Master of Arts in Psychology: Behavioral Clinical Psychology
Curriculum
Course List (12 courses, 37 units)
The following courses are required for this Master of Arts in Psychology:
Board Required BCBA Eligibility Course-work (19 units)
- PSY 551A: Becoming a BCBA: Professional and Certification Issues (1)
- PSY 552: Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
- PSY 553: Measurement and Experimental Evaluation of Behavior (3)
- PSY 555: Assessment in Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
- PSY 557: Behavior Change Procedures and Systems Support (3)
- PSY 558: Special Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
- PSY 600: Ethical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Multidisciplinary Teams (3)
Advanced Concepts, Methods, and Practice (12 units)
- PSY 525B: Advanced Psychological Measurement (3)
- PSY 629: Concepts and Clinical Application of Behavior Analysis (3)
- PSY 692A: Seminar in Research Methodology (3)
- PSY 611: Developmental Psychopathology and ABA Interventions (3)
Graduate Research and Project (6 units)
- PSY 696: Directed Graduate Research (3)
- PSY 698D: Graduate Culminating Project (3)
Course Descriptions
| COURSE | NAME | UNITS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY 551A |
Becoming a BCBA®: Professional & Certification Issues (1 unit) |
1 unit |
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. |
| PSY 552 |
Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis |
3 units |
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. |
| PSY 553 |
Measurement & Experimental Evaluation of Behavior |
3 units |
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. |
| PSY 555 |
Assessment in Applied Behavior Analysis |
3 units |
This course focuses on ethical issues and the primary methods used for behavioral assessment in application of behavior analysis. Students learn to interpret and conduct preference assessments, reinforcer assessments, indirect and descriptive assessments, as well as functional analyses. Various methods used to collect, graph, and interpret data will be discussed. Students learn to conduct and write comprehensive functional behavior assessments. This course serves in a series of courses that prepares students to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam. |
| PSY 557 |
Behavior Change Procedures & Systems Support |
3 units |
This course will focus on procedures for behavior 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. |
| PSY 558 |
Topics in Behavior Analysis |
3 units |
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. |
| PSY 600 |
Ethical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Multidisciplinary Teams |
3 units |
This course focuses on ethical and professional research and practice of behavior analysts and professionals in the field of psychology. Emphasis is placed on ethical guidelines established by Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and American Psychological Association (APA) through analyzing cases that address working with individuals, families, and multidisciplinary teams. This course serves in a series of courses that prepares students to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam. |
| PSY 525B | Advanced Psychological Measurement |
3 units |
Prerequisite: Admission to MA in Behavioral Clinical Psychology Program. This course's topics include test theory, psychometric properties of tests, use and interpretation of normed reference tests, techniques and procedures of indirect, descriptive, and experimental assessment methods commonly used by science-practitioners. Ethics and qualifications necessary to conduct assessments are also discussed. |
| PSY 629 |
Concepts and Clinical Application of Behavior Analysis |
3 units |
This course focuses on ethical functional behavior assessment and behavior change procedures as they pertain to clinical populations. Emphasis is on the philosophy, theories, science, and concepts of applied behavior analysis. |
| PSY 692A |
Seminar in Research Methodology |
3 units |
This course focuses on advanced research methods in psychology, including review of the scientific approach, research designs and measurement, and threats to validity. Emphasis is on critical analysis of research in terms of the research objective, the adequacy of research design, and the justifications for the conclusions. |
| PSY 611 |
Developmental Psychopathology and ABA Interventions |
3 units |
This course focuses on psychopathology and applied behavior analytic (ABA) interventions across human development. Emphasis is placed on psycholoathology and empirically-validated interventions to address the behavioral excesses and deficits of each disorder. This course serves in a series of courses that prepares students to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Exam. |
| PSY 698D |
Graduate Culminating Project |
3 units |
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in psychology; instructor permission required. In this culminating graduate course, students demonstrate their mastery of the behavior analytic skills necessary to become competent Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Students will be expected to apply the knowledge and experiences they gained in their prior behavioral clinical graduate coursework to new cases. Students will be given hypothetical clinical cases and assessment results and expected to write conceptually, ethically, and methodologically sound functional behavior assessments. Students also will be given hypothetical functional behavior assessment results and expected to develop evidence-based, cost-effective written treatment plans with appropriate citations, which include, but are not limited to, methods to evaluate interobservor agreement, treatment integrity, and treatment effectiveness. |
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