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University of Northern Colorado

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Four UNCO Programs for Applied Behavior Analysis Careers

University of Northern Colorado appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Online Master’s in Educational Psychology.

At McKee Hall, the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences offers the Accelerated 4+1 B.A./M.A. in Educational Psychology for high-achieving University of Northern Colorado Bears interested in researching theories on human learning for real-life applications. Chaired by Dr. Carl Granrud, the 150-credit, five-year curriculum encourages students to pledge Psi Chi, study abroad from China to Croatia, intern at Firefly Autism, and start WiMSSY Lab projects. Online via Canvas, the M.A. in Special Education: Intervention Specialist has an Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis with a 70 percent BCBA certification pass rate for modifying problem childhood behaviors. The 31-credit degree coordinated by Dr. Tracy Mueller builds on a Greeley orientation with eight-week, Web-based courses like Special Education Law and 1,500 total fieldwork hours. There’s also a 19-credit ABA Graduate Certificate online.

Since 1990, the Ed.S. in School Psychology has trained University of Northern Colorado post-grads at the Main or Denver Campus in Lowry for NCSP certification to diagnose cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disorders impacting the lives of young pupils. Headed by Dr. Michelle Athanasiou, the 71-credit, NASP-approved track offers an Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis with 100 percent job placement after 500-hour practicum plus 1,200-hour internship placements, such as Cheyenne Mountain Schools or Boulder Valley Schools. The M.A. in School Counseling prepares National Certified Counselors for assessing individual needs in K-12 settings with daytime Greeley or evening Lowry courses like Substance Abuse. Coordinated by Dr. Heather Helm, the 63-credit, CACREP-accredited plan has 600 internship hours alongside on-site Psychological Services Clinic practice and Chi Sigma Iota membership.

About the University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado originated on April 1, 1889, April Fool’s Day, when Governor Job Adams Cooper signed legislation to create the State Normal School. In Fall 1890, an inaugural class of 96 entered its two-year teaching program. In 1911, it was authorized for Bachelor of Arts degrees and made the Colorado State Teachers College. Graduate programs for a Master of Education soon followed in 1913. On February 16, 1935, the Senate passed Bill 305 naming it the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley. From 1936 to 1941, Centennial author and Pulitzer Prize winner James A. Michener taught social science. In 1957, the Board of Trustees adopted a broader curriculum to launch Colorado State College. Thirteen years later, the University of Northern Colorado title was adopted by Senate Bill 13.

Endowed for $83.4 million, the University of Northern Colorado now employs 744 faculty teaching 12,862 Bears from 52 countries online or face-to-face in the Front Range Urban Corridor with 100+ clubs like the Educational Psychology Society. In 2004, UNCO won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. In 2007, UNCO received the Christa McAluiffe Award for Exemplary Programs in Teacher Education. Northern Colorado was a 2016 Sigma Kappa National Star Chapter Award recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report crowned UNCO the 118th best education school with the 46th top online degrees. On Niche, UNCO boasts America’s 129th top teaching degrees and 176th best dorms. Forbes placed the University of Northern Colorado 579th overall and 210th among public schools. Washington Monthly crowned UNCO the 158th best Western value.

University of Northern Colorado Accreditation Details

On June 22, 2015, the University of Northern Colorado Office of Assessment announced the successful reaffirmation of Level VI accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) that lasts through 2024-25 under its 13th president, Dr. Andrew Feinstein, the James A. Collins Distinguished Chair. Located 974 miles east via Interstate 80 in Chicago, Illinois, this mega 19-state Midwest Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to continually review UNCO’s 48 baccalaureate, 45 master’s, two specialist, and 21 doctoral degrees. Particularly, the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences was accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) until February 2, 2017. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) named its M.A. in Special Education a Verified Course Sequence (VCS). The Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) approved the M.A. in School Counseling on March 1, 1982.

University of Northern Colorado Application Requirements

Entering the University of Northern Colorado is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s though 6,665 of the 7,481 Fall 2017 applicants were selected for 89 percent acceptance. First-year Bears pursuing the Accelerated 4+1 B.A./M.A. in Educational Psychology must finish a high school curriculum with four years each of English and Math. Competitive GPAs of 3.3 and better are recommended. The middle 50th percentile earn ACT scores of 19-25. Mid-range SAT composite marks are 1020-1230. Strong transfer candidates have 24+ accredited college credits at cumulative GPAs above 2.4. The Online M.A. in Special Education: Intervention Specialist with an Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis requires four-year bachelor’s majors in education. Initial K-12 teacher certification and GPAs over 2.75 are mandated. M.A. in School Counseling cohorts need higher bachelor’s GPAs of 3.0. The Ed.S. in School Psychology requires 3.25 GPAs atop minimum 140 Quantitative and 146 Verbal GRE scores.

The University of Northern Colorado has hard deadlines of August 1st, December 1st, and May 1st for Accelerated 4+1 B.A./M.A. in Educational Psychology students. International learners meeting the 70 TOEFL iBT minimum must apply by May 31st, September 30th, or February 28th. The M.A. in School Counseling and Ed.S. in School Psychology share a December 1st deadline. Online M.A. in Special Education: Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis cohorts can file until May 15th or November 15th. Accordingly, complete the UNCO or Common Application online with the $50 non-refundable fee. Forward official transcripts to 1051 22nd Street in Greeley, CO 80634. If under age 23, submit testing reports with SAT code 4074 or ACT code 0502. Compile items like the two recommendations, résumé or CV, teacher certification, two-page purpose statement, supplementary data sheet, and passport copy. Ask further questions at (970) 351-2881 or admissions@unco.edu.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, the University of Northern Colorado charged full-time Centennial State undergrads $9,918 annually. Non-resident B.A. in Psychology tuition was $21,786 per year. The Western Undergraduate Exchange dropped the rate to $16,758. Residing at the Greeley campus’ dorms like Harrison Hall added $5,090 to $6,916 for yearly housing. Unlimited meal plans for Holmes Dining Hall were $3,175 extra per semester. UNCO budgeted $1,350 for books and supplies. Annual bachelor’s attendance equaled $22,472 in-state, $29,312 for Westerners, and $34,340 out-of-state. The M.A. in Counseling and Ed.S. in School Psychology billed Coloradoans $587 per credit or $5,283 each term. Non-residents spent $1,122 per credit or $10,098 by semester. The M.A. in Special Education: Applied Behavior Analysis Emphasis cost $520 per credit online or $16,120 total.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Carter Hall Room 1005 connects 68 percent of full-time UNCO Bears to tuition assistance averaging $7,710 each for $52.42 million combined. University funds include the Flood & Peterson Scholarship, Cross Family Memorial Scholarship, Fleta Craig Memorial Scholarship, Arthur & June Reynolds Graduate Scholarship, Arno Luker Psychology and Counseling Scholarship, Violet Elliott Stenson Education Award, Dr. Jack Shaw Scholarship, Bernie Kinnick Higher Education Award, Cosmo & Antoinette Guido Research Scholarship, and Greeley Promise Scholarship. The Trustee Scholarship gifts $6,000 annually to freshmen exceeding the 29 ACT or 1330 SAT minimum. The $1,000 Graduate Dean’s Scholarship supports master’s and Ed.S. students with cumulative GPAs above 3.2. Federal aid resources, including the Teach Grant and Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, require FAFSA applications coded 001349. Coloradoans also pursue the Graduate Grant, LEAP Grant, Opportunity Scholarship, Centennial Scholars Program, PACE Teacher Scholarship, and more.

Learn more about the University of Northern Colorado at the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences website.

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