University of Colorado - ABA Degree Programs

Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Available at the University of Colorado

University of Colorado appears in our ranking of the 20 Most Affordable Online ABA Graduate Certificate Programs.

The University of Colorado can help students study applied behavior analysis both online and on campus. Through the School of Education and Human Development on the Denver campus, students can choose from two different programs. Both have the approval to operate in Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Washington DC.

The online ABA certificate program features six courses that follow the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) standards. Students will take Introduction to ABA and Terminology, ABA Data and ABA Practical Applications. Once they complete all six classes, they can take the BACB licensing exam.

Also available from the Denver campus is a special education endorsement that teachers can add to their licenses. This program accepts any student with a valid teaching license in Colorado. It features nine classes and an offline internship for a total of 24 credits. During their internships, students will take a seminar to talk about what they learned in the field and to discuss their experiences with their peers. This program features Advanced Assessment in Special Education, Collaborating in Schools and Communities, Literacy Intervention for Students with Disabilities and similar courses.

Two of the university’s graduate programs can help those who want to work in the ABA field. The first is the behavioral neuroscience program, which focuses on how the brain affects how people act. It allows students to work with their advisors to design a curriculum based on their interests and experiences. Majors will take both a preliminary examination and a comprehensive examination and do a dissertation. The second program focuses on human behavior and genetics, including how a person’s genes can change the way they act and how different conditions pass along family lines.

Students may find the university’s special education helpful, especially if they want to work with ABA clients in school settings. This is a Master of Arts (MA) program with a general track that takes up to four years to complete. Majors can personalize their programs to fit where or how they want to work and learn how to work with students who have autism or are on the spectrum. Some of the classes in this program include Universal Design for Learning; Literacy Interventions for Exceptional Learners; Family, Professional, and Community Collaborations; and Slashing Stigmas: Promoting Positive Behaviors. Students also need to take a research course and an advanced seminar.

About the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado is a universal system located in Colorado that has four physical campuses and a large online division. Established in 1876, the system consists of a flagship campus in Boulder called CU Boulder and a large campus in Denver called CU Boulder. The CU abbreviation also describes the whole university system. Students on the flagship campus can enroll in more than 100 degree programs and choose from more than 30,000 classes. Many of the ABA programs that the system offers are available through the University of Colorado Anschultz Medical Campus in Aurora, which has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students. Across all CU campuses, the system has a total enrollment of more than 64,000 students and offers more than 200 degree and certificate programs.

University of Colorado Accreditation Details

Any student attending a CU campus can get financial aid, including those who sign up for online programs. They need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when they use the university’s application. This form is available to students because all CU campuses have accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). With this regional accreditation, they can also transfer credits between CU campuses and other schools.

University of Colorado Application Requirements

Students applying to the special education program need to meet one of the deadlines that include June first for the fall semester and November first for the spring semester. They need to supply official transcripts from each college they attended and three letters of recommendation. CU also requires a $50 application fee, resume and three letters of recommendation. A written statement is another requirement and asks students to list any goals they have while they’re in the program and the goals they have that will help them with their studies. They also need to pay a $50 application fee. Once students finish the application, CU will determine which meets its requirements. It will then bring those students in for an interview before making a final decision on each application.

The ABA program has similar requirements, including letters of recommendation and a resume that shows any experience the student has in ABA work. Through the university’s endorsement program, students can add an endorsement and work in a special education classroom. This program asks for a copy of the student’s license and will only accept those licensed to teach in Colorado.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students can avoid any tuition increases each year because of the CU Tuition Guarantee, which states that it will freeze the tuition rate for four years at the rate that the student pays in the first year. Tuition for graduate students ranges from $4377 to $1,255 per credit hour for residents and non-residents. Residents of any other state in the western region pay $566 per credit. Nonresidents who want to enroll in an online program will pay only $452 per credit. The university also charges just $377 for students in the ABA online certificate program.

Very few students could afford to attend the university without financial aid. As long as they apply to the university and submit the FAFSA by the posted deadline, the student can get a financial aid package. Scholarships are popular with those who don’t want to worry about paying back money later, as are grants. With scholarships designed for those who demonstrate merit and those who have a high need, many students will get some of these funds. There are also grants and loans for worthy students as well as work-study. All the CU campuses have work-study opportunities available for graduate students, which can include assistantships. They can also use any of the loans they qualify for such as alternative and unsubsidized federal loans. Any student with an interest in studying ABA and enrolling in related degree programs at the University of Colorado can get a financial aid package.