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University of Washington

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Applied Behavior Analysis Programs at the University of Washington

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

One of the top schools on the West Coast for students interested in applied behavior analysis programs is the University of Washington. Its campus is home to the UW Autism Center, which is part of its Center on Human Development and Disability. This center offers resources for parents of children with autism and similar conditions and those who work with people who have behavioral problems in the real world. Students can attend a number of different workshops and special events through the center every year.

The College of Education at the University of Washington offers three programs with an emphasis on ABA. These are all graduate and doctoral programs such as a Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis. This program is unique because it includes the courses that prepare students for working with children in special education settings. Students will also complete the ABA core curriculum suggested by the Board Analyst Certification Board. This course sequence helps prepare students to take the board’s national license exam. The University of Washington reported a passing rate of 85% among its graduates who took this exam in 2017.

Students can earn a Master of Education degree in ABA in one of two ways. They have the option of enrolling in the online program or taking classes on the University of Washington campus. Both programs feature the same classes, including Methods of Applied Behavior Analysis Research, Application of Behavioral Principles, Special Education and Families, Special Education and the Law, Behavioral Measurement and Assessment and Educating Students with Autism. Students must pass a comprehensive exam and do a capstone project too. Both programs also include a practicum. Students will do 25 hours a week during three different quarters in a special education setting for a total of 750 hours of fieldwork. The university allows students to do the ABA course sequence on its own or earn a full degree in special education.

The University of Washington offers one of the only Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education with an option in Applied Behavior Analysis in the western United States. Doctoral students must take classes in special education teaching and research and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0. They will then take an examination. A passing grade ensures that the student becomes a candidate and allows that individual to work towards a doctoral degree. Doctoral students will work with advisors and a committee as they do their dissertation work.

About the University of Washington

Also called UW, the University of Washington is a public university with a flagship campus in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1861, it served as the Territorial University of Washington until 1889 and existed for several years before Washington became an American state. It now has North, South, East and West campuses in different parts of the city that offer courses and special programs for students. Both ARWU and U.S. News and World Report ranked UW within the top 15 of colleges and universities in the United States.

University of Washington Accreditation Details

Two types of specialized accreditation apply to the ABA programs offered by UW. Many of the classes that students take have accreditation from either the American Psychological Association (APA) or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). UW has accreditation from the NWCCU too. Not only does this regional allow UW to accept credits earned from other colleges, but it also allows students to use the FAFSA when they need any type of financial aid.

University of Washington Application Requirements

Graduate students applying to UW must meet different requirements based on whether they want to take ABA courses alone or finish a special education degree. Those interested in the full degree program must apply to the university’s graduate school and meet all requirements for incoming grad students. These requirements include a statement of purpose and unofficial transcripts. The statement of purpose will cover two pages and answer questions about what experience and courses students took that will help them in the program and why they think UW will help them achieve their goals. The university also asks for two letters of recommendation, an official GRE score, and a recent resume. UW will first accept students into its graduate school and then decide who is right for the ABA program.

Any student applying to the doctoral program must take the GRE and submit an official score to the university. UW will only accept scores from those who took the test within the last five years. Students must also submit transcripts that show they have both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They only need to have a 3.0-GPA over the last 90 credit hours of classes they took. A goals statement that also functions as a personal essay is another requirement. UW asks that this statement be between three and five pages. Other requirements for doctoral students include a resume, writing samples, a personal interview with a faculty member and two letters of recommendation. Students applying to the ABA program should also have at least two years of experience working with children who have disabilities and board certification.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Graduate and doctoral students attending UW pay $16,287 in tuition each year if they are Washington residents. Nonresidents, including those in live in Oregon and surrounding states, pay $28,335 each year. Students pay around $800 a year for their books and more than $4,000 a year for their living expenses, including rent and food.

UW offers funding packages for doctoral candidates that will severely reduce the amount they owe. These packages include funds that cover their tuition costs and a stipend that pays their monthly expenses. They also receive insurance through the university, an office to work in on the campus and funds to pay for their travel to conferences and other events. The amount and type of funding awarded may vary based on how much the university has in its budget. Students can also use the FAFSA to get PLUS and standard student loans, but some may want to consider alternative student loans as well. The University of Washington allows students to apply to its applied behavior analysis programs and get financial aid before they look into alternative loans.

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