Applied Behavior Analysis (M.S.) Concentration in Childhood Clinical Disorders

Applied Behavior Analysis (M.S.) Concentration in Childhood Clinical Disorders

The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with a concentration in childhood clinical disorders provides students with coursework that focuses on the application of behavior analysis to children with childhood clinical disorders, which have been characterized as mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Behavior analysts in this specialty area work in diverse settings, including schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and residential treatment programs.

Students in this specialty area learn about the unique interventions that the field of applied behavior analysis can offer in the treatment of childhood problems. Applied behavior analytic interventions view problem behaviors in context, necessitating function-based interventions for childhood clinical problems, including:

• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders
• Feeding problems
• Tics
• Depression
• Impulsivity
• Depression

Elective coursework will focus on the application of behavior analysis to children with childhood clinical disorders, including electives in evidence-based curriculum, the use of ABA in a public-school special education setting, treatment of severely challenging behavior, ABA and psychiatric disorders, and collaboration within settings that serve children with childhood clinical disorders.