Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis
Program Mission

The Caldwell University on-campus ABAI accredited Ph.D. in ABA program was designed to prepare students for high-level employment within areas where there are growing demands for competent professionals with expertise in applied behavior analysis: namely, developmental services, special education, mental health, and academia.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Ph.D. students are required to show proficiency in coursework, applied practicum, and dissertation research. The core curriculum for the Ph.D. in ABA program focuses on (a) the advanced principles and procedures of basic and applied behavior analysis practice and research, (b) the application of behavior analysis and behavioral support in complex environments (i.e., home, school, work, other community settings, and institutional settings), (c) supervision and training of others in behavior analysis, (d) conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of advanced topics in behavior analysis, and (e) development and completion of independent research in behavior analysis.
Admission Requirements
Note: The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 15 and applications are considered for the fall semester only.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in a related field such as psychology, education, or special education
- A minimum GPA of 3.3
- Official undergraduate/graduate transcripts
- Satisfactory scores on the General Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Note: Because of COVID-19, conditional acceptance will be offered to qualified applicants who initially do not submit the GRE or MAT. Conditionally accepted students will be allowed to enroll in courses, are eligible to apply for Federal financial aid, and the GRE or MAT scores can be submitted after test centers fully reopen, most likely within the first two semesters of enrollment.
- Three letters of recommendation that specifically speak to the likelihood of the applicant’s success in a doctoral degree program
- A copy of a research-based paper (preferably at least 10 pages) in applied behavior analysis or a related area of psychology that was previously submitted as part of an undergraduate or graduate course. If applicable, the applicant’s master’s thesis is preferable.
- Two to three page personal statement describing the reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. in ABA at Caldwell University, current research interests, etc.
- Personal Interview (applicants who qualify for an interview will be contacted by the ABA Department).
REQUIRED COURSES (60 CREDITS)
ABA 510 Survey of Research Methods and Statistics (3)
ABA 526 Behavior Analysis and Learning (3)
ABA 534 Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
ABA 537 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
ABA 553 Assessing Autism Interventions* (3)
ABA 556 Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
ABA 563 Ethics for Behavior Analysts (3)
ABA 572 Language and Social Skills for Individuals with Autism* (3)
ABA 573 Scientific Writing for Behavior Analysts (3)
ABA 574 Professionalism for Behavior Analysts (3)
ABA 650 Thesis in Applied Behavior Analysis I (3)
ABA 651 Thesis in Applied Behavior Analysis II (3)
ABA 800 Applied Practicum in ABA I (3)
ABA 801 Applied Practicum in ABA II* (1-3) OR
ABA 809 Research Practicum in ABA (3)
ABA 810 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics (3)
ABA 826 Advanced Behavior Analysis and Learning (3)
ABA 834 Advanced Research Methods in ABA (3)
ABA 890 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis I (3)
ABA 891 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis II (3)
ABA 892 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis III (3)
ABA 896 Dissertation Continuation (0)
ELECTIVE COURSES (33 CREDITS: ANY 10 COURSES)
ABA 521 Cognitive Psychology (3)
ABA 535 Biopsychology OR
ABA 627 Psychopharmacology (3)
ABA 600 Behavior Analysis of Child Development* (3)
ABA 601 Behavioral Applications to Childhood Disorders (3)
ABA 603 Older Learners with Autism* (3)
ABA 604 Advanced Language and Social Skills for Individuals with Autism* (3)
ABA 615 Functional Behavior Assessment (3)
ABA 616 Assessment and Program Development for Individuals with Autism Part I* (3)
ABA 618 Assessment and Treatment of Stereotypy (3)
ABA 619 Pediatric Feeding Disorders (3)
ABA 620 Stimulus Control (3)
ABA 625 Motivational Systems and Reinforcement (3)
ABA 626 Assessment and Program Development for Individuals with Autism Part II* (3)
ABA 630 Choice and Preference (3)
ABA 635 Concept Formation (3)
ABA 640 Self-Management (3)
ABA 645 Developmental Disabilities* (3)
ABA 646 Analysis of Verbal Behavior (3)
ABA 655 Philosophy of Behaviorism (3)
ABA 648 Standardized Testing for Developmental Disabilities* (3)
ABA 802 Applied Practicum in ABA III* (1-3)
*Specialization Track in Developmental Disabilities
Specialization Track in Developmental Disabilities
In their elective coursework, students may choose to focus on more basic research courses or more applied/clinical courses. Due to the nature of the applied/clinical coursework, an option for a Specialization Track in Developmental Disabilities was developed. Elective courses required for this specialization cover a broad range of diagnostic, assessment, treatment, and clinical aspects related to various developmental disabilities are denoted with an asterisk (*) above.
STATUS DURING DISSERTATION
Doctoral degree students who have completed all course requirements except for their dissertation may register in ABA 890 Dissertation in ABA I for three credits. Upon successful completion of ABA 890 Dissertation in ABA I, students will register for ABA 891 Dissertation in ABA II. Upon successful completion of ABA 891 Dissertation in ABA II, students will register for ABA 892 Dissertation in ABA III. Students who must continue beyond three semesters to complete their dissertation may register in ABA 893 Dissertation in ABA IV, ABA 894 Dissertation in ABA V and ABA 895 Dissertation in ABA VI. Students must seek permission of the department to continue thesis registrations beyond six semesters. Registration in any dissertation course with grant the student full-time status.
Transfer of Graduate Credit
For applicants who have earned their M.A. in ABA at Caldwell University, all credits will be accepted for transfer to the Ph.D. in ABA. For other applicants, Caldwell University will accept the transfer up to a maximum of 30 credits of graduate work in behavior analysis or a closely related field, provided that the courses taken are equivalent in content to those offered in the Caldwell University Ph.D. in ABA programs,the credits were completed within five years of the applicant’s admission to Caldwell University, and the grade earned in the courses submitted for transfer credit is a “B” or better. Official transcripts of previous graduate work as well as the catalog description and course syllabus 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. Each credit transfer request will be reviewed by the Program Coordinator on a case-by-case basis.
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 disorders and cognitive delays.
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
- M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABAI Accredited)
- Combined B.A. in Psychology/M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Post-Master Program in Applied Behavior Analysis
The core of each program is 24 credits which have been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc. as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst ® examination. These courses are:
- ABA 526 Behavior Analysis and Learning
- ABA 534 Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis
- ABA 537 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
- ABA 556 Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis
- ABA 561 Ethics and Professionalism for Behavior Analysts
- ABA 615 Functional Behavior Analysis
- ABA 624 Organizational Behavior Management
- ABA 655 Philosophy of Behaviorism Those who wish to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst ® examination must meet additional requirements to qualify for certification. (See www.bacb.com for certification requirements.)
As the capstone requirement for the Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis, students must complete the courses Dissertation in ABA I, II, and III (ABA 890, ABA 891, and ABA 892), and additional dissertation courses, if necessary. In these classes, students will complete a comprehensive survey of the research literature in a particular area within applied behavior analysis, write this as a formal publication-quality literature review paper, and then orally defend it. Students will then design and conduct an original experimental research study using the principles of ABA. The dissertation research study will be written in American Psychological Association (APA) format. Following approval of the written component, both the dissertation proposal and the completed dissertation will be orally defended to a committee of faculty members and outside professionals. The goal of the completed dissertation is to generate scholarly work that will be of professional publication quality and that is a substantial and innovative contribution to the field in terms of theoretical implications or clinical applications.
Ph.D. IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
The Ph.D. in ABA program was designed to prepare students for high-level employment within areas where there are growing demands for competent professionals with expertise in applied behavior analysis: namely, developmental services, special education, mental health, and academia. Students are required to show proficiency in coursework, practicum and dissertation research. The core curriculum for the Ph.D. in ABA program focuses on (a) the advanced principles and procedures of basic and applied behavior analysis practice and research, (b) the application of behavior analysis and behavioral support in complex environments (i.e., home, school, work, other community settings, and institutional settings), and (c) supervision and training of others in behavior analysis (d) conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of advanced topics in behavior analysis (e) development and completion of independent research in behavior analysis.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Note: The application deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 15 and applicants are only accepted for the fall semester.
- M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology, or Education and have earned BCBA® certification (or be eligible for BCBA® certification). Applicants who do not meet these requirements are urged to apply to the Caldwell University M.A. in ABA program or an equivalent program.
- Minimum GPA of 3.6 in master’s degree coursework
- Official transcripts of their master’s degree coursework
- Satisfactory scores on the General Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
- Three letters of recommendation that specifically speak to the likelihood of the applicant’s success in a doctoral degree program
- Writing sample: a research-based paper in applied behavior analysis or a related area of psychology of at least ten pages that was previously submitted as part of graduate course. If applicable, the applicant’s master’s thesis is preferable.
- Three to five page personal statement describing reasons for pursuing Ph.D. in ABA at Caldwell University, current research interests, and preferred faculty member with whom to study (including reasons for this choice).
- Personal interview
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (90 Credits)
Required Courses (60 credits)
Course Code : ABA 510
Course Description :
Focuses on the application of a systematic and empirical approach to the study of psychology. Topics will include: scientific method, pseudoscience, types of experimental research, variable definition, validity threats, control strategies, experimental design, ethical issues, how to present research, statistical application, and additional material. Students engage in discussion, conduct relevant empirical research, and write research reports in the American Psychological Association ABA 811 Research Practicum in ABA II (3) This course will provide additional research experience to students who have already taken ABA 809 Research Practicum in ABA I. Students can register for 1 – 3 credits per semester with a maximum of 3 credits of the research practicum in applied behavior analysis counting towards graduation. Students will be expected to devote 10 hours per week per credit towards the research practicum. Some of those hours may be spent collecting and analyzing the data, conducting literature searches, and writing a manuscript based on the data. It is assumed that most research practica will be supervised by the student’s dissertation advisor but the student and dissertation advisor may agree that another faculty member is best qualified to supervise the research. Students will be expected to meet frequently with their practicum supervisor during the semester and will be expected to complete a research paper written in APA-style by the end of the semester. The research paper should be written in such a manner that it could be submitted to a professional journal for publication. generalization, shaping, fading, prompting, concept formation, stimulus equivalence, respondent learning, conditioned reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement, and behavioral definitions.
- Credit : 3
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 procedure sin 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
Course Code : ABA 534
Course Description :
Examines the use of the scientific method to evaluate assessment and intervention techniques in behavior analysis. Topics include measurement techniques, single-subject experimental design, selection of dependent and independent variables, graphical presentation and evaluation of results, ethics pertaining to human subjects and treatment implementation, and ways of communicating research results. Principles and procedures involved in the experimental analysis of reinforcement schedules, stimulus control, and stimulus equivalence are included.
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 537
Course Description :
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the basic principles of behavior analysis. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an overall management system. It is important to understand concepts of applied behavior analysis and also how to apply those concepts across various learning environments and skill levels to become effective and efficient analyzers of the principles of learning. This course has a 12-hour field component.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Adv. Aba
Course Code : ABA 556
Course Description :
This course, which is a continuation and expansion on the principles learned in PS 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 :
ABA534, ABA537
- Credit : 3
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, and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Professional and Ethical Compliance Code. The course content will be addressed through course readings, lectures, classroom discussion, audio-visual presentations, and role playing.
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 573
Course Description :
Effective writing is an important skill to communicate the findings of a scientific discipline to other professionals and to the mainstream population. Course content will include the function of the written word, the logic of scientific vs. popular writing, APA Style, writing article summaries, writing a Literature review, developing thesis and dissertation proposals, the publication process, writing critiques, writing effective PowerPoint presentations, writing for popular media sources, the basics of grant writing, and developing the curriculum vitae. In this course, students will learn to analyze critically their own written products as well as those of colleagues and student peers. Students will write regularly, both in-class and on their own time, across a number of assignments, for practice and review.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Org Behav Mgmt
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 :
ABA537, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Thesis In Aba I
Course Code : ABA 650
Course Description :
Students will develop an empirical research question, investigate the already existing research literature relevant to that question, write a literature review in the format of the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide, and develop a formal research proposal using single-case research designs.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA526, ABA573, ABA510, ABA556, ABA534, all other M.A. coursework.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Thesis Aba II
Course Code : ABA 651
Course Description :
Students will carry out the research project designed in ABA 650, analyze the results of the study and discuss its implications, and write the research report in the format of the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. The final product will be suitable for dissemination through professional research conferences and/or research journals. Completed projects will be published on the Web by ProQuest/UMI; a fee of $60.00 will be billed with course tuition to partially cover publication and copyright costs.
Prerequisites :
ABA650
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 800
Course Description :
Students will gain practical experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral programs with individuals with autism. All students will work in private/public schools, complete school orientation, meet guidelines for volunteers and/or employees at the school, and will be supervised by the school personnel and Caldwell University faculty. Note: Ph.D. students are required to take 3 credits of applied practicum (ABA 800 Applied Practicum in ABA I) and an additional 3 credits in either applied or research practicum content (ABA 801 Applied Practicum in ABA II or ABA 809 Research Practicum in ABA).
- Credit : 1 – 3
Short Title : App Prac Aba II
Course Code : ABA 801
Course Description :
Following ABA 800, students will gain additional practical experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral programs with individuals with autism. All students will work in private/public schools, complete school orientation, meet guidelines for volunteers and/or employees at the school, and will be supervised by the school personnel and Caldwell College faculty.
Prerequisites :
ABA800
- Credit : 2 – 3
Short Title : Rsrch Prac Aba
Course Code : ABA 809
Course Description :
This course will provide additional research experience to students interested in conducting doctoral level research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can register for 1-3 credits per semester with a maximum of 3 credits of the research practicum in applied behavior analysis counting towards graduation. Students will be expected to devote 10 hours per week per credit towards the research practicum. Some of those hours may be spent collecting and analyzing the data, conducting literature searches, and writing a manuscript based on the data. It is assumed that most research practica will be supervised by the student?s dissertation advisor but in rare cases, the student and dissertation advisor may agree that another faculty member is best qualified to supervise the research. Students will be expected to meet frequently with their practicum supervisor during the semester and will be expected to complete a research paper written in APA-style by the end of the semester. The research paper should be written in such a manner that it could be submitted to a professional journal for publication.. (Note: Ph.D. students must take either ABA 801 or ABA 809.)
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA556, ABA534, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Teach Behav An
Course Code : ABA 820
Course Description :
This 3-credit elective course for applied behavior analysis doctoral students will focus on practical issues and methods for teaching in the college environment. It will focus on selection and use of teaching materials; course structure and development of instructional sequences; the role of lecture, discussion, and active participation; student evaluation and grading practices; and student motivation.
Prerequisites :
ABA556, ABA537, ABA534, ABA526
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Aba & Learning
Course Code : ABA 826
Course Description :
This course provides additional detailed coverage and builds upon materials first presented in the course ABA 526 Behavior Analysis and Learning. However, there will be an emphasis on the reading and discussion of current literature in the field of behavior analysis. This goal will be accomplished by having students read peer-reviewed articles from the leading journals in the field. Familiarizing students in the Ph.D. program with cutting edge research will better allow them to design, conceptualize, and complete their own dissertation research. Topics such as behavioral economics, the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors, and novel techniques to promote skill acquisition will be covered. In addition, students will become much more fluent with the basic underlying principles (e.g., reinforcement, stimulus control, generalization, etc.) that govern complex human behavior. To achieve these objectives, students will take an active role in discussing and presenting these topics in class and writing research reports.
Prerequisites :
ABA526
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Adv Rsrch Aba
Course Code : ABA 834
Course Description :
This course provides additional detailed coverage and builds upon materials first presented in the course ABA 534 Research Methods in ABA. The advanced research methods in ABA class will build on topics covered in ABA 534. However, there will be an emphasis on the reading and critique of journal articles and chapters from advanced text books. This goal will be accomplished by having students read and critique peer-reviewed articles from the leading journals in the field. Familiarizing students in the Ph.D. program with cutting edge research will better allow them to design, conceptualize, and complete their own dissertation research. Topics such as statistical analysis and visual inspection, as well as advanced issues in measurement and single-case design will be covered. In addition, students will become much more fluent in the development, presentation, and critique of research. To achieve these objectives, students will write and present research proposals and review the research proposals of their peers in the class.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA534, ABA526
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Disrtn Aba I
Course Code : ABA 890
Course Description :
The primary outcomes assessment of a student's experience and training in the Caldwell College Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis Program is the formal research dissertation. The purpose of the dissertation is to enhance students? abilities to conceptualize a research question that is socially significant and theoretically important to the further development of applied behavior analysis and apply sound research strategies in answering this question. Broadly, the dissertation requirements involve developing a comprehensive literature review paper, conceptualizing an original empirical research project, conducting the research project, writing a scholarly paper pertaining to the research study, defending the project, and having the dissertation project accepted by the student?s Dissertation Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies. The student will be provided with opportunities to complete these requirements in the three-part course sequence ABA 890 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis I, ABA 891 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis II, and ABA 892 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis III. Across the three courses, students will form a dissertation committee, propose a research study, develop a comprehensive written report on the literature relevant to the topic, seek IRB approval for the study, collect data for their study, and write the results of the study in a formal research paper. Both the literature review paper and the dissertation research paper will then be orally defended. The final dissertation defense and completed dissertation paper must be approved by the student?s Dissertation Committee.
Prerequisites :
ABA834
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Disrtn Aba II
Course Code : ABA 891
Course Description :
The primary outcomes assessment of a student's experience and training in the Caldwell College Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis Program is the formal research dissertation. The purpose of the dissertation is to enhance students? abilities to conceptualize a research question that is socially significant and theoretically important to the further development of applied behavior analysis and apply sound research strategies in answering this question. Broadly, the dissertation requirements involve developing a comprehensive literature review paper, conceptualizing an original empirical research project, conducting the research project, writing a scholarly paper pertaining to the research study, defending the project, and having the dissertation project accepted by the student?s Dissertation Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies. The student will be provided with opportunities to complete these requirements in the three-part course sequence ABA 890 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis I, ABA 891 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis II, and ABA 892 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis III. Across the three courses, students will form a dissertation committee, propose a research study, develop a comprehensive written report on the literature relevant to the topic, seek IRB approval for the study, collect data for their study, and write the results of the study in a formal research paper. Both the literature review paper and the dissertation research paper will then be orally defended. The final dissertation defense and completed dissertation paper must be approved by the student?s Dissertation Committee.
Prerequisites :
ABA890
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Disrtn Aba III
Course Code : ABA 892
Course Description :
The primary outcomes assessment of a student's experience and training in the Caldwell College Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis Program is the formal research dissertation. The purpose of the dissertation is to enhance students? abilities to conceptualize a research question that is socially significant and theoretically important to the further development of applied behavior analysis and apply sound research strategies in answering this question. Broadly, the dissertation requirements involve developing a comprehensive literature review paper, conceptualizing an original empirical research project, conducting the research project, writing a scholarly paper pertaining to the research study, defending the project, and having the dissertation project accepted by the student?s Dissertation Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies. The student will be provided with opportunities to complete these requirements in the three-part course sequence ABA 890 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis I, ABA 891 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis II, and ABA 892 Dissertation in Applied Behavior Analysis III. Across the three courses, students will form a dissertation committee, propose a research study, develop a comprehensive written report on the literature relevant to the topic, seek IRB approval for the study, collect data for their study, and write the results of the study in a formal research paper. Both the literature review paper and the dissertation research paper will then be orally defended. The final dissertation defense and completed dissertation paper must be approved by the student?s Dissertation Committee. Prerequisites: All other Ph.D. coursework.
Prerequisites :
ABA891, All other Ph.D. coursework
- Credit : 3
Elective Courses (30 credits: Any 10 courses)
Short Title : Cognitive Psyc.
Course Code : ABA 521
Course Description :
Description & Necessity: The goal of this course is to introduce students to the field of human cognition through the exploration of classical theoretical and experimental research in cognitive psychology. Students will be introduced to the experimental methods used to study mental processes. Emphasis will be placed on a discussion of the brain and neural networks, memory models, perception, language, concept learning, knowledge, problem solving, reasoning and decision making.
Prerequisites :
ABA510
Course Code : ABA 553
Course Description :
Provides a short history of autism and examines its characteristics and how to assess the effectiveness of the major therapies that have been developed to treat autism. In addition to evaluating applied behavior analysis (ABA) and the landmark studies by Lovaas and Krantz & McClannahan, the course evaluates other approaches, such as Auditory Integration Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Greenspan, and the Miller Method.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : L/Ss Ind.Autism
Course Code : ABA 572
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.
Prerequisites :
ED556, ABA556, ED537, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Beh An Child De
Course Code : ABA 600
Course Description :
This course frames the basic concepts and research findings in infant, child, and adolescent development from a behavior analytic viewpoint. Topics include theory in science, critical analyses of concepts and research methods in developmental psychology, motor development, memory, imitation, perception, thinking, reasoning, concept formation, language, and social development.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Beh/Child Disor
Course Code : ABA 601
Course Description :
Description & Necessity: The course is designed to teach the student about behaviorally based therapeutic approaches and techniques that have been empirically supported with children. Course content will focus on the theoretical conceptualization of clinical problems and the conceptual rationale for selecting and implementing behavior therapy techniques. Students will also become familiar with specific protocols for implementing several practical intervention skills.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA534, ABA537, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Older Lrn Autis
Course Code : ABA 603
Course Description :
This course focuses on identifying and meeting the unique needs of adults with autism spectrum disorders and the families and professionals who support them. Transition strategies from school to adult life will be addressed. Components of effective teaching, employment, volunteer, and residential programs will be identified as well as access to community services. Instructional strategies for the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of skills and addressing challenging behaviors will be reviewed. Funding and legal aspects of adult services will be discussed. A brief historical perspective of services and civil rights for NJ adults with autism spectrum disorders will be reviewed.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA556, ABA526, ABA534
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Ad Lan So Sk Au
Course Code : ABA 604
Course Description :
This course is designed to examine a variety of behavior analytic methodologies to develop advanced language and social skills for individuals with autism. Students in this course will learn how to use and evaluate the available literature on teaching skills such as conversation, friendship, language concepts, cooperative play, conflict management, and self regulation among others.
Prerequisites :
ABA572, ABA537, ABA556, ABA534
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Func.Behav.Asse
Course Code : ABA 615
Course Description :
Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and analysis are important links between simple descriptions of behavior and treatment planning. The course will trace the historical development of functional assessment and functional analysis from conceptual contributions in the 1950s through the development of functional analytic techniques in the 1980s, to the present widespread application of these techniques. It explores a range of assessment techniques to use in a variety of settings, from home to school and clinic. The relationship between assessment techniques and the delivery of the least restrictive but most effective behavioral intervention will also be discussed. Students will acquire expertise in a wide range of indirect and direct assessment techniques.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA526, ABA556, ABA534
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Assmt& Prog Dev
Course Code : ABA 616
Course Description :
One of the hallmarks of applied behavior analysis is its focus on the identification of goals and the development of educational interventions specifically tailored for individual learners. This course will focus on identifying educational goals, developing individualized curriculum and motivational systems, assessing treatment effectiveness, and making decisions about transitioning.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA556, ABA534, ABA526
Short Title : A & T Sterotypy
Course Code : ABA 618
Course Description :
This course is designed to examine the assessment and treatment of stereotypic behavior, which is commonly observed in individuals with autism and their developmental disorders. Stereotypy is often a target for treatment for these individuals because of its stigma and inverse relationship with appropriate behavior (e.g., play, conversation). Behavior analysts who serve individuals with disabilities must be prepared to conduct careful analyses and treatment evaluations for stereotypical behavior. The major objectives of the class include discussion in etiological theories of stereotypy, methods of assessing maintaining consequences of stereotypy, evaluation of the literature on interventions designed to decrease stereotypy, and development of protocols to evaluate treatments for stereotypy.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA556, ABA534, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Ped Feeding Dis
Course Code : ABA 619
Course Description :
Difficulties with feeding have been found to occur in up to 80% of children with disabilities and up to 74% of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorders. This course introduces students to the field of pediatric feeding disorders, examining the etiologies of feeding disorders, assessment techniques, treatment procedures, caregiver training, and issues related to generalization and maintenance.
Prerequisites :
ABA556, ABA526, ABA534, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Stimulus Contro
Course Code : ABA 620
Course Description :
Investigates the processes that affect how individuals learn to respond to different situations. Included will be a discussion of the research literature concerning stimulus generalization anddiscrimination, differential reinforcement, object labeling, and concept learning, among others. Students will learn about the crucial aspects of programming for generalization or discrimination.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA556, ABA537
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Mot Sys Reinfor
Course Code : ABA 625
Course Description :
A major component in applied behavior analysis is the use of effective individualized motivational systems. This course will include a description of the rationale and goals for the use of motivational systems, and the real or imagined distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Discussed will be the characteristics of designing and implementing effective motivational systems, types of reinforcers and how to select them, how to identify the effectiveness of reinforcers, and how to transition from primary reinforcers to naturalistic reinforcers. In addition, the course will depict recent technological advances that have been incorporated into various motivational systems.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA534, ABA556, ABA526
- Credit : 3
Short Title : A/P Dev Aut II
Course Code : ABA 626
Course Description :
ABA 626 Assessment & Program Development for Individuals with Autism Part II (3) This course focuses on the necessary and important components of both school- and home-based instructional programs for individuals with autism. Issues related to developing and maintaining a treatment team, designing curriculum, arranging the instructional space, developing motivational systems, and data collection strategies will be discussed.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA556, ABA616, ABA537, ABA534
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 627
Course Description :
This course will familiarize students with psychotropic medications used to treat individuals with developmental disabilities and related psychiatric disorders.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA534, ABA537, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Choice & Prefer
Course Code : ABA 630
Course Description :
Explores topics related to choice and preference behavior from both the basic laboratory and applied settings. Included will be a discussion of the major theories and issues of choice such as momentary maximizing, melioration, delayed discounting, and the matching law. Basic research on choice and preference will be translated to applied issues, including preferences for particular items or activities and the relationship between problem behavior and alternative appropriate behavior. The principles and procedures used to study choice and preference will also be covered.
Prerequisites :
ABA537, ABA534, ABA526, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Concept Format
Course Code : ABA 635
Course Description :
Focuses on the learning principles that underlie the acquisition of conceptual behavior and the formation of stimulus classes. Included will be an analysis of conditional discrimination training; equivalence class, relational class, and perceptual class formation; relational frame theory; and multiple exemplar training. Applications for individuals with developmental delays will be described.
Prerequisites :
ABA556, ABA526, ABA537, ABA534
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Self Management
Course Code : ABA 640
Course Description :
Provides the student with an overview of the research literature in the area of self-management in behavior analysis, including self-instruction, goal-setting and contracting. Students will learn the practical implications of assessing and increasing self-control for a variety of clinical diagnoses (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD). The course will incorporate research on behavioral economics and the prisoner?s dilemma paradigm to illustrate issues of self-control and impulsivity.
Prerequisites :
ABA534, ABA537, ABA556, ABA526
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 645
Course Description :
Students will learn to identify and understand various types of pervasive developmental disorders and cognitive impairments, the etiology of these disorders, and their prevalence in the general population. Students will also acquire an understanding of current special education policies and procedures, examine various assessment strategies used to identify children with developmental disabilities, and determine appropriate educational strategies.
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Analy Verbal Be
Course Code : ABA 646
Course Description :
Introduces students to a behavior analytic approach to language and to the interaction between speakers and listeners. The course will cover types of elementary verbal behavior. Students will learn to recognize examples of these concepts as they occur in everyday life. Research articles that report on teaching verbal behavior to learners will be analyzed.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA537, ABA534, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : St Test Dev Dis
Course Code : ABA 648
Course Description :
The early and accurate identification of individuals with disabilities has far reaching implications in terms of treatment and outcome. Methods to ensure diagnostic consistency across professionals are necessary to improve both research and clinical practice. To that end, there are a number of established and newer assessment instruments available to those who work with individuals with developmental disabilities. All diagnostic instruments for developmental disabilities gather information on social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, but there are various approaches to assessing these symptoms and arriving at a diagnostic recommendation. This course will focus on a number of available instruments and evaluate them in terms of validity, reliability, norms, ease of use, and utility. Students will take an active part in becoming skilled in using these instruments and presenting their findings to their class peers.
Prerequisites :
ABA510, ABA526, ABA534, ABA537, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Short Title : Phil Behavioris
Course Code : ABA 655
Course Description :
This course examines radical behaviorism in a broad historical, theoretical, and philosophical context. Works by B.F. Skinner and analyses and extensions of these works will be discussed. Radical, contextual, methodological and feminist behaviorism will be analyzed and their historical roots investigated. Readings will explore major conceptual issues such as determinism, mentalism, selection by consequences, freedom, control, and responsibility. Finally, the course will cover social issues and cultural design as applications of behavioral thinking.
Prerequisites :
ABA526, ABA534, ABA537, ABA556
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 699
Course Description :
This course provides an opportunity to contact the literature across a variety of topics and applications to populations important to behavior analysts such as, geriatrics, ADHD, organizational behavior management etc. The focus of this course may in part, be determined by faculty interest and choice and/or student requests and this course will cover current behavior analytic areas not necessarily covered by other courses.
- Credit : 3
Course Code : ABA 802
Course Description :
Following ABA 801, students will gain additional practical experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral programs with individuals with autism.
Prerequisites :
ABA801
- Credit : 1 – 3
Course Code : ABA 811
Course Description :
This course will provide additional research experience to students who have already taken ABA 809 Research Practicum in ABA I. Students can register for 1-3 credits per semester with a maximum of 3 credits of the research practicum in applied behavior analysis counting towards graduation. Students will be expected to devote 10 hours per week per credit towards the research practicum. Some of those hours may be spent collecting and analyzing the data, conducting literature searches, and writing a manuscript based on the data. It is assumed that most research practica will be supervised by the student’s dissertation advisor but the student and dissertation advisor may agree that another faculty member is best qualified to supervise the research. Students will be expected to meet frequently with their practicum supervisor during the semester and will be expected to complete a research paper written in APA-style by the end of the semester. The research paper should be written in such a manner that it could be submitted to a professional journal for publication.
- Credit : 3
Status During Dissertation
Doctoral degree students who have completed all course requirements except for their dissertation may register in ABA 890 Dissertation in ABA I for three credits. Upon successful completion of ABA 890 Dissertation in ABA I, students will register for ABA 891 Dissertation in ABA II. Upon successful completion of ABA 891 Dissertation in ABA II, students will register for ABA 892 Dissertation in ABA III. Students who must continue beyond three semesters to complete their dissertation may register in ABA 896 Dissertation Continuation which is a pass/fail non-academic bearing course and carries 3 billable credit hours. Students must seek permission from the department to continue registration for Dissertation Continuation beyond two semesters.
Transfer of Graduate Credit
For applicants who have earned their M.A. in ABA at Caldwell University, all credits will be accepted for transfer to the Ph.D. in ABA. For other applicants, Caldwell University will accept the transfer up to a maximum of 30 credits of graduate work in behavior analysis or a closely related field, provided that the courses taken are equivalent in content to those offered in the Caldwell University Ph.D. in ABA programs, the credits were completed within five years of the applicant’s admission to Caldwell University, and the grade earned in the courses submitted for transfer credit is a “B” or better. Official transcripts of previous graduate work as well as the catalog description and course syllabus 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 than a B. Each credit transfer request will be reviewed by the Program Coordinator on a case-by-case basis.
A Catholic Liberal Arts Education
At the core of a Caldwell education is our liberal arts curriculum, designed to guide students to critical thinking skills, appreciate diverse cultures, and acquire a moral and civic awareness.
Students develop the whole self as they absorb learning through our liberal arts core: the humanities; the physical and biological sciences, and mathematics; and the social sciences.