PhD in Behavior Analysis

General Information

Developed in response to the increasing demand for scientists and practitioners of evidence-based methods for the education and treatment of individuals with autism and related disabilities, the PhD program in Behavior Analysis at Western New England University gives students the skills to fill this void and become a leader in the field. Through a combination of coursework and supervised practical and research experiences, the aim of the program is to train researchers and scientist-practitioners in the discovery, translation, and application of knowledge toward solving human behavior problems of societal importance (e.g., autism and related disabilities). All classroom course work is done at the New England Center for Children.

Program Goals and Objectives

The program allows students to successfully embark on academic and research careers, as well as careers in the delivery of behavior analysis services. Thus, the primary objectives of the program, which elucidate the core knowledge areas and skills all students are expected to know or be able to do prior to graduating, are:

To understand the assumptions, goals, and characteristics of behavior analysis.
To understand the history of the field of behavior analysis and its relation to psychology and science in general.
To understand the basic principles of learning and the past and current theoretical models which describe and attempt to explain behavior-environment relations.
To be able to describe and apply effective behavior-analytic procedures for promoting behavior change.
To be able to describe and apply single-subject and more traditional group designs.
To be able to determine the influence of relevant independent variables or interventions.
To be able to describe, depict, and analyze behavioral data and understand the current quantitative models which describe and attempt to explain behavior-environment relations.
To be able to describe, distinguish, and apply evidence-based practices for a social problem (e.g., problems associated with autism and related developmental disabilities).
To understand a professional culture outside of behavior analysis that is united to better understand and improve conditions relevant to a particular social problem.
To be able to identify, review, critically analyze, and contribute to the behavioral science and psychological literature.
To be able to articulate and work within the ethical standards of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and the American Psychological Association.
To be able to effectively participate in professional behavioral science activities such as presenting, publishing, and reviewing original research.
To be able to design and implement effective instruction at the college level.

Program Structure

All students are assigned an advisor upon admission to the program. The student and advisor work together to plan for the student’s academic success. Advisors assist students as they select required and elective courses, develop their research projects, and prepare for PhD requirements (e.g., assist in selecting a review paper topic). Advisors and students also work collaboratively on the students’ professional development. Specifically, advisors assist students in clarifying their goals and attaining substantive experience in teaching (e.g., identifying opportunities and mentoring), research (e.g., ensuring that the student is presenting posters, oral presentations, and is publishing their data where appropriate), and service (e.g., committee work at the local or national level, serving as a reviewer for a journal).

Students are expected to complete 54 credit hours with at least 27 of those hours being seminars. The remaining 27 may be dissertation credit, behavior analysis practica, and additional elective seminars. Courses will be offered in fall, winter, and spring 11-week terms.

Students are expected to enroll in seven total credits in three of the four terms in each of the initial two years of the program. Students are expected to enroll in a total of four credits in three of the four terms in the third year of the program. Students not finished with the program by the end of the third year register for one credit of dissertation continuance in up to three terms of their fourth year and all subsequent years until the completion of all degree requirements. The program must be completed within seven years.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

CORE COURSES (15 HOURS)

PSY 610	Professional Issues, Ethics, and Research Design	3 cr.
PSY 620	Experimental Analysis of Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 630	Descriptive and Inferential Statistics	3 cr.
PSY 640	Quantitative Analysis of Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 650	The Philosophy of Behaviorism	3 cr.
Total Credit Hours:		15

CONCENTRATION COURSES (12-21 HOURS)

PSY 705	Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention	3 cr.
PSY 720	Assessment of Severe Behavior Disorders	3 cr.
PSY 735	Organizational Behavior Management	3 cr.
PSY 740	Developmental Psychology	3 cr.
PSY 750	Advanced Verbal Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 770	Teaching in the College Environment	3 cr.
PSY 780	Brain and Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 790	Special Topics in Behavior Analysis	3 cr.
Total Credit Hours:		12-21

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS PRACTICA (9 HOURS)

PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.
Total Credit Hours:		9

DISSERTATION RESEARCH (9-18 HOURS)

PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 857 - 880	Dissertation Research Continuance	1 cr.
Total Credit Hours:		9-18

EXAMPLE PROGRAM OF STUDY

The following table provides the anticipated schedule with which courses and program requirements may be completed.

YEAR 1 - FALL

PSY 610	Professional Issues, Ethics, and Research Design	3 cr.
PSY 620	Experimental Analysis of Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 1 - WINTER

PSY 630	Descriptive and Inferential Statistics	3 cr.
PSY 650	The Philosophy of Behaviorism	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 1 - SPRING

PSY 640	Quantitative Analysis of Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 705	Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 2 - FALL

PSY 740	Developmental Psychology	3 cr.
PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

Dissertation Proposal may be submitted*

YEAR 2 - WINTER

PSY 770	Teaching in the College Environment	3 cr.
PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 2 - SPRING

PSY 750	Advanced Verbal Behavior	3 cr.
PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

Comprehensive Program of Study or Review Paper may be submitted and defended

YEAR 3 - FALL

PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 3 - WINTER

PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

YEAR 3 - SPRING

PSY 851-856	Dissertation Research	3 cr.
PSY 801-809	Behavior Analysis Practica	1 cr.

Dissertation may be defended

Admissions

Candidates interested in this program need to have earned a master’s degree in behavior analysis or related discipline or be certified as a master’s-level behavior analyst by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Candidates must also have earned a minimum of a 3.600 grade point average (GPA) in their master’s degree program and a combined verbal and quantitative score of 300 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with neither score being below 150 for full admission. The program accepts students who have met these requirements and who show strong potential as scholars and future leaders in the field of behavior analysis.

BEHAN.PHD - PhD in Behavior Analysis

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