a small group of peers to review the checklist. Click here to reserve a spot.
Question & Answer (Q&A) Session:
Attend a virtual Q&A session hosted by your academic advising team and aimed at answering questions that arise while viewing the orientation video. Details and a link to RSVP are found near the end of the checklist.
If you have questions about both the orientation and checklist, the Q&A session is recommended since it is designed to cover a broader amount of information.
Step 1: Register for classes
This program provides students with a recommended course schedule based on when they are admitted. To find your course schedule follow the steps below:
Visit the 'Course Schedule' section of your Special Education, MA (ABA) program page and select the dropdown box for the year you begin the program (i.e. 2025 Start Term).
Click on the course schedule for the semester, session, and year you were admitted to. For example, if you were admitted for Fall 2025, session A, you would choose 'MA ABA - Fall 2025 Session A (August).'
Need instructions on how to register? Here is a step-by-step registration video tutorial.
This is a sample only. Follow your recommended course schedule.
Registration dates and deadlines can be found on the ASU Academic Calendar. It is the student’s responsibility to abide by and be familiar with the calendar dates, deadlines, and policies stated there.
Fall 2025 - opened February 27
Spring 2026 - opens September 29
If you have a hold on your account follow the directions indicated on MyASU priority tasks, or reach out to advising for assistance.
Pre-admission Credit Policy: Have you completed behavior-analytic or related coursework at another regionally accredited university that you would like evaluated for potential transfer into the program? To be considered for transfer, the coursework must:
1) have been taken within 3 years of admission,
2) have a grade of B or higher, and
3) not be part of a previously awarded degree.
Certain types of credits cannot be applied such as courses taken at non-collegiate institutions, or courses, workshops or seminars offered as part of continuing education programs or extension courses. The maximum number of credits allowed for a degree program is 15 credits for the 2025/26 school year and beyond.
The course must be approved by the MLFC and Graduate College and meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in the 'Pre-admission Credits' section of the Graduate College Policy Manual.
If your coursework meets eligibility for pre-admission, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for next steps.
Step 2: Pay for Classes
Once you are registered, sign in to the My ASU Finances tab to view and pay your tuition and fees. The ASU Tuition and Billing Calendar lists important payment deadlines. More information regarding how tuition and fees are calculated and important deadlines for paying tuition and fees is available via Student Business Services and the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide.
To act on a financial aid award, sign in to the My ASU Finances tab, and go to the 'Financial Aid and Scholarships' section.
Important: Students must confirm participation in their courses by the 21st day of each session, or risk financial aid funds being returned to the Department of Education. Visit the 'Confirmation of Participation' webpage for more information.
If you plan to apply for financial aid it is important to familiarize yourself with the terms of accepting it. For any questions regarding financial aid contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Services department directly.
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Click here for other Financial Aid and Scholarship resources:
Watch this 2-minute video tutorial on how to check the status of your financial aid.
The MLFC Financial Literacy Team can be reached at mlftc-aid@asu.edu for questions about financial aid, scholarships, budgeting, or related topics.
For resources about paying for college, including loans, scholarships, grants and incentive programs, please see 'Paying for College' on the MLFC Admission and Cost webpage.
View information about the ASU Payment Plan.
Step 3: Purchase Textbooks
Sign in to My ASU to obtain your required book list and order textbooks through ASU Bookstores. Go to the 'My Classes' section and click the 'Books' button to access the book list once it becomes available. There are multiple options for purchasing your textbooks, as outlined below.
Textbook Options:
ASU Inclusive Access (IA) - provides students with convenient digital access to required textbooks directly through Canvas at a reduced price. All students have access to the material a few days before the course starts.
If not interested, students must 'Opt-Out' by the deadline* to avoid the fee automatically posted to the student account (posted about 1-month after classes start). More information about IA, along with directions to 'opt-out', can be found on the Inclusive Access FAQ and the 'Course Texts, Materials, and Resources' section of your course syllabus.
Pearson Subscription (4-month term) - a digital version of the Applied Behavior Analysis book and other titles by Pearson may be available through a subscription (single or multibook access). More information can be found on the Pearson website. If you choose to remain part of Inclusive Access, you will not need to purchase a Pearson subscription.
Textbook: Behavior Analysis for Lasting Change - this book is required for SPE 526 and is supplemental in SPE 525. Only one version is needed, the electronic (BryteWave), textbook (Sloan Publishing), or as part of Inclusive Access as described above.
Textbook: Applied Behavior Analysis - this book is required for SPE 526 and SPE 529. Only one version is needed - the electronic (BryteWave) format, or as part of Inclusive Access. If you prefer a hardcover, be sure to use the ISBN number when searching to purchase the most up-to-date version.
Important Considerations:
Inclusive Access Opt-Out: The opt-out deadline typically follows the 'last day to drop a class' deadline per the ASU Academic Calendar. Since sessions A and C start at the same time, the deadline follows the drop date for session C, whereas session B follows the drop class deadline for B. Refer to your course syllabus for exact dates and details.
Textbooks in more than one course: When textbooks are offered in more than one course, students may consider opting-out of Inclusive Access for the second course and purchasing additional books separately, since there is no way to opt-out of only one book.
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Relias License: this resource is not automatically billed as with Inclusive Access and must be purchased separately. Since it will be utilized throughout the entire program, we recommend purchasing the 24-month license. Choose 'in-store pickup' (Tempe) to avoid a mailing fee. After purchasing, an access code is sent to your ASU email account from ASU Bookstore sundevil@bkstr.com with the subject 'Relias Credentials'.
If you do not receive an email within 3 business days, please contact the bookstore team at 1230txt@gmail.com or 480.965.3191.
Step 4: Plan of Study (iPOS)
The iPOS is the interactive plan of study for graduate students. It is an agreement between the student, academic advising unit, and Graduate College that maps the requirements for degree completion. Students are required to complete their iPOS by the end of the first semester. You will gain access to the iPOS system once you are within 90 days of the program start.
For this program, an academic advising appointment is not required to complete the iPOS. If you would like for the advising team to pre-fill your Plan of Study, please complete the Course Selection Form. Before starting the survey, please review the following resources:
Review the Culminating Experience information to decide between the Applied Project (SPE 593) or the Capstone (SPE 597) as your final course. This can be updated later if you change your mind.
Review the Elective Description List for more information about the elective course options listed on your course sequence. Pay attention to the semester and session the electives are scheduled for and choose according to the Course Schedule. These may also be updated if you change your mind later.
Once you submit the Course Selection Form, the advising team will pre-fill the iPOS on your behalf. You will be responsible for completing the final 'Summary/Submit' section before submitting for approval, so look for an email from ABAadvising@asu.edu with the next steps.
If you prefer to complete the iPOS independently, we have provided guided instructions with screenshots below:
Step 5: Accessing your Classes & Resources
The digital learning platform for the program is Canvas which can be access through your My ASU page. The Canvas portal for the courses in this program will open 1-2 days before the course starts. Once it is open it will be underlined, and turn maroon in color when you move the cursor over it. Click on the course title to be redirected to the Canvas course page. Take time to familiarize yourself with the course structure, expectations, and assignments by reviewing the syllabus so you are prepared when the course begins.
Resources for Navigating Canvas,Slack, and ASU email:
Canvas: Your courses will be housed on the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), so take time to view the Canvas Course Tour Video (7 min.) and Canvas Student Guide.
Slack: You will collaborate with classmates and faculty through the Slack collaboration hub. More details are found on the 'Slack 101' overview.
Email: Check your ASU email regularly for important program information. Do not forward ASU email to an external email since providers including Google, Yahoo, and Apple have implemented changes to enhance email security. Email forwarding rules can be updated in your My ASU Profile > Email > Manage your ASU email address.
ASU providing Microsoft Office 365 to all Students, Faculty & Staff
Explore our Student Resources for graduate students, providing academic writing support, student accessibility services, access to ASU libraries, career services, and resources tailored for online students.
ASU Online Library Guide and ASU Library Tutorial for ABA Research
You're invited to attend our live Virtual Q & A Zoom Session!
Would you like to dive deeper into the topics introduced in the New Student Orientation video? If so, we invite you to attend our live virtual Question & Answer (Q & A) session hosted by your MLFC Academic Advising team. This event is not mandatory but designed for students who have further questions after viewing the Orientation Video and New Student Checklist.
Please write down your questions and bring them along, or sit back and listen to others pose questions.
Upcoming Event Dates (choose one):
Wednesday, September 3rd at 4pm
Wednesday, October 1st at 4pm
Time: All events in Arizona time
Location: Zoom (RSVP to receive link)
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for questions we receive from students and answers we hope will help you to start strong!
Contact Us
We are here to support your success and experience while at the MLFC. Please connect with us when you have questions about the program and resources.
Phone: (480) 884-0174
Email: (team) ABAadvising@asu.edu
(MLFTC General) GraduateEducation@asu.edu
Do you have questions specifically about items on this checklist? We invite you to connect with our new student success specialist!
Attend a small group, New Student Checklist Session, offered several times weekly at various times (AZ time). Reserve a seat for a day/time that works with your schedule.