This degree program will provide you with the knowledge and skills to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®). The degree program includes all required course work and a pathway to obtain all supervision hours to be eligible to sit for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts are experts in the science of learning. They conduct assessments and design instructional programs to teach new skills and decrease challenging behaviors, ultimately helping individuals improve their quality of life and become more independent.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts often work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. This national credential will allow you to work in a variety of settings, including homes, schools, clinics, residential programs, and the community.
To be eligible to take the national exam to obtain the Board Certified Behavior Analyst credential, you must:
The M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of South Carolina is a 30 or 39 credit degree program. All students in the degree program complete the same 24 credits of classroom-based courses. Tracks differ in the amount of supervised fieldwork hours the student receives from the University.
USC Practicum track (39 credits): Students in this track will enroll in 5 semesters of EDEX 718 for 3 credits each semester (total of 15 credits), to obtain 1500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork experience through the University. This track is recommended for students who do not have a qualified Board Certified Behavior Analyst to provide supervision and who need to receive this supervision through the University.
Independent Fieldwork track (30 credits): Students in this track will enroll in 1 semester of EDEX 718 for 3 credits and will take an additional, approved elective course for 3 credits. This track is recommended for students who have a qualified Board Certified Behavior Analyst to provide supervision. Students in this track will accrue 300 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork through the University and will be responsible for accruing the remaining required fieldwork and corresponding supervision hours independently.
During the application process, the applicant selects either the USC Practicum track (supervision provided by USC – 39 hour program) or the Independent Fieldwork track (supervision secured by student – 30 hour program). The track will be determined through discussion with the program faculty, a review of the student’s existing options for receiving independent fieldwork from a qualified Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and the capacity of the program to enroll students in the USC Practicum track. Applicants may be asked to change their track if the USC Practicum track reaches capacity or if the student does not have a clear plan for accessing supervision independently.
Students typically take one and a half years to reach eligibility to apply for the BCBA exam. All courses require some on-campus attendance; this is not a fully online degree program. Cohorts begin every fall, application deadline is January 15.
Our Board Certified Behavior Analyst courses are taught by passionate faculty members who are dedicated to student success. Courses are delivered in a hybrid format consisting of a combination of online and on-campus meetings. This provides both the flexibility of online courses and the interaction of face-to-face courses. Our faculty in applied behavior analysis are actively conducting research in the field, and students have the opportunity to become involved in those research projects.
USC ABA Program Coordinator
Katie is an associate professor who teaches courses on Applied Behavior Analysis, autism, and single-case research designs. She conducts research on the visual analysis of single-case research data, on interventions to increase communication skills, and on data-based decision making.
Ashley is a clinical associate professor who supervises practicum experiences and teaches coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis. Her research interests include staff/parent training, skill development, and evidence-based practices.
Lauren is a assistant professor who teaches Applied Behavior Analysis course work and supervises practicum experiences. Her research and clinical interests include interventions for challenging behavior and educator/caregiver training.
The University of South Carolina's Board Certified Behavior Analyst Certification course sequence has been verified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. We are not able to publish our pass-rate because we had fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year.