Caldwell University
July 8, 2020
Applied Behavior Analysis programs earn international recognition for excellence
The Association for Behavior Analysis International’s (ABAI) Accreditation Board has awarded re-accreditation to Caldwell University’s Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and first-time accreditation to its Ph.D. in ABA program.Caldwell now becomes one of only seven universities worldwide with ABAI accreditation for both its Master’s and doctoral programs.
According to ABAI, accreditation is awarded only to programs demonstrating high levels of comprehensiveness, rigor, and quality related to the science and practice of behavior analysis.The site visit evaluation report of Caldwell’s programs applauded the faculty’s “strong scholarly activity” and “student-centered approach to teaching.” The report also noted that the opportunities for training of students in the programs’ Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis provide an “individualized practicum experience” that results in students becoming “high-quality ABA practitioners.”
“We are very proud that the excellence of our ABA degree programs has been recognized by ABAI,” said Ken Reeve, professor of applied behavior analysis and graduate program co-coordinator at Caldwell. “Our students benefit from a rigorous scientist/practitioner model in our programs that prepares them for clinical, academic, and leadership positions in the field. This allows our graduates to effect real progress in the lives of others, particularly those diagnosed with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.”
The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis program was launched in 2005 and the Ph.D. program began in 2009 amid a growing demand for ABA practitioners in New Jersey and beyond. The Center for Autism and ABA opened in 2010 to provide training and research opportunities for graduate students and to serve individuals with autism and their families.
Founded in 1974, the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has been the primary membership organization for those interested in the philosophy, science, application, and teaching of behavior analysis.