Missouri Baptist University - ABA Degree Programs

ABA Programs Offered at Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Online Master’s in School Counseling.

Though Missouri Baptist University does not offer a standard applied behavior analysis (ABA) program, it offers programs in several related fields. One is a behavioral science major, which includes courses in psychology, sociology and human services. Majors must take one advanced math course and do an internship that is worth three credits. Some of the other courses that behavioral science majors take include Introduction to Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, General Psychology, and Social Psychology.

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology is also available, which allows students to look at what effects the behaviors and thoughts of individuals. It includes courses that go over human development too. Majors must demonstrate proficiency in communications and take several fine arts classes such as Introduction to Theatre and Appreciation of Film. General Psychology, Personal Adjustment, Advanced General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Human Growth and Development are some of the required courses. Missouri Baptist University also offers psychology majors the chance to study different psychology disciplines, including social and developmental psychology as well as cognitive psychology. Undergraduate majors must do an internship too.

Two graduate programs can prepare students for working with those on the autism spectrum. One is a Master of Social Work (MSW) program that allows students to take classes through synchronous courses that are available on the web or traditional classes on the campus. Students take 30 credits of social work courses and 30 credits of advanced courses. Those who have a bachelor’s degree in social work or several years of professional experience can often skip the first 30 credits and only take the last 30 credits. There are internship and practicum opportunities available through local agencies also.

Also available is an online specialist degree program in curriculum and instruction. Graduates can work with teachers to help them understand the issues of working with children who have special needs. They can also work directly with those students and design a curriculum that works around their needs. Incoming students do not need a teaching license to enroll in the program but will need a bachelor’s degree in education. The online program includes courses that ask students to use their religious backgrounds as they become specialists. An online Master of Arts: School Counseling is also available.

About Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University is a private university affiliated with the Southern Baptists through the Missouri Baptist Convention. Established in 1957, the university opened as a small extension school affiliated with Hannibal-LaGrange College. It served as a Christian college and offered classes for a little more than 60 students. Known as St. Louis Bible College for many years, enrollment was so low that it held classes in the Tower Grove Baptist Church. By the 1960s, the college outgrew the church and designed a separate campus. This would lead to a rapid rise in enrollment and a change to Missouri Baptist University or MBU.

MBU now offers degree programs for undergrads and graduate students as well as doctoral programs. It has a School of Education, School of Nursing and School of Business as well as multiple divisions that oversee other tracks. Missouri Baptist University has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students today, including 1,200 undergrads on the main campus.

Missouri Baptist University Accreditation Details

The MBU education programs have accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This shows students that their courses will prepare them to work in the education field. MBU also has regional accreditation that comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Students who wish to apply for financial aid can do so due to that accreditation, which lets them use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s the same accreditation that allows students to transfer college credits to an MBU APA program.

Missouri Baptist University Application Requirements

Students who want to learn more about behavioral science or education programs at MBU can use the university’s information request form first. MBU counselors will contact students and talk about the requirements of those programs and how to apply for admission and financial aid. The main requirements for incoming undergraduate include a completed application, ACT score, and high school transcript. Students can submit an SAT score instead. They need to score 20 on the ACT or 1030 on all sections of the SAT. They will also need to provide a letter of recommendation. MBU requires that transcripts come in sealed envelopes from the students’ schools.

Graduate students can also apply online. All MBU applications are available for free and do not charge a processing fee. The university only charges a fee if students apply via the paper application, which charges a $35 fee. Grad students need to complete the FAFSA and have their colleges send in their official transcripts to show the university that they have bachelor’s degrees. They need to submit at least one letter of recommendation from a past teacher, but some programs will ask for up to three letters of recommendation from both employers and teachers. The university requires a double spaced personal statement of 900 words too. Select programs will also ask for an interview or other information.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time MBU undergrads pay $13,430 each semester and fees of $680 every semester. Students who travel to the campus need to purchase a parking pass for $29 too. Part-time undergrads pay $929 per credit for their classes. Both dorm rooms and apartments are available for on-campus students. They’ll pay a minimum of $4,425 each semester for a dorm room, which comes with a plan that gives them 15 meals each week. Graduate students in most MBU programs pay $618 per credit. In the specialist online program, they pay $637 per credit.

MBU offers customized financial aid packages designed to meet the needs of a specific student. It begins designing those packages as soon as it receives copies of the FAFSA. Students qualify for programs designed for veterans, loans, grants, and scholarships. Full tuition scholarships go to students with an ACT score of 30 or higher and a minimum GPA of 3.6. There are other scholarships worth $10,000 per year for students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher and a minimum ACT score of 18. Students applying to the ABA and similar degree programs at Missouri Baptist University apply for scholarships and other financial aid at the same time.