Master of Science in General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Master of Science in General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Online

Program

42 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Online Tuition Rate

$703 Per Credit Hour

Free Books

for All Students

EKU
College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences
Department of Psychology
Master of Science in General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

← Department of Psychology

Make an Impact on Your Community

EKU’s 100% online master’s degree in general psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis provides the critical skills needed to help bring positive change to the lives of individuals living with behavioral disorders, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and other behavior change goals. Graduates are prepared to work in school, corporate, residential, or community-based settings and with different populations including, children, adults and seniors.

Apply Now Schedule a Visit

Learn More

Loading…

Career Outlook

Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 22 percent from 2021 to 2031.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Applied behavior analysis is a field where professionals work with patients of all different ages to assess behavior and develop intervention strategies. These strategies help patients develop new skills and meet their behavioral challenges.

Job Titles Include:

Behavior analyst
Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Senior therapist
Parent educator
Behavior consultant

Our program prepares high-quality professionals with a strong academic foundation—including theories, methods, and research findings of basic and applied psychology—and the skills to effectively apply this knowledge in private and public sector organizations.

Employers Include:

Beyond Behavior ABA
Clinical Behavior Analysis
Fayette County Schools
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
Lexington Rescue Mission
Mountain Comprehensive Care Centers
United Way of Lancaster County
VIPKid

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
Interviewing tips and coaching
Career documents review
Job search

Why EKU?

Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
No application fee
Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
100% online – No required campus visits
Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Verified Course Sequence
Graduates who have completed supervised experience requirements are qualified to sit for the BCBA exam and, upon passing, are eligible to pursue independent practice and insurance reimbursement for services provided
GRE waived for students with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
Research opportunities
Free online tutoring and career services assistance
Personalized graduation plan

BCBA Certification

As part of our commitment to educational excellence, Eastern Kentucky University, in compliance with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and Applied Behavioral Analysis International, has met the requirements/required competencies and has transitioned to the BACB’s 5th Edition task list. For additional information, please speak to the program advisor.

For administrative policies and procedures, please review the EKU Graduate Student Handbook.

To become licensed as a behavior analyst in the state of Kentucky (and in most other states), an individual must be certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), the leading international credentialing agency for behavior analysts accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

Certification by the BACB requires completion of content-specific, approved coursework; a graduate degree in a relevant discipline; supervised experience; and a passing score on a professional examination developed by the BACB.

This program meets the educational requirements for pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). In addition to their educational requirements, graduates of this program will need to pass an exam, complete supervised experience requirements, and complete an application process to become certified. Passing the BCBA exam provides eligibility to pursue independent practice and insurance reimbursement for services provided.

See the Behavior Analyst Certification Board website for up-to-date details.

Note: If you already hold a master’s degree in any subject area, look at our 21 hour ABA graduate certificate.

Annual reporting period: Academic Year 2022-2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023)
Number of students whose degrees were conferred by the program: MS – 37, CERT – 2
Median years until graduation for students whose degrees were conferred by the program: MS – 2 years, CERT – 2 years
Number of students enrolled in the program: MS – 112, CERT – 13
Number of students no longer enrolled for any reason other than conferral of degree: 8 students considered active by the Graduate School but did not enroll in courses during Academic Year 2022-2023.
Number of completed applications received: 134
Number of students admitted: 107
Percentage of first time candidates passing the BCBA certification examination: 71% pass rate in 2022
Number of graduates obtaining a master’s-level state license as a behavior analyst: 6 (in Kentucky) for the 2022-2023 academic year reporting period
Time to Completion: Mean years to completion – MS: 2 ½ years, CERT: 2 years; Range to program completion – MS: 1 ½ years – 3 1/3 years, CERT: 1 1/3 years – 2 ½ years

To accomplish the mission, the objectives of the overall general MS program are that all graduates will:

PLLO #1: As a result of participating in the General Psychology program, students with a Masters in General Psychology will comprehend essential topics in general psychology.
PLLO #2: As a result of participating in the General Psychology program, students with a Masters in General Psychology will develop specialist skills to work in their field.
PLLO #3: As a result of participating in the General Psychology program, students with a Masters in General Psychology will be prepared for the national BCBA certification exam and gaining employment.

We seek success in our mission through providing students with a rich set of teaching materials and concepts in the sciences of behavior analysis and psychology and by incorporating individualized feedback on written, personalized assignment work. In addition to ABA content, as a result of participating in the program, students will comprehend essential topics in general psychology.

We support students individually in setting and accomplishing their own learning and career preparation objectives as they apply for, move through, and complete their educational program.

We value and include materials related to applied behavioral research and practice in our curriculum and assessment activities and support students in preparing to practice in accordance with BACB ethics code. As a result of participating in the program, students will develop the specialist skills they need to work in their field.

We equip students with foundational knowledge and contribute to applied learning opportunities as students work to meet proficiencies outlined in the BCBA task list. As a result of participating in the program, students will be prepared for the national BCBA certification exam and gaining employment.

Mission Statement

Graduates from the EKU MS in General Psychology, ABA concentration will display master’s level understanding of concepts and foundational knowledge in the research, conceptual, and practice aspects of applied behavior analysis. EKU’s program will equip students to practice applied behavior analysis ethically, to provide the best service possible for clients, and to obtain and retain certification and licensure as practicing professionals in the future.

Our training model focus is to make online education feel personal and responsive to student academic needs. We have multiple opportunities for synchronous contact during each week of your training, but you’re never required to appear for instruction at a specific day/time. Our coursework focuses on encouraging you to deeply understand and apply ABA and general psychology core concepts to situations and examples that are meaningful to your life, educational, and career aims. For a small sample of your supervised field experience, we provide oversight and support as you engage in practical application of your ABA concepts and coursework.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis?

Learn more about a scientific field focused on helping people reach their outcomes through behavior change.

Curriculum & Enrollment

EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as addressing problem behaviors, behavioral research and measurement, building new behaviors, and foundations, concepts and principles in applied behavior analysis.

A minimum of 42 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

MS in General Psychology with Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Basic research foundational knowledge and skills are built across all courses, but we have a 2 course sequence that is particularly focused on research technologies. PSY 814 is our Basic Behavior Analysis course and features reading, understanding, and selecting individual project-focused basic research articles in EAB and ABA, as well as completing EKU institutional review board research training and certification and writing an APA style introduction/literature review for a personally selected ABA topic. PSY 815 leads students through a thesis equivalent experience that builds on the literature review completed in PSY 814. PSY 815 projects will be shared with academic and program community through a “3 minute Parsimonious Presentations” event.

Our practicum course (PSY 843) will be taught for the first time in Fall 2025 as part of our newly expanded program. Information from our previous students suggests that students generally attain supervised experience hours in an educational setting such as a school or even more frequently, at an ABA service providing organization.

We offer a number of research experiences and will support students through a practicum class as they collect 90 hours of supervised experience in ABA. In our program, students will complete a set of courses that support research development in a step wise fashion including learning to review the literature in an area of interest and importance to your clinical development , produce a small independent behavioral research project, and finally, share your results with your classmates and the university community in a 3 minute parsimonious presentation event.

Students may transfer up to 12 hours of credit from accredited institutions.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admission to EKU for appropriate articulation.

Term	Application Deadline	Classes Begin
Fall	August 5	August
Spring	January 5	January
Summer	May 5	May

The admissions requirements for applicants to the M.S. Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis program are as follows:

Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5, or 2.75 in the last 60 hours
Minimum of one research course and one statistics course
Minimum of three additional courses in psychology or a related discipline
GRE: If undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, then satisfactory performance on the general sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
Personal statement must address the following areas:
What personal characteristics do you possess that you believe are important to the practice of applied behavior analysis?
Do you possess any particular strengths that you feel will be an asset to you in graduate school?
What about any personal challenges that you think might hinder your progress?
What are your professional goals?
Describe any experiences that have particularly prepared you for graduate study in applied behavior analysis (e.g., co-op/internships, work experiences, life experiences).
If you feel that any portion of your application does not accurately reflect your academic skills or preparation for graduate school in psychology (e.g., GRE, GPA, etc.), please explain.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to our enrollment advisor today.

Bailey Bird

Online Enrollment Advisor

859-622-8764
bailey.bird@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

CLASS Advising Information for Current Students

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

See All Student Stories

Dr. Nicholas Hoffman

EKU Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology & VCS in Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate

My favorite part of being an EKU student was being able to gain experiences relevant to my field, while also networking with other professionals and leaders which opened the door for my success. I, along with my peers, had doors opened for us that lead us on pathways that were not available to us by default. It truly is a college of opportunity.

Keylee Emmett

EKU Psychology Student

Through studying psychology at EKU, I have gained valuable insight into the complexities of the human mind and behavior. The engaging lectures, supportive community, and the skilled professors and faculty have made my academic journey both enjoyable and invaluable. I am sure that the skills and knowledge I have gained at EKU will help me to succeed in my future career.

Sara Cannon

EKU Applied Behavior Analysis Student

I can’t speak highly enough of the EKU Online program. I am so grateful for all of the hard work that all of the staff put into it every day. The feeling of accomplishment and self-confidence that this opportunity has provided me is worth as much to me as the degree I’m earning.

Graduate Certificate in Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

Common Job Titles: behavior analyst, educational consultant, senior therapist

Modalities: online

Credit Hours: 30

M.S. in Psychology – Experimental

Common Job Titles: counselor, therapist

Modalities: on-campus

Credit Hours: 33

Contact Information

Department of Psychology

521 Lancaster Avenue
127 Cammack Building
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-1105
psychology@eku.edu

Department Directory

Master of Science in General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Master of Science in General Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

Department of Psychology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences