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Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Maryland

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

Students who want to study applied behavior analysis at the University of Maryland will do so in the Master’s Degree in Human Services Psychology: Applied Behavior Analysis program, which is offered by the Department of Psychology. The university also offers a Special Education, Master of Education (M.Ed.) program with an emphasis in Autism and Severe Disabilities, which is offered within the College of Education. According to the university, studying behavior analysis means learning about the causes of behavior by using scientific methods. Graduates may work in a variety of environments like those in education, mental health facilities, and jobs that deal with patients who have developmental disabilities.

While enrolled in the program, students will take classes like Learning & Cognition, Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis, Measurement in Applied Behavior Analysis, and Interventions in Applied Behavior Analysis. Students will also complete a practicum designed to provide the student with hands-on experience in the evaluation and intervention of patients. Students will create a full treatment program that will begin with the evaluation of a patient and will progress through the entirety of the treatment program. Students won’t write a thesis while in the program and will instead use their practicum as their culminating experience. All classes in the program are held in the late afternoons on weekdays. Classes generally begin around 5:00 and last for about three hours.

Alternatively, students can choose the 30-credit M.Ed. specialty program in autism spectrum disorders and severe disabilities. The program is designed as a part-time experience that students can complete in 2.5 semesters with classes held in the evening. The program is offered in a combination of face-to-face, blended format, and online classroom experiences. Applicants who are accepted are usually Certified Special Educators who have already earned a degree or those working in allied professions like physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or social work. Class requirements include Qualitative Methods in Special Education, Advanced Studies in Inclusive Practices, and Instruction of Students with Severe Disabilities.

Students who want to enroll in either of the University of Maryland programs in applied behavior analysis or autism spectrum disorders should try to graduate from an undergraduate program in psychology with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students must also submit multiple letters of recommendation to qualify for admission. Admission to the University of Maryland programs is highly competitive and requires an excellent academic record. Students who earn a graduate degree in applied behavior analysis may decide to enter a terminal degree program like the Doctoral Program in Applied Developmental Psychology or seek out career advancement in the field.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland began its existence as Maryland Agricultural College in 1856 and has grown to become the flagship institution of the state’s university system. As a public research university located in the city of College Park, Maryland, the university has more than 41,000 students enrolled at its campus, which covers 1,340 acres, as well as through its online programs. The school’s official colors are red, black, white, and gold and the sports teams play as the Terrapins in NCAA Division I games within the Big Ten conference. The university was recently the recipient of a donation of almost $220 million from a philanthropic foundation, which was one of the most significant monetary gifts ever made to a university. Not only is the university a flagship school, but it’s also a land-grant, space-grant, and sea-grant institution.

University of Maryland Accreditation Details

Regional accreditation for the University of Maryland comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is authorized to accredited institutions of higher education by the U.S. Department of Education. The university was last reaccredited in 2007 and began its latest reaffirmation cycle in 2017. Other organizations that have accredited programs at the university include the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, the American Psychological Association’s Committee on Accreditation, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education, and the Council on Education for Public Health. Additional accreditations come from the American Library Association, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

University of Maryland Application Requirements

The University of Maryland receives an extraordinary number of applications each year with more than 32,000 freshmen applications for just 4,300 spots. The average SAT score for a freshman at the University of Maryland is between 1320 to 1480, and the average ACT score is between 30 and 34. Weighted GPAs for first-year students average 4.33 on a 4.00 scale. The university describes its application process as holistic in nature where the admission staff employs 26 unique factors to grade a prospective student’s application. Students may be accepted to the university before they can declare a major and are accepted into the program of their choice. When applying, students must answer an essay question, which will come from a list of five available questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for Maryland residents is $10,425 and non-Maryland residents pay $35,216. A space in an on-campus residence hall is $7,425, a meal plan is $5,004, and the university expects students to pay $1,250 for books and supplies. Transportation and incidental costs are expected to reach approximately $2,522 for the year. In all, the university estimates in-state students will pay $26,796 to attend the University of Maryland and non-residents will pay $51,417 to attend. Graduate tuition for residents is $717 per credit, and tuition for non-residents is $1,548 per credit. Students will also pay fees that will vary from $449 to $810 a year. On average, a 12-credit load will cost a resident $9,414 and a non-resident $19,386.

Students may receive financial aid from a variety of sources when they attend the University of Maryland and will work with the Office of Student Financial Aid for need-based and non-need based aid. Students may receive financial aid in the form of student loans that must be paid back after graduation, as well as grants and scholarships from various sources that don’t need to be repaid. Students may also qualify for Federal Work-Study awards which help students find work on campus while enrolled for classes. Graduate students in programs like those in applied behavior analysis at the University of Maryland may also apply for graduate assistantships and fellowships to help with paying for college.

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