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College of Education and Human Development

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program

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The ABA program offers undergraduate and graduate courses. The Master of Science in ABA, Bachelor of Science in ABA, and Minor ABA launched in Fall 2022. Read below about admission requirements, degree plans, varied community experience, and employability.  Use the Quicklinks at the bottom of this page to learn more about the ABA program faculty, ABA advisory board, ABA and autism, ABA in schools, ABA in Texas, and ABA external links. 

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Master of Science in ABA

The Master of Science in ABA requires 33 semester hours. The program is designed to be completed in 2 years by taking 2 classes per semester including 2 courses during the first summer semester and 1 course during the second summer semester. Students can choose from a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder or Special Education. 
Currently, the program is offered online only. In the future, the program may be offered in person. International students may attend the online program from their home country. Visit the Office of International Affairs for more information. 
Click on the links below for the MS in ABA Degree Plans: 
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. See the BACB's BACB's BCBA Handbook for additional information. You may view the sequence on the VCS directory,  51451 BCBA 5th Edition.


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Fall 2024 admission deadline
July 15, 2024 (priority application deadline March 15, 2024) 
Admission is once a year in the Fall. We do not admit students for Spring. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early as the ABA program has rolling admissions. Space is limited; apply early! 
If you are an undergraduate student graduating in May or Summer 2024, you can apply before your degree posts. You may be admitted into the program contingent on your degree posting before starting in the ABA graduate program. 
Admission Requirements
GPA: 2.6 Overall; 3.0 in last 60 hours

GRE: Not Required

Undergraduate Degree: An undergraduate degree from a specific field is not required. However, preference is given to students with an undergraduate degree in ABA, special education, and psychology and coursework in ABA. Prospective students who do not have undergraduate coursework in ABA are encouraged to take ABA 3301 Introduction to ABA and/or take RBT training before starting the ABA program. This should be discussed in your Personal Statement. Learn more about how to become an RBT by watching the video below.

ABA Experience: Students are not required to have experience in ABA. However, preference is given to those students who have experience in ABA. Students who do not have experience in ABA are encouraged to observe ABA services and discuss these observations in their Personal Statements. 

Application Packet

  1. Online Application. Click here to apply for Fall 2024 through GradCAS!
  2. Transcript(s) from all universities where a degree was conferred
  3. Resume
  4. 1 Letter of Recommendation
    • The letter of recommendation should be from someone who can speak to your abilities and strengths that will allow you to be successful in graduate school.
    • A former or current professor, supervisor, or employer may provide a letter of recommendation.
    • The letter of recommendation will be submitted through GradCas along with the rest of the application.
  5. 1-page Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement must be at least one full page in 12-point font, double-spaced. Please take care in drafting your letter. Grammar is taken into account to determine your readiness to enter a graduate program. Your Personal Statement should include the following:

a) reason(s) for wanting to earn a master's degree in ABA

b) reason(s) for wanting to enter the ABA program at A&M-SA specifically versus other schools

c) past and current experience in ABA (coursework and clinical)

d) how the degree will help you attain your professional goals

e) if your GPA is not a 3.0 in the last 60 hours of your undergraduate degree, discuss your plan for maintaining a 3.0 GPA in graduate school (e.g., What will you do differently, How are your circumstances different now?, What lessons have you learned that will help you be successful in graduate school?)

f) any other relevant information that speaks to your preparedness to enter a graduate program (e.g., having the time to dedicate to your studies, academic, professional; personal experiences that have prepared you to be successful in a graduate program)

Your Personal Statement will be submitted through GradCas along with the rest of the application. 

How to Apply

Apply for the MS in ABA Program through Graduate Admissions. Click here to apply for Fall 2024 through GradCAS! Select "Summer 2024, Fall 2024 Spring & Summer 2025 (2024-25 Graduate Application)".

Graduate Expedited Admissions Initiative

A&M-SA graduating seniors and alumni with a GPA of 3.0 or higher qualify for expedited admission. The application fee is waived and you do not need to submit your transcripts or a letter of recommendation. Instead of applying through GradCAS, send the Graduate Expedited Admission Application Form below along with your Personal Statement to Jackie Traeger at jtraeger@tamusa.edu.

Graduate Expedited Admissions Flyer

Graduate Expedited Admission Application Form

Paying for College

For information on paying for college including Jaguar Promise, click here. 

Click here for Information on Applying for Financial Aid. 

Click here for a list of Graduate Scholarships. 

Click here for information on applying for Other Scholarships.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a Military-EmbracingMilitary-Embracing™ university. Office of Military Affairs assists veterans and military family members with various military education benefits. One in six students are military-connected.

Questions
If you have questions about the MS in ABA program, contact Dr. de la Cruz, ABA Program Coordinator, at bdelacruz@tamusa.edu or 210-784-2407. 
If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, contact Jackie Traeger at GraduateAdmissions@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1412.

Bachelor of Science in ABA

The Bachelor of Science in ABA is a minimum of 120 semester hours with at least 33 semester hours of ABA Core Curriculum. Students can choose from a Minor in Special Education, Child Development, or Psychology. 
Click on the links below for the BS in ABA Degree Plan and the Minor in ABA Plan: 
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional eligibility requirements and demonstrate they reside in an authorized country before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. See the BACB BCaBA's handbook for additional details. You may view the sequence on the VCS directory, 51475 BCaBA 5th Edition.
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To learn more about undergraduate admissions, visit the Office of Admissions webpage.
All applications to the bachelor's program will be processed through Apply Texas. To begin the application process, click on the Apply Texas icon below: 

applytexas

How to Apply

 Apply for the BS in ABA Program today at Become a Jaguar!

Paying for College

Click here to review the cost of attendance.

For information on paying for college including Jaguar Promise, click here. 

Click here for Information on Applying for Financial Aid. 

Click here for information on applying for scholarships. 

Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a Military-EmbracingMilitary-Embracing™ university. Office of Military Affairs assists veterans and military family members with various military education benefits. One in six students are military-connected.

 Questions

If you have questions about the BS in ABA program, contact Dr. de la Cruz, ABA Program Coordinator, at bdelacruz@tamusa.edu or 210-784-2407. 
If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, contact Jackie Traeger at GraduateAdmissions@tamusa.edu or 210-784-1412.

Minor in ABA

The Minor in ABA is a minimum of 18 semester hours. 
Click on the links below for the Minor in ABA Degree Plan and the Minor in ABA Plan: 

Varied Community Experience

The ABA Program has established partnerships with ABA therapy companies that provide in-home, community, and clinic-based ABA services. Students benefit from A&M-SA’s Institute for Autism and Related Disorders and Institute for School and Community Partnerships which have established partnerships with local school districts. Students in the ABA program can participate in varied settings to earn supervised experience hours needed to become BCBAs/BCaBAs.

Employability

A career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is the typical outcome for graduates of a master’s degree program in ABA. A career as a Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) is the typical outcome for graduates of a bachelor's degree program in ABA. BCBAs work in a variety of settings: Clinics, schools, homes, and other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for conducting ABA assessments, including functional behavior assessments (FBAs); developing and implementing treatment plans; and making adjustments to those plans as necessary to improve socially significant behavior that positively impacts clients/students. BCaBAs work under the supervision of a BCBA. The MS and BS in ABA programs train students to support neurodiverse individuals in a variety of settings.

Graduates of the ABA program will be qualified to fill the ever-increasing demand for BCBAs and BCaBAs at ABA companies and school systems. The BACB (2023) reports that demand for behavior analysts has increased each year since 2010 throughout the United States. Specifically, from 2021 to 2022, there was a 23% increase. While the demand for Behavior Analysts exists across the nation, Texas is the state with the third-highest demand for BCBAs and the fourth-highest demand for BCaBAs (BACB, 2023).  Click here to view the full report.

Many successful and rewarding careers in ABA can be pursued as a behavior analyst with BCBA certification. Some of these careers and other ABA include:

  • Supervising Board Certified assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA), registered behavior technicians (RBTs), and/or direct-care therapists.
  • Serving as a consultant for large corporations that provide services to children with autism.
  • Working or consulting with school districts to maximize learning for students and decrease challenging behaviors utilizing ABA.
  • Supervising or managing an organization that provides ABA therapy.
  • Working as an Insurance Care Advocate for an insurance company that focuses on ABA.
  • Engaging in public policy advocacy efforts to improve access to care.
  • Assisting special education lawyers.

In San Antonio, there are 17 school districts and over 30 ABA companies that can benefit from hiring behavior analysts.

This table shows links to quickly access other sections of the ABA Program website.
ABA Flyer
ABA Tri-Fold