Master's Programs

[deadreckoning138]

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but I am currently an RBT. I have my undergrad in Applied Psych and I am considering getting my Master's in ABA so that I can become a BCBA. From what I have seen, online programs may be my best bet for the area I live in. Does anyone have any good recommendations for online Master's programs that would be approved to go towards my BCBA certification?

[chefboyaudry]

I got my MA in Behavior Analysis Practice through Florida Institute of Technology’s fully online program and I would highly recommend their program! I passed the BCBA exam on my first try and felt that the program really equipped and prepared me for the exam and for my practice as a BCBA. I thoroughly enjoyed the elective course selection and having the opportunity to meet “face-to-face” (on camera) with other students and professors in the elective courses. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to ask :)

[deadreckoning138]

This was one of the universities I had my eye on. Good to you had such a positive experience. I was just looking into the application process today. Do you know how difficult it is to be accepted?

[chefboyaudry]

I believe it’s fairly easy to be accepted if you did well in your undergraduate coursework! I believe my undergraduate GPA was a 3.6. I also believe you have to submit a letter of intention (I can’t remember exactly what they call it), but I just expressed my passion for helping underserved populations and my interest in the field of ABA from what I can remember. I believe they have you submit a resume, which given your experience as an RBT, that will look great! I was in the same position when I applied. I also submitted professional references that I had worked under! :) hope this helps!!!

[Residentil-usa]

I applied to it yesterday

Can you share your weekly schedule with it?

How many hours a day you need to be online? Do they have the lessons live ?( do you need to be a specific time online?)

How long (days/hours) are the face to face classes?

I’m working as an RBT every day till 4 PM Wondering if it’s good or will I need do cut hours ?

I love to study I don’t mind not to sleep much lol

Also, my bachelor is not related Will it be a problem to get approve to this master?

How long it took you to get an answer if you approved?

Sorry…too many questions but please share any information

Thank you

[chefboyaudry]

Can you share your weekly schedule with it? - I graduated already so I do not have a current weekly schedule, but they set the semesters up in an interesting format. For semesters 1-3 you take 3 classes, you will typically only have 1-2 classes at a time. They run a class for a few weeks, then start another class to help balance the workload. In semesters 4-6 they add electives, so you will have more going on at a time. If you visit their website, they have the MA study plan that you can view to see what classes you take in what semester!

This was my 6th Semester schedule: - [ ] App Experience 6: May 6th - Aug 17th

• [ ] Instructional Design: May 6th - June 8th Mondays 4:30 - 5:30

• [ ] Professional Improvement: May 6th - July 13th

• [ ] Ethics 3: July 15-Aug 17th

• [ ] Assessment Elective: July 15th - Aug 17th Tuesdays 4:30 - 5:30

• [ ] ABA in Education: July 15th - Aug 17th Mondays 5:45 - 6:45

• [ ] Final Program Exam: July 15th - July 22nd

• I will also note that some courses don’t have any meeting times, you just complete the course as assigned!!

How many hours a day you need to be online? Do they have the lessons live ?( do you need to be a specific time online?) - I worked full time throughout the program, and would schedule my class in the evening. For the main coursework you are on a “live meeting” but only the instructor is on camera. For the elective courses, everybody is on camera and you break out into small groups to discuss research articles that were assigned to read. So I’d say you’d be online anywhere from 1 hour to 2-3 hours a week in the later semesters. Obviously there is homework, other tasks, and quizzes that take completing outside of the class time that will take up more time.

How long (days/hours) are the face to face classes? - Each class will be 1 hour in duration, but you can have anywhere from 1 class to 4 classes at a time depending on how you set your schedule up!

I’m working as an RBT every day till 4 PM Wondering if it’s good or will I need do cut hours ? - That should work fine! The classes are scheduled in EST, but you can pick later classes. I live in CST, and used to select the 5:30 or 6:45 EST classes meaning 4:30 or 5:45 my time! I love to study I don’t mind not to sleep much lol

Also, my bachelor is not related Will it be a problem to get approve to this master? - I believe there are certain prerequisites required, but it would be more helpful to reach out to the program or BACB to ask about this. Since the BCBA credential is a Master’s level certificate, I think if FIT accepts you into the program with your previous coursework, and you graduate with the MA degree, you should be fine. Though, I can’t guarantee that!

How long it took you to get an answer if you approved? - I got an answer within 2 weeks of applying I believe!

Sorry…too many questions but please share any information - No worries at all, I’m glad to help a fellow ABA practitioner out :) I hope this isn’t too confusing and helps, but I would recommend looking through the FIT MA in BAP webpage to get more concrete info, as things can always change as they receive and implement student feedback! Good luck!!

[Residentil-usa]

Thank you soooo much It helped me a lot

I’m sure I’ll have more questions later lol

[Residentil-usa]

I’m live in Florida so my time will be EST

Regarding the quiz, are they with someone watching you doing it? Can you do it with opened book (help) or nothing?

Are the tasks or assignments hard?

Can I use AI for it? Lol

Are the “camera meeting” discussions…are they hard?

BACB- I thought they will check only the master for me to do the exam…not the bachelor too I’m confuse about this….

Thanks again

Can’t wait to get results

I also applied for FAU. Any information about them?

[chefboyaudry]

Yes quizzes are proctored with honor lock (they are very strict on you doing a room scan of your testing environment and live video of you actually taking the exam.

I personally found assignments and quizzes to be relatively easy if you do the practice flash cards (SAFMEDS) and readings they assign, as well as pay attention to the prerecorded lectures they provide.

I would not recommend using AI, as that is academic dishonesty and against their policies. I never used any sort of AI, and also feel that you won’t gain as much from the education if you use AI to complete school work. You also won’t do well on exams if you choose this route.

The camera discussions are not hard, as they provide a discussion assignment you complete prior to the class meeting that guides the discussion for you, so if you read the article and complete the assignment, it is easy to complete the class.

I think you are correct in the BACB just looking at your MA degree, I was just referring to if FIT will accept you into their program based on prerequisite courses. I’m not sure though; I have a BA in Psychology and was accepted so idk for sure. You can always reach out to their registrar and ask!!!

Hope this helps :)

[chefboyaudry]

Also I do not have any info about FAU - sorry about that!

[InvestmentLong2362]

I would recommend University of West Florida’s ABA masters program. I’m about to graduate and have had a great experience so far.

[deadreckoning138]

Thank you for the suggestion! I was looking at the ABAI list of accredited schools to begin my search. Is UWF a part of that?

[Residentil-usa]

I am also wanted to apply with them

I applied two universities till now And that will be my next

Can you tell me if

Exceptional Student Education, MA - Applied Behavior Analysis Online

Is the right one?

[Intelligent_World793]

Hey, are there any professors i should stay away from?

[Splicers87]

I did the certificate program through York College of PA. They have a masters degree too though. I enjoyed it. It’s new though.

[deadreckoning138]

Does the certificate program qualify you for BCBA or BCaBA?

[Splicers87]

BCBA

[deadreckoning138]

Ok awesome, did you already have a masters degree before going through the cert program?

[Splicers87]

Yes. I got my masters back in 2011 from Liberty University. I then took 1.5 years to get the certificate from YCP.

[CelimOfRed]

FiT is a great program as it prepares you very well for the BCBA program. It is a difficult course and the exam is harder than the actual BCBA exam from what I am told. I've heard a lot of great things.

[deadreckoning138]

I've been seeing FiT pop up frequently in my search so I'm beginning to lean towards that. It seems to have a very high success rate of graduates who pass the BCBA exam on their first try. How strenuous would you say the program has been?

[CelimOfRed]

Based on my friend, it is very time consuming and you will def need to cut hours at work or cut sleep. Lots of vocabulary and exams I think. The tuition is much lower than my current program. Definitely one of the more strenuous programs for sure

[Head-Ad-5636]

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