BCBA® Approved Program: Course Descriptions
The curriculum of the CSUN BCBA program, in its entirety, meets the instructional requirements set by the BACB®. Participants in the program must successfully complete all of the CSUN BCBA courses listed below to qualify to sit for the BACB® exam. Individual courses taken outside the CSUN BCBA full course series may or may not meet BACB® requirements. Please contact the BACB® for additional information.
PSY 551.A - Becoming a BCBA®: Professional & Certification Issues (1 unit)
PSY 552 - Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (3 units)
PSY 553 - Measurement & Experimental Evaluation of Behavior (3 units)
PSY 555 - Applications and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 units)
PSY 557 - Behavior Change Procedures & Systems Support ( 3 units)
PSY 558 - Topics in Behavior Analysis (3)
PSY 551.B - Becoming a BCBA®: Taking the Exam (1 unit)
- PSY 551.A - Becoming a BCBA®: Professional & Certification Issues (1 unit)
- Description: The course will introduce students to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board which has developed Eligibility Standards to take the BACB Certification Examinations, Renewal and Recertification Standards to maintain certification, Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts, Professional Disciplinary Standards with appeal procedures, procedures to approve continuing education providers, and professionally developed and maintained certification examinations.
Task List:
Meets 15 hours of the Discretionary Content Area - PSY 552 - Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (3 units)
- Description: This course focuses on basic characteristics, processes, concepts and terminology in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and the learning principles on which ABA is based. Topics include philosophy and assumptions of ABA, choosing and defining target behaviors, positive and negative reinforcement, schedules of reinforcement, extinction, positive and negative punishment, imitation, motivating operations, functional relations, stimulus control, discrimination and generalization, and verbal behavior. Students also learn to interpret and discuss articles from the behavior analytic literature as well as use self-management techniques.
Task List:
| Content Area | Name of Content Area | Tasks and Subtasks covered | Hours |
|---|
| 2 | Definition and Characteristics | 2-1 through 2-7 inclusive | 16 |
| 3 | Principles, Processes and Concepts | 3-1 through 3-19 inclusive | 18 |
| 6 | Measurement of Behavior | 6-1 through 6-13 inclusive | 3 |
| 9 | Behavior Change Procedures | 9-1, 9-2, 9-5, 9-6, 9-23, 9-24, 9-26, 9-27 | 8 |
| | | Total Hours | 45 |
- PSY 553 - Measurement & Experimental Evaluation of Behavior (3 units)
- Description: In this course, students will learn how to design and evaluate experimental interventions as well as measure, display and interpret results of experimental behavioral interventions. Ethical considerations in the use of behavioral interventions will also be discussed.
Task List:
| Content Area | Name of Content Area | Tasks and Subtasks covered | Hours |
|---|
| 1 | Ethical Considerations | 1-1 through 1-12 inclusive | 5 |
| 5 | Experimental Evaluation of Interventions | 5-1 through 5-4 inclusive | 20 |
| 6 | Measurement of Behavior | 6-1 through 6-14 inclusive | 10 |
| 7 | Displaying and Interpreting Behavioral Data | 7-1 through 7-6 inclusive | 10 |
| | | Total Hours | 45 |
- PSY 555 - Applications and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 units)
- Description: This course will focus on ethical issues and the primary methods used for behavioral assessment in application of behavior analysis. Students will learn how to conduct descriptive assessment, task analysis, and functional analysis. Various methods used to collect, graph and interpret behavioral data will be discussed. Selection of intervention outcomes based on total ecobehavioral assessment will be emphasized. Students will learn to make recommendations to client detailing all contingencies of targeted behavior change.
Task List:
| Content Area | Name of Content Area | Tasks and Subtasks covered | Hours |
|---|
| 1 | Ethical Considerations | 1-1 through 1-12 inclusive | 10 |
| 4 | Behavioral Assessment | 4-1 through 4-6b inclusive | 25 |
| 8 | Selecting Intervention Outcome and Strategies | 8-1 through 8-8 inclusive | 10 |
| | | Total Hours | 45 |
- PSY 557 - Behavior Change Procedures & Systems Support (3 units)
- Description: This course will focus on procedures for behavioral analysts working with students with learning, behavioral, emotional, and/or peer relationship problems. Topics include using reinforcement, punishment, extinction, prompting, shaping, chaining, incidental teaching techniques, direct and precision teaching, discrete trials, contingency contracts, token economy, and providing behavior analysis services in collaboration with others. Students also learn to synthesize and analyze research on effective behavioral change and management practices and to apply the knowledge to classroom and school situations.
Task List:
| Content Area | Name of Content Area | Tasks and Subtasks covered | Hours |
|---|
| 2 | Definition and Characteristics | 2-1 through 2-7 inclusive | 2 |
| 3 | Principles, Processes and Concepts | 3-1 through 3-19 inclusive | 4 |
| 9 | Behavior Change Procedures | 9-1 through 9-29 inclusive | 33 |
| 10 | Systems Support | 10-1 through 10-6 inclusive | 6 |
| | | Total Hours | 45 |
- PSY 558- Topics in Behavior Analysis (3)
- Description: In this course students will learn applications of behavior analytic theories, procedures, and methods as it pertains to special populations (e.g., Children with Autism, Geriatrics, Learners with Developmental Disabilities). Specific behavioral challenges and research in the selected topics will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based practices and procedures to eliminate or minimize challenges, teach, and increase appropriate behaviors. Given the focus on application, students will be required to conduct and complete a comprehensive written project utilizing behavior analytic principles.
Task List:
| Content Area | Name of Content Area | Tasks and Subtasks covered | Hours |
|---|
| 1 | Ethical Considerations | 1-1, 1-2, & 1-4 | 3 |
| 2 | Definition and Characteristics | 2-1 2, 2-5, & 2-7 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Principles, Processes & Concepts | 3-9 & 3-10 | 6 |
| 4 | Behavioral Assessment | 4-1, 4-4, 4-5, & 4-6 a | 7 |
| 6 | Measurement of Behavior | 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, & 6-14 | 7 |
| 8 | Selecting Intervention Outcomes & Strategies | 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4, 8-5, 8-8 | 7 |
| 9 | Behavior Change Procedures | 9-1, 9-2 a, 9-10, 9-11, 9-18, 9-19, 9-27, & 9-28 | 6 |
| | | Total Hours | 45 |
- PSY 551.B - Becoming a BCBA®: Taking the Exam (1 unit)
- Description: This prepatory course, taken at the end of the program, will help the students review the board specified content areas and prepare for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam by taking repeated practice tests and obtaining feedback on their progress.
Task List:
Meets 15 hours of the Discretionary Content Area
The BCBA program at CSUN is a post-master's university-certificate program. BCBA students will earn a CSUN certificate upon completion of the BCBA program, but will not be professionally certified BCBA's until they complete and pass the BCBA certification test through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board: BACB®.
