Academic Policies and Procedures

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®.

Demonstrated Academic Achievement Requirement to Earn the Certificate:

This certificate program offers courses that are graded in keeping with University standards and practices for graduate education. To earn the certificate, a student must complete all seven courses in the program with an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) and earn at least a C (2.0) in each course.

Any course with a grade of C- or below in the program can be repeated once after an approved course repeat form has been filed with the certificate program’s academic director. If a student does not earn a C or better on the second attempt, the student will be disqualified from the program. A maximum of six units in the formal program may be repeated. The repeat grade will appear on the transcript.

Academic Honesty and Integrity Required to Earn the Certificate:

Each participant in the BCBA program is expected to complete all assignments in keeping with the CSUN, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Tseng College standards for academic and professional honesty and integrity. Any BCBA participant found to be in violation of these standards of academic honesty and integrity may receive a failing grade in the course in question and/or may be disqualified from the BCBA program.

Time Limitations for Earning the Certificate:

It is expected that participants enrolling in this cohort program will complete all course work within the scheduled time. If, however, extraordinary circumstances require a student to drop out of the program in good standing, that student may be allowed to join a later cohort with the approval of the academic program director and the Tseng College program director. In all cases, University policy requires that all course work for a certificate program be completed within seven years of the start date of the first course taken in the program.

Temporary Disruption of Attendance:

If, for compelling reasons, a participant finds it necessary to miss either a significant number of class meetings or a complete course, the student must consult with the program’s academic director as soon as s/he is aware that class meetings or courses will be missed. Based on the academic director’s recommendations, every reasonable effort will be made to assist students in making up missed classes and assignments. Please note, however, that those who cannot keep up with their cohort may not be able to continue with the program.

To reach Ellie Kazemi, BCBA academic director, call (818) 677-2467 or email ellie.kazemi@csun.edu

Withdrawal Policy:

It is the responsibility of the student who is no longer attending classes to withdraw formally from courses and the certificate program in keeping with CSUN and Tseng College policies. To formally withdraw from the program, students must notify the program director in writing. If the written withdrawal request is received before the term begins (before day 1 of classes), students will not be billed for the following term or terms.

Note: Simply not attending class, notifying the instructor of intent to drop the class, or calling a University office to express intent to withdraw does not constitute formal withdrawal.

To reach Jennifer Kalfsbeek, BCBA program director, call (818) 677-5943 or email jennifer.kalfsbeek@csun.edu

Refund Policy for BCBA:

Refunds are not provided to cohort students after the start of the first class of each term even if other classes in that term have not yet begun. Exceptions may be made for medical or other emergency situations. Contact the program director for further information.