The Department of Psychology at Indiana University South Bend is implementing an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). We hope to have this emphasis approved as a certificate program within the next year. We may seek approval of the national ABA organization in the following year. In the meantime, students who take the relevant courses could say that they have a Psychology degree with an emphasis in ABA on their résumé and in job interviews.

Applied Behavior Analysis uses operant conditioning techniques to improve behavior. Our program will focus on Positive Behavior Support (PBS), which combines ABA with individualized and environmental strategies in a holistic approach. Graduates with this training would be attractive to agencies working with children with autism, attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, etc. as well as adults with various problems. For more information, see http://www.beachcenter.org/pbs/what_is_pbs/default.aspx and http://challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/

Certificate in Basic Applied Behavior Analysis (proposed)
P103 General Psychology
P241 Functional Analysis of Behavior I (Prereq: P103)
P325 Psychology of Learning (Prereq: P103)
P430 Behavior Modification (Prereq: P103, P325)

Certificate in Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis (proposed)
All of the above (i.e., P103, P241, P325, P430) plus:
P316 Child and Adolescent or P216 Lifespan Development (Prereq: P103)
P324 Abnormal Psychology (Prereq: P103)
P336 Psychological Tests and Individual Differences (Prereq: P103)
P425 Behavior Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence (Prereq: P103 and P324; either P216 or P316)
P495 Professional Practicum Internship (3 credits)

Recommended courses outside Psychology:
EDUC K200/205 Introduction to Special Education

Tentative Schedule*:
Every semester: P216, P316, P324, EDUC K205, P495 internship
Every fall: P325, P336
Every spring: P241, P425, P430

* Frequency may change, based on enrollments.

1 July 2007 - Gwynn Mettetal, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Psychology

PDF file of this information