Caldwell University
Caldwell University is a private, accredited Catholic university in Caldwell, NJ offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a vibrant campus life complete with rewarding activities, clubs, and service opportunities.
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Post-Master ABA Certification
Want to learn more? Speak with a graduate admissions counselor.
Earn a post-master’s ABA certification from Caldwell University. The ABAI-accredited program offers the unique opportunity for hands-on learning at the on-campus Caldwell University Center for Autism. Prepare for a career working with those with autism spectrum disorders and other diagnosed behavioral disorders. Applied Behavior Analysis is a rewarding and in-demand profession, especially in the state of New Jersey.
BCBA Exam Pass Rate
In 2022, the number of first-time candidates was 8 and the BCBA exam pass rate was 100%.
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a well developed scientific discipline that entails the comprehensive use of empirically validated principles of learning to develop, implement, and evaluate practical strategies to enhance the abilities and self-direction skills of both children and adults in the context of community, home, and educational settings. Although the principles and procedures developed within ABA have been successfully applied in areas such as psychology, traditional and special education, business, industrial safety, addiction, self-management, and rehabilitation, ABA has been most publicly successful in its application to skill development and behavior change for people with developmental disabilities, such as those with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disorder.
Caldwell University Center for Autism
What sets Caldwell’s Applied Behavior Analysis program apart is the Caldwell University Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. Situated on our campus, the Center provides assessment and intervention services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Led by a team of Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA-Ds), who also instruct our courses, the Center serves as a central component for clinical training that fulfills the supervision and field work required by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Graduate students have the valuable opportunity to take practicum at the Center, learning skills in assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with ASD.
RETENTION FOR ALL PROGRAMS IN ABA DEPARTMENT
Students may only earn one grade below B for the graduate level courses. This course may be repeated to earn a higher letter grade. Any student who receives a grade below B in a second graduate level course will be dismissed from the program.
ACADEMIC OPTIONS
- Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Accredited by ABAI Accreditation Board)
- M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Accredited by ABAI Accreditation Board)
- Combined B.S. in Psychology/M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Post-Master Program in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Undergraduate Pathways to ABA including the Combined Minor in Applied Behavior Analysis / MA in Applied Behavior Analysis
Courses
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Post-Master Applied Behavior Analysis Admission Requirements
- Master’s degree, preferably in ABA, Psychology or Education. Applicants who do not meet these requirements are urged to apply to the Caldwell University MA in ABA program or an equivalent program.
- Minimum GPA of 3.3 in master’s degree coursework
- Official transcripts of their master’s degree coursework
- Writing sample: a research-based paper in psychology or education of at least ten pages that was previously submitted as part of a graduate course. Other subject matter may be considered if the candidate has had limited prior psychology or education work. If applicable, the applicant’s master’s thesis is preferable.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement of several pages in length describing reason for pursuing graduate study in ABA at Caldwell University
- Personal Interview
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (24 credits)
Behavior Analysis and Learning
Course Code : ABA 526
Course Description :
Provides an introduction to behavior analysis and the learning principles on which ABA is founded. Everyday behavior and how it changes is explained by learning principles derived from an analysis of scientific research. Students learn procedures that derive from behavioral principles and practice implementing those procedures in computer simulations. Principles and procedures in the course curriculum include reinforcement, extinction, differential reinforcement, punishment, stimulus control, issues of discrimination and generalization, shaping, fading, prompting, concept formation, stimulus equivalence, respondent learning, conditioned reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement, and behavioral definitions.
Credit : 3
Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis
Course Code : ABA 534
Course Description :
This course will provide an overview of applications of research methodology involving direct observation and single-subject designs. This class will consist of a systematic investigation into the major research methods and related issues relevant to identifying functional relationships among environmental and behavioral variables in behavior analysis. The course content is primarily geared to cover the following major content areas: Measurement, Data Displays, and Interpretation; Experimental Design. Specific topics will include independent and dependent variables, various research designs (including withdrawals, reversals, alternating-treatments, multi-element, changing-criterion, and multiple-baseline designs), considerations in using various designs, identifying dimensions of behavior (e.g., rate, duration, latency, or inter-response times), operational definitions, measurement procedures, inter-observer agreement, reliability and validity, Standard Celeration Charts, and making treatment decisions using data displayed in various formats.
Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
Course Code : ABA 537
Course Description :
This course is designed to provide an introduction to applying the basic principles of behavior to address issues of social significance. The purposes of this class are to review defining characteristics of applied behavior analysis and define basic principles of behavior (reinforcement, punishment, extinction, motivating operations, discrimination/generalization) through an applied lens. Thereafter, students will identify how these principles can be used in the development of applied interventions to establish or strengthen behaviors (e.g., prompting, shaping, chaining, differential reinforcement), decrease behavior (e.g., extinction, punishment), promote generalization and maintenance, and design/employ other applied technologies (e.g., token economies, group contingencies, behavioral contracts). A discussion of basic verbal operants and diversity, equity, and inclusion will also be included.
Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
Course Code : ABA 556
Course Description :
This course, which is a continuation and expansion on the principles learned in ABA 537 Intro to ABA, will examine strategies to promote generalization of learned skills, prompting strategies, teaching self-management, group-oriented contingencies, shaping techniques, behavior chains, motivational systems, and other topics. This course includes a 12-hour field component requirement.
Prerequisites :
ABA 537
Ethics and Professionalism in ABA
Course Code : ABA 561
Course Description :
This course prepares students for the ethical and professional practice of applied behavior analysis. Students will learn about the foundations of professional and ethical behavior needed to insure a high quality of practice in behavior analysis. Included will be discussions of evaluating behavior change, collaborating with other professionals, relationships with clients and colleagues, professional representation of oneself and the field of behavior analysis, dissemination of professional values, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct. The course content will be addressed through course readings, lectures, classroom discussion, audio-visual presentations, and role playing.
Function-Based Assessment and Intervention
Course Code : ABA 615
Course Description :
This course will provide an overview of functional behavior assessment and function-based interventions for application in a wide range of settings. The purposes of this course are to: (a) provide students with a background in the seminal research in the area of functional assessment, (b) teach students to distinguish between the various types of functional assessment (i.e., indirect, descriptive, and experimental approaches), (c) teach students to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different functional assessment approaches, (d) familiarize students with methodological and procedural variations of experimental functional analysis, (e) teach students to critically evaluate functional assessment/treatment literature, and (f) to prepare students to conduct functional behavior assessments.
Prerequisites :
ABA 526, ABA 534, ABA 537 and ABA 556
Organizational Behavior Management
Course Code : ABA 624
Course Description :
This advanced course will provide an overview of contemporary research and practice in the field of OBM, also referred to as Perofrmance Management. OBM is seen by some as a behaviorally based area of specialization within the broad field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology.OBM is most closely aligned with the area of organizational behavior and personnel/ human resource management. When ABA is applied to organizational problems such as training, afety, productivity, and quality deficits, the collective set of procedures is term "OBM". The purpose of this course is to introduce students to practice and research in OBM and provide students with the skills needed to apply the fundamental principles of ABA to a variety of performance problems in organizational settings.
Prerequisites :
ABA 534 and ABA 537
Philosophy of Behaviorism
Course Code : ABA 655
Course Description :
This course will provide an overview of contemporary research and practice in organizational behavior management, including exposure to behavioral systems analysis, performance management, and behavior-based safety. The purposes of this class are to increase understanding and application of behavioral science in business, with a specific emphasis on human-service organizations. Specific topics and activities will include: organizational and systems level analysis, identifying and measuring pinpoints, assessing performance problems, linking assessment to intervention, identifying interventions, social validity, rule-governed behavior, and supervision and mentorship.
Prerequisites :
ABA 526
Transfer of Graduate Credit
Caldwell University will accept the transfer of a maximum of three credits of graduate work in psychology, education or a closely related field, provided that the credits were completed within five years of the student’s registration at Caldwell University. Official transcripts of previous graduate work as well as the catalog description of each course must be submitted for review at the time of application. Approval of transfer credit is based on course content and grade earned in the course, which should not be lower then a B. Each transfer request will be reviewed by the Program Coordinator.
Total Credits 24
more for them. My career goal has been to help others. Caldwell’s ABA offers
opportunity for growth with undergraduate, master’s, and, doctoral programs.
The program helps to produce well-rounded clinicians who are clinically,
academically, and professionally competent.
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