The department of intervention services and leadership in education offers a graduate certificate program in applied behavior analysis. The certificate in applied behavior analysis (ABA) prepares a variety of school and community professionals with the knowledge and experience needed to better understand human behavior and to positively impact a wide spectrum of individuals with specific behavioral needs. This certificate program can be completed concurrently while pursuing a graduate degree or as a stand-alone certificate and meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)-required 270 classroom hours of graduate-level instruction. Supervision hours, required for certification, are arranged and completed by the student separately from the coursework. For more information, please see the BACB website¹. This graduate certificate can be earned in conjunction with an existing master’s degree program or taken as postbachelor's nondegree Category A student. 

The university provides the education necessary to meet licensure eligibility requirements in the State of Kansas. Licensure, though, is granted by the state rather than the university. Completion of this program does not guarantee licensure.

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Admission

1. A cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher based on the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework; a 3.000 or higher on all completed graduate coursework;
2. Three letters of recommendation;
3. Goal statement indicating reasons for pursuing certificate; and
4. Resume.

Current graduate students of WSU should complete the Declaration of Intent to Pursue a Graduate Certificate form through the Graduate School website¹. The admission review faculty may request any of the listed admission requirements before rendering an admission decision on the request.

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Program Requirements

This 21-credit-hour certificate program consists of seven classes, which can be completed concurrently while pursuing a graduate degree or as a stand-alone certificate. The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. This certificate meets the 5th Edition, 315-hour coursework requirement. Supervision hours and examination, required for certification, are arranged and completed by the student separately from the coursework. For more information, please see the BACB website¹.

School Psychology EdS Students: Twelve (12) of the 21 credit hours required for the certificate program are courses included in the school psychology degree requirements. The school psychology program includes 9 credit hours of electives. Students who choose to pursue the ABA certificate can choose the three remaining courses as their three electives. 

Course Requirements for the ABA Graduate Certificate

Courses are spread across fall, spring and summer semesters, which allows students to complete the certificate in one year. 

In addition to these requirements, students must meet the Graduate School’s requirements in order to earn this certificate.

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