University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

ABA Programs at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater appears in our ranking of the 20 Most Affordable Online ABA Graduate Certificate Programs.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has three major degree programs that relate to applied behavior analysis (ABA). One is a certificate in ABA that follows a course sequence to prepare students for the licensing exam offered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Students take two classes in the fall and spring terms and three classes in the final summer semester. Those classes include Behavior Assessment, Research Methods, Behavior Change Procedures, and Philosophy of ABA. The university also allows students to combine the ABA certificate with a master’s degree.

To get a graduate degree, students must meet all the requirements of the Master of Science (MS) in Special Education program. This program includes an option for students who do not have their teaching licenses. It requires that they take 36 credits of classes over three years. Graduate students will take classes during the summer terms and at night during the other terms. Theory and Foundations of Special Education, Advanced Behavior, Inclusive Methods, Assessment and Professional Collaborations are some of the program’s required courses. Students will also do two internships and a practicum.

Another version of this program is available for students who have a teaching license and focuses on professional development. As long as students maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and make progress towards their degrees, they can stay in the program. The university offers this as an online program that features four semesters of classes, including two summer terms. Those courses include Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, Advanced Behavior Management, and Ethical Practice in ABA. Advanced Methods and Advanced Applications of ABA are courses available for students who want to focus on ABA work.

Both graduate programs allow students to earn an online autism specialist certificate too. It includes three classes that students take in the summer and one course that they take in the fall and spring semesters. Foundations of Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, Methods of Autism, Action Research and Applied Action Research are the seven classes that they need to take to complete this certificate.

Also available is a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in School Psychology, which helps students gain the skills necessary to work with others in public and private schools. The master’s program allows students to do a thesis or take a comprehensive exam to graduate. They’ll also take three assessment classes as well as Learning in Educational Contexts, Research Design and Program Assessment, Advanced Child Development and other courses. Students can spend another two years at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to earn an education specialist degree. This will require that they take courses such as Behavior Therapy in the School, Consultation and Prevention, Academic Interventions and School Violence and Crisis Management. All school psychology majors will do practicums too.

About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public college that belongs to the University of Wisconsin System. It was founded in 1868 as a teaching school called the Whitewater Normal School and grew to become Whitewater Teachers College by the 1920s, which is when it added bachelor’s programs. It also served as Wisconsin State College-Whitewater for several years before becoming the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater or UW-Whitewater. The Whitewater Campus is home to Hyer Hall, which contains a portion of Old Main, which was one of the first buildings on the campus. Students can spend time in the Jitters Coffee Lounge and work The Royal Purple and gain newspaper writing and editing experience. Between the ABA, school psychology and other graduate programs, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has an enrollment of more than 1,200 graduate students.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Accreditation Details

The National Association of School Psychologists granted accreditation to UW-Whitewater for the school psychology program. Its ABA programs follow the established course sequence for students who plan on taking the ABA licensing exam. UW-Whitewater also holds regional accreditation, which comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This allows ABA students to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get federal and state aid on top of the help they get from the university.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Application Requirements

UW-Whitewater has advisors who can help students with the application process. Those applying to the MS program need a passing score on the PRAXIS exam for teachers and proof that they can pass a criminal background check. They also need a minimum GPA of 2.7 in an undergraduate program and a bachelor’s degree. The application goes live around the beginning of September and closes at the end of the month. Similar deadlines are in place for students who want to start in other semesters. Both the certificate and degree programs ask for letters of recommendation and college transcripts too.

Students applying to the school psychology program must complete the application by the middle of February. They either need a GPA of 3.0 or a lower GPA with a minimum of one year of experience in the education field. The university will also consider students who have education certificates or strong letters of recommendation from their professional references. UW-Whitewater looks for students who took psychology courses and other prerequisites in college and accepts students who already have graduate degrees. Students must send their transcripts to the School of Graduate Studies, complete the application and create an autobiographical statement. The program requires three letters of recommendation also.

Tuition and Financial Aid

At UW-Whitewater, graduate students pay $495.95 per credit hour as a Wisconsin resident and $1,023.64 as a nonresident. Full-time students pay $4,463.54 each term as a resident and $9,212.75 as a nonresident. Part-time students can take fewer courses, but full-time students must take a minimum of nine credits every semester. Students who want to use loans can complete the FAFSA and get the unsubsidized loans offered by the federal government.

Help is also available in the form of different programs offered by UW-Whitewater. This includes the assistantships that give students more than $10,000 a year in exchange for working up to 15 hours a week. The Advanced Opportunity Program gives grants to minority students and is available for both residents and non-residents. Fellowships and scholarships go to a handful of students every year too. All of these programs are open to students applying to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ABA programs.