Behavior Analysis @ MTSU
Why study Behavior Analysis at MTSU?
Ten reasons to study behavior analysis at Middle Tennessee State University:
Verified Course Sequence of graduate classes in experimental and applied behavior analysis.
Rigorous training in basic, applied, and translational behavior analysis.
Options to tailor your degree experience based on your own interests and career ambitions.
–You can take classes in behavioral neuroscience, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and more.
Small graduate class sizes.
Graduate assistantships with financial support.
One-on-one mentorship from leading faculty in experimental, applied, and translational behavior analysis.
Diverse research opportunities with a variety of faculty in Psychology. Research areas include:
–Operant behavior in humans and rats
–Applied Behavior Analysis in children
–Behavioral neuroscience in humans and mice
–OBM and I/O psychology
–Aging and gerontology, sleep, decision-making, and more!
Access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a new psychology building and human and rat laboratories.
Collaboration with local community organizations, ideal for fieldwork experience and clinical research.
A central and convenient location in Murfreesboro, about 30 miles from downtown Nashville.
What can you do with an MA in Applied Research and Methodology*,
Behavior Analysis Specialization?
Behavior Analysis Specialization?
Our MA in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Research and Methodology* and a specialization in Behavior Analysis, provides a strong scientific foundation which prepares students to:
Work as a behavior analyst in the community.
–Behavior analysts are in high demand within Tennessee, the Southeast, and Nationwide.
–The average salary for a behavior analyst in TN is $79,464**.
Competitively pursue a doctoral degree, specializing in behavior analysis, various areas of psychology and education, or other human services fields.
*Formerly known as Experimental Psychology
**As of September 2022 (ziprecruiter.com)
Behavior Analysis Faculty at MTSU
Our behavior analysis faculty have experience implementing behavior-analytic interventions with clients in clinical settings, teaching behavior-analytic classes, and conducting behavior-analytic research. We have published in peer-reviewed behavior-analytic journals and we regularly present our research at conferences. We are committed to serving MTSU and the field of behavior analysis.
Our Faculty include:
Annie Galizio, PhD, BCBA-D
•Areas of Expertise: Behavioral variability and stereotypy, autism spectrum disorder, translational behavior analysis
Jay Hinnenkamp, PhD
•Areas of Expertise: Conditioned reinforcement, quantitative models of choice and learning, social behavior
Kim Ujcich-Ward, PhD, BCBA-D
•Areas of Expertise: Body image and children, behavioral interventions, ABA training
Behavior Analysis Specialization: Degree Requirements
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination. Applications will need to meet additional eligibility requirements and demonstrate they reside in an authorized country before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
The MA in Applied Research and Methodology* with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis is a 2-year program that requires students to complete 22 hours of core courses, 6 hours of research/thesis, and 9 hours of elective courses:
Core Behavior Analysis Courses (Verified Course Sequence):
PSY 6785 - Principles of Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours): Reinforcement theory and practice in applied settings with an emphasis on basic and advanced issues and best practices in behavioral control using reinforcers, punishers, discrimination, avoidance, shaping of new behaviors, chaining, contingencies, maintenance, and transfer. Special topics include language learning and training and the moral and legal controls in behavioral analysis.
PSY 5480 - Learning Theories (3 credit hours): Research and experiments in learning and the relate growth of the major theories of learning with emphasis on classical and instrumental conditioning and related topics.
PSY 6500 - Behavioral Methodology (3 credit hours): Techniques for design and evaluation of clinical treatment and research. Includes single subject and group designs. Emphasis on direct observation and data collection procedures, reliability, social validity, and generalization.
PSY 6445 - Skills Assessment and Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours): Covers the application of behavior analysis to building new skills and improving and maintaining existing socially important behaviors. Includes content on assessment, intervention procedures, and quality assurance of behavior analytic programming.
PSY 6440 - Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours): Intensive presentation of methods used in behavioral assessment and interventions. Application of various behavioral techniques.
PSY 5430 - Ethical Conduct in Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours): Ethical practice and professional roles of behavior analysts.
PSY 6545 - Systems Level Behavior Analysis (3 credit hours): Introduces the application of behavior analytic concepts and principles to problems of human behavior at the group and organizational level, specifically in the context of clinical service delivery.
PSY 6720 - Literature Review and Reading in Learning (1 credit hours): Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in learning. Topics and requirements obtained from individual faculty advisors.
Research/Thesis Requirement:
PSY 6600 - Independent Research in Psychology (3 credit hours): Individualized empirical research approved by an advisor.
PSY 6640 - Thesis Research (3 credit hours): Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of thesis.
Elective Course #1 - Choose one of the four following courses:
PSY 5240 - Behavioral Neuroscience (3 credit hours): The role of the brain in those areas which are typically considered by psychology, such as sensory and motor functions, motivation, higher mental functions, and mental disorders.
PSY 6020 - Theories of Personality (3 credit hours): Examines traditional schools of personality theory and current developments within each.
PSY 6190 - Advanced Cognitive Psychology (3 credit hours): Topic-oriented overview of cognitive psychology. Models of attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. Issues in cognitive development and cognitive neuropsychology.
PSY 6810 - Literature Review and Reading in Social Psychology (3 credit hours): Supervised literature review and/or readings on a topic of current importance in social psychology
Elective Course #2 - Choose one of the three following courses:
PSY 6120 - Developmental Psychology: Child (3 credit hours): Reviews the major areas of child development. These areas include cognitive, emotional, and social development. Primary attention will be devoted to the period of infancy through early adolescence. Covers both developmental theory and research.
PSY 6130 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescent (3 credit hours): Survey of research on adolescence from a biopsychosocial perspective. Student observation and study of developing adolescents from cognitive, biological, social, and psychological frameworks.
PSY 6410 - Developmental Psychology: Development Across the Lifespan (3 credit hours): Theories and characteristics of human development covering the lifespan.
Elective Course #3 - Choose one of the two following courses:
PSY 6280 - Psychological Statistics: Regression (3 credit hours): Review of basic statistics; various correlation coefficients; multiple and partial correlation; simple and multiple regression.
PSY 6290 - Psychological Statistics: ANOVA (3 credit hours): Review of basic statistics. Scientific quantification, research design, and statistical analysis from the perspective of analysis of variance: one-way, factorial, repeated measures, and mixed designs.
Behavior Analysis Specialization: Schedule Example
