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Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida State University

Florida State University appears in our ranking of the 10 Best ABA Master’s Degree Programs in the East.

Studying Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida State University means applying to the graduate program from the Department of Psychology. Students who want to apply to the Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis will receive paid assistantship placements and tuition waivers when they’re accepted with work conducted at approved behavior analytic agencies. Before gaining full acceptance into the program, students must complete several credit hours of undergraduate courses that include General Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Research Methods, Conditioning & Learning, and Developmental Psychology.

Not only must students apply to the university to enroll in the graduate psychology program, but they must also apply to the Department of Psychology. To graduate with a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, students must complete 39 credits with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75, which is equal to a B- on a letter scale. At the start of the program, students will take classes in the basic principles of behavior with Basic Principles of Behavior and Basic Methods of Applied Behavior Analysis. Students will then take classes on subjects that are in great demand for individuals working in ABA environments. Those classes include Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities & Autism, Behavior Analysis in Education, and Behavior Analysis in Performance Management & Supervision.

Students will also take classes on theory, research, ethics, and professional issues in applied behavior analysis. Classes may include Ethical & Professional Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Students who enroll in the program can expect to spend five semesters earning their degree. The university expects that students will move to Florida and gain Florida residency status by the time their third semester begins. During each semester of study, students will consult the official Applied Behavior Analysis Handbook, which is a document created for the program by the university’s Department of Psychology.

Throughout five semesters, students will enroll in three Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum sessions in the summer of the first year, the fall of the second year, and spring of the second year. These classes are meant to be taken sequentially and will require the student to spend time in professional settings under the guidance of someone certified in applied behavior analysis. Students who are enrolled in undergraduate psychology programs and want to eventually enter the Florida State University program in ABA should make sure to take an applied behavior analysis course while earning their bachelor’s degrees.

About Florida State University

Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and is part of the State University System in the State of Florida. The school was founded in 1851 and is the oldest university in the state that has been under continuous operation. The school is a space-grant and sea-grant university and is also part of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Around 42,000 students attend classes at Florida State University, and the school has an economic impact of more than $10 billion on the local economy. The school’s official colors are gold and garnet, and the sports teams play as the Seminoles in Division I games within the NCAA.

Florida State University Accreditation Details

The regional accreditation organization for Florida State University is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, which enables the school to award doctoral, specialist, master’s, and baccalaureate degrees. Several colleges within the university and their programs are also accredited by specialized agencies. Accrediting agencies include the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, the American Chemical Society, and the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Also accrediting programs at the university are the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech/Language Pathology, the American Library Association, and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The entire College of Business and all of its programs are accredited. The graduate program in applied behavior analysis from the Department of Psychology is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Florida State University Application Requirements

Applicants for admission to Florida State University must meet minimum requirements for high school units in English, math, and other areas, as well as submit standardized test scores, an application fee, and the official application. Application requirements for the graduate ABA program include submitting an official transcript from every university or college attended, scores from the graduate standardized test, and a residency form for those who must submit that form. Minimum admission standards including having earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and having a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all classes attempted. Students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree must show evidence of pending graduation date. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline so that they may qualify for assistantships, university fellowships, special funding opportunities, and tuition waivers.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students who attend Florida State University and have Florida residency will pay an estimated $18,332 for tuition and all other costs associated with attending the school. Out-of-state students will pay an estimated $33,499. When just tuition and fees are considered, in-state students will pay $6,516, and out-of-state students will pay $21,683. Housing costs for all students who decide to live on campus are estimated to cost $6,620, and student should expect to pay around $1,000 for books and supplies. There are a variety of meal plans available, but the school suggests the average student pays $4,196 for a meal plan for the year. Students who enroll in graduate programs will pay per credit hour and will pay $479.32 if they live in Florida or $1,110.72 if they’re an out-of-state student.

Financial aid for students at Florida State University is available through the federal student loan program, and qualified applicants must submit a FAFSA form to receive a financial aid award letter. A financial aid award may include scholarships, grants, and loans. Some students may qualify for tuition waivers based on their academic standing and residency status with available waivers offered for Florida residents and students living in southwest Georgia. Students may also qualify for athletic scholarships, scholarships for Air Force, Navy, and Army ROTC participation, and the Florida State Service Scholar Program. Students with excellent academic history may be eligible to participate in the Southern Scholarship Foundation (SSF) program. Students who want to enroll in Florida State University’s applied behavior analysis program will want to apply early to qualify for fellowships and possible tuition waivers.

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