Earn Your Master of Applied Behavior Analysis Online from University of DaytonEarn Your Master of Applied Behavior Analysis Online from University of DaytonEarn Your Master of Applied Behavior Analysis Online from University of Dayton

Learn to Influence Behavioral Growth

The online Master of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from University of Dayton’s School of Education and Health Sciences prepares you to provide individuals with behavioral problems and their families with effective strategies needed to thrive.

While earning your master’s in applied behavior analysis online, you will learn to identify, implement and assess the need for intervention in targeted individuals as well as groups.

The flexibility of our online program allows you to continue working while you complete the academic preparation and fieldwork experience required to apply to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) exam.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified the courses in the University of Dayton’s online ABA program as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA examination.

Join Our Tradition of Service

Our online ABA program is driven by University of Dayton’s Marianist tradition and is designed to prepare students to become behavior analysts who will:

Become scholarly practitioners
Embrace diversity for the promotion of social justice
Use critical reflection in daily professional decision-making
Engage in building community

Earn Your Master of ABA Online

The final deadline for the January 2023 cohort is November 7, 2022.

Request information

An Immersive Curriculum

The online ABA curriculum — which includes a Verified Course Sequence by the ABAI — features one three-day immersion. We offer three program tracks and a certificate option, each offering the education and curriculum to prepare you to begin the BCBA certification process.

The Supervised Fieldwork Track, designed for recent graduates or those switching career paths, allows you to:

Complete the 42-credit program in as few as 24 months
Complete 1,500 fieldwork hours during the program
Receive support from dedicated placement specialists and faculty

The Independent Fieldwork Track, designed for students who are already working in the ABA field, allows you to:

Complete the 30-credit program in as few as 21 months
Complete 600 fieldwork hours during the program and 900 fieldwork hours independently at your existing place of employment
Strengthen your existing professional foundation and continue to build on your knowledge throughout the program
Note: If you are completing the Independent Fieldwork Track, you must have been employed at your approved worksite for at least six months before submitting your application. Contact your Admission Counselor to learn more about minimum site qualification requirements.

The Educator Fieldwork Track, designed for students who are teachers or staff educators, allows you to:

Complete the 42-credit program on a part-time basis in as few as 36 months
Complete 1,500 fieldwork hours during the program and schedule the majority of those hours during summer terms
Receive support from dedicated placement specialists and faculty

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, designed for professionals with a master’s degree who are looking for additional focus or experience, allows you to:

Complete the 21-credit program in as few as 15 months
Complete 600 hours of fieldwork in the program and 900 independently (1,500 total) at an approved field placement site.
Strengthen your ability to provide strategies for behavioral needs

As a student in the online master’s in applied behavior analysis program, you will learn to adapt fundamental skills to meet the specific needs of your future clients. The comprehensive curriculum includes the core competencies outlined below.

Basic Behavior-Analytic Skills

Master common behavior-analytic skills and methods for assessing the cause of problem behavior.

Client-Centered Responsibilities

Learn effective intervention strategies that can be applied to almost all clients.

Foundational Knowledge

Understand basic concepts that can be adapted into advanced techniques used for behavior change.

View all online ABA program course descriptions

One Immersion

in Dayton, Ohio

Fieldwork Practicum

to gain hands-on ABA skills

Full-Time or Part-Time

paths of completion

91% of first-time test-takers who complete the CBA Learning Module Series pass
the BCBA exam.¹

Three-Day Immersion

You will complete one weekendlong, three-day immersion experience on the University of Dayton campus. The immersion is a great opportunity to connect with your classmates and faculty while learning directly from industry experts. Immersion sessions include:

Guest presenters
Sample casework
Problem-solving simulations
Interprofessional education

Fieldwork Experience

All options offer hands-on applied behavior analysis experience and the chance to learn directly from board-certified supervisors and mentors at approved placement sites. Each track, as well as the certificate, plays a role in preparing you to begin meeting the fieldwork requirements to sit for the BCBA exam.

Supervised Fieldwork Track: Graduate with 1,500 hours of fieldwork with support from our placement specialists.

Independent Fieldwork Track: Graduate with 600 hours of fieldwork, and independently complete the remaining 900 hours.

Educator Fieldwork Track: Graduate with 1,500 hours of fieldwork, the majority of which you will complete during summer terms, with support from our placement specialists.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis Program: Graduate with 600 hours of in-program fieldwork, and independently complete the remaining 900 hours.

Integrated CBA Learning Modules

To prepare you for the BCBA exam, our online ABA curriculum integrates the CBA Learning Module Series by Behavior Development Solutions (BDS) from the start of the program. You will have access to the modules and BDS learning management system, including practice BCBA tests throughout the program and for a few months after graduation, allowing you to continue preparing for the exam on your own time.

BDS has a money-back guarantee policy for students who do not pass the BCBA exam.

Capstone Project

Through the culminating capstone project, you will demonstrate your competency in applied behavior analysis. This will be completed in conjunction with the in-person fieldwork experience.

Individually or with a group, you will use a single-case design, research-based case study to conduct your project in a clinical or educational setting.

All projects will occur under the direct supervision of an appropriately credentialed behavior analyst. Depending on where you complete your fieldwork experience, you may serve as the direct intervention agent or consultant to complete the case study.

Online Master of ABA Admission

The University of Dayton School of Education and Health Sciences seeks passionate individuals who have a strong interest in working with those with autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, ADHD or other types of behavioral health needs.

The online ABA program can be completed in as little as two years and offers three start dates per year: September, January and May. The educator track is only offered each September.

Your application will be evaluated holistically. It should include the following:

Online application
Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
Two letters of recommendation
Application fee
Personal statement
Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities

Learn more about application requirements and view upcoming application deadlines.

Online Learning Experience

As an online ABA student, you will become fully immersed in the University of Dayton community while benefiting from the flexibility of online learning. Our advanced learning technologies are designed to support you on your journey toward becoming a behavior analyst.

The online platform enables you to:

Come face-to-face with classmates and faculty in weekly, live HD video classes
Access coursework anytime through the mobile-friendly online classroom
Socialize and network on the virtual campus with ABA professionals across the country
Actively engage in discussions using screen-share and annotation tools

Why Earn a Master of ABA?

Pursuing a career as a board certified behavior analyst is both rewarding and promising: You will have the opportunity to give back to your community while joining a rapidly growing field in both the Midwest and across the country.

From 2018 to 2019 alone, the demand for those with a BCBA/BCBA-D increased by 80%.² The online master’s in applied behavior analysis program — including the curriculum, coursework and supportive community — will prepare you to work in fields like healthcare and education.

Applied Behavior Analyst Jobs

Board certified behavior analysts often work in organizations such as human service agencies, school districts, hospitals and state-funded programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Behavior analysts can pursue positions such as: behavior coach, clinical director, behavioral consultant, educational consultant, and organizational consultant

Help Individuals with Behavioral Problems Thrive

Request information to take the next step in your ABA career.