Learn To Assess Autism's Behavior Challenges with an Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis
The St. Edward’s University online Master of Education - Applied Behavior Analysis (M.Ed. - ABA) will help you learn how to assess, analyze, and help individuals with autism's abilities and challenging behaviors. Our M.Ed. program will also advance your skills and give you clinical experience in preparation for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Exam.
Degree Plan & Courses
The Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis is a 30-credit hour program that you can complete in 21 months while working full-time. Courses are offered in a 7-week accelerated online format and taken one at a time. The program culminates with experience courses Practicum I: Seminar Course and Practicum II: Supervised Clinical Experience.
Semester 1: Core Coursework
- Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis I
- Foundations of Behavior Analysis (new for Fall 2024)
Semester 2: Core Coursework
- Ethical Issues and Professional Standards in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Behavior Research Methods
Semester 3: Application Coursework
- Functional Behavior Assessment
- Development of Applied Behavioral Analysis Intervention Programs
Semester 4: Application Coursework
- Organizational Behavior Management
- Child Development: A Behavioral Systems Approach
Semester 5: Practicum Coursework
- Practicum I: Seminar Course
- Practicum II: Supervised Clinical Experience
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.
For detailed degree requirements, please see the Graduate Bulletin or request more information.
Learning Goals & Career Outcomes
Learning Goals
With your Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis you will gain:
- A deep understanding of applied concepts and principles of behavior analysis.
- Effective research methods including measurement principles, data analysis and experimental design.
- Ability to understand behavior change in clients and specific procedures to help create positive change.
- Capacity to conceptualize, analyze, and implement effective applied behavior analysis programs.
- Advanced knowledge of the theoretical foundations of ethical and professional conduct.
Career Outcomes
The rising diagnosis rate for children with autism spectrum disorder has led to a demand for specially trained professionals. The career outlook for behavior analysts is strong, with the nationwide growth expected at 19% by 2024. That growth level is considered significantly faster than average by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The demand for BCBAs has also doubled in recent years. With your advanced degree, you will be highly sought for career opportunities in K-12 schools and other professional settings that serve students with developmental and behavioral disorders.
Our Faculty
Cayenne Shpall, Ph.D, BCBA-D, LBA
Dr. Cayenne Shpall is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst that has worked with individuals with disabilities since 2009. She has worked with individuals ranging from 2-30 years of age. Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of settings including school, clinic, communication and home environments where she has consulted with caregivers, teachers, therapists, and community members. In addition to her role as Program Director at St. Edward’s University, she is also a clinician and provides direct supervision to behavior analysts in the field. She is also the Director of Training and Research at Galliant Autism Care. Her research and clinical interests include working with children and their families to develop functional communication, decrease severe challenging behaviors, increase tolerance to delays to reinforcement, increasing social and emotional development, cultivating an assent-based practice of behavior analysis, and collaboration among health service providers.
Molly Oshinski, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Molly Oshinski is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has experience working with ages 2-80 which has given her a unique perspective to always consider the long term effects that therapists can have when working with clients. She is also co-founder and CEO of Pickle System which creates animated video models to teach a large variety of daily living skills to individuals with disabilities. She is a PhD candidate at The University of Texas at Austin with research that focuses on examining the effectiveness of animated video models to teach menstrual care to individuals with autism.
Caroline Roesel, M.Ed., BCBA
Caroline Roesel is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked as a BCBA in the Austin area since 2015. She has worked in early childhood development for 16 years in various roles including teacher, research assistant, and analyst at various clinical and administrative levels. Her work with young children with special needs began while she was earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University in Communication Science and Disorders. She went on to teach in the general education setting before returning to school to earn her graduate degree. During graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, she worked at the UT Meadow’s Center for Preventing Educational Risk with children with a wide range of diagnoses, including autism, ODD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning disabilities. After graduating with a M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders, she continued her studies in applied behavior analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology. After working for 8 years with young children with autism and their families, her work expanded to serving adults living in group homes with a wide range of disabilities, moderate to severe challenging behaviors, and acute psychiatric disorders.
Michelle Kuhn, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Dr. Kuhn is the Chief Clinical Officer at Galliant Autism Care as well as a professor in this program. She has been in the field of special education for over 15 years and has been teaching in higher education for over 5 years. In that time, she has worked in schools, homes, and clinics with individuals from early intervention through adulthood. Her focus has mostly been with individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities and her research focus has been predominantly on social communication and staff training. She is originally from the south side of Chicago and completed both her undergrad and masters at the University of Illinois. She later completed her PhD at the University of Texas. Her teaching philosophy is focused on promoting a real life view of coursework and material. As a teacher, her goal is not just to help you learn textbook lessons, but to help you think about and be able to apply those in real life and communicate to work with the primary people in client’s lives in order to get buy-in and collaboration across the board. With this, she hopes to promote an atmosphere of communication and partnership in class to assist with the use of these skills out of class.
Brandy Windham, SLP, LBA
Brandy is a Speech and Language Pathologist and Licensed Behavior Analyst. She received her degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and started her career as an SLP in the schools. Brandy specializes in early intervention for children with autism and is currently the Executive Director of Building BLOCS, a speech and ABA center in Austin, Texas. Brandy in an instructor at the University of Texas and St. Edward's University. She teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level students in the areas of Communication Interventions, Assessment, Functional Behavior Assessment, Child Development, and Ethics in Behavior Analysis.
How to Apply
We require applicants for the Online Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Review application steps and requirements, as well as important dates:
Application Deadlines & Checklist
Questions? Request information or call 512.326.7501 to learn more.
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Explore the Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
If you want to make a difference for children and young people with autism or other disabilities, the online Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Edward’s University could be right for you. In as few as 14 months, you can develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) in schools and other settings—all while continuing to work in full-time employment.
Check Out This Helpful Q&A with Program Director Cayenne Shpall
The Master of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) degree prepares students to create transformational change in the lives of clients and their families. Program director Cayenne Shpall explains how this program at St. Edward’s University leads to graduates making significant impact.