Applied Behavior Analysis (M.S.) Concentration in Mental Health
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Program Overview
Applied Behavior Analysis (M.S.) Concentration in Mental Health
The Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with a concentration in mental health introduces students to the classification, symptoms and essential characteristics of mental disorders presented according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – Fifth Edition (DSM-5) guide to clinical practice. Distinctive features of our MH concentration include:
- ABA offers firm evidence-based assessments and treatments drawing from rich behavioral traditions, including learning, behavioral foundational approaches, functional analysis of environmental influences, and cognitive behavior approaches.
- Our mental health curriculum targets preventative mental health by offering courses that teach diagnostics as well as assessment and preventative treatment approaches.
- Our mental health curriculum emphasizes a collaborative approach that fits within the contemporary multidisciplinary mental health paradigm where teams of professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, hospital administrators work together for the benefit of each client.
The job projection for mental health service providers is set to grow 22% from 2021-2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Oct 5, 2022). The stigma that surrounded identification and talk about mental health and well-being has subsided, so paired with the increasing economic and life strain the call for specialists to create a climate of well-being has increased. This need has allowed for opportunities for ABA and MH practitioners across:
- Community settings: School and Academic settings, Home, and Neighborhoods
- Populations: Child, Adolescent, Adult
- Organizations: College systems, Criminal Justice systems, Military services
- Symptoms and Mental Health Diagnostics: Behavior Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Sleep-Wake Disorders, Substance-related and Addictive Disorders
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Curriculum
This concentration is for students who wish to satisfy the educational requirements to sit for the BCBA exam and would like to work with adolescents and adults with psychiatric disorders and/or developmental disorders. Elective coursework will focus on the application of behavior analysis to those with mental health disorders, including electives in severe challenging behaviors, specialized functional analysis procedures, and collaboration within mental health settings.
Courses include:
M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
Affordable and accelerated graduate program.