UMBC Psychology Department

• 1: General Info
  • 1.1: Directory
  • 1.2: Academic Calendar
  • 1.3: Contact Us
  • 1.4: Mission Statement
  • 1.5: Welcome From the Chair
• 2: News & Events
  • 2.1: Newsletter
  • 2.2: Job Openings
  • 2.3: Lecture Series
  • 2.4: Photo Gallery
  • 2.5: Calendar of Events
• 3: People
  • 3.1: Emeritus Faculty
  • 3.2: Faculty
  • 3.3: Faculty on Administrative Assignment
  • 3.4: Graduate Students
  • 3.5: Part-Time Faculty
  • 3.6: Research Associates
  • 3.7: Staff
• 4: Research
  • 4.1: Pediatrics Psychology Lab
  • 4.2: The Habits Lab
  • 4.3: CCAD Lab
  • 4.4: Laughter Lab
  • 4.5: Social Development Lab
• 5: Undergraduate Program
  • 5.1: Academic Advising
    • 5.1.1: Curriculum Information
    • 5.1.2: Advisor List
    • 5.1.3: Role of the Advisor and Advisee
    • 5.1.4: Resources
  • 5.2: Honors Program
  • 5.3: Major/Minor Requirements
    • 5.3.1: B.A. Checklist
    • 5.3.2: B.S. Checklist
    • 5.3.3: Minor Program in Psychology
    • 5.3.4: PSYC/SOCY Major
    • 5.3.5: PSYC/SOWK Major
  • 5.4: Concentrations
    • 5.4.1: Developmental Psychology
    • 5.4.2: Human Services
    • 5.4.3: Biopsychology
    • 5.4.4: Personnel and Industrial Psychology
  • 5.5: Independent Research
  • 5.6: Research Opportunities
  • 5.7: Undergraduate Admissions
  • 5.8: Career Information
  • 5.9: Graduate School Preparation
  • 5.10: Psi Chi
    • 5.10.1: Membership Benefits
    • 5.10.2: How to Join
  • 5.11: Life After UMBC
  • 5.12: Courses
• 6: Graduate Program
  • 6.1: General Information
  • 6.2: Graduate School
  • 6.3: Applied Behavior Analysis
    • 6.3.1: Program Admission
    • 6.3.2: Program Requirements
    • 6.3.3: Sample Program
    • 6.3.4: Faculty
    • 6.3.5: Contact Information
  • 6.4: Applied Developmental Psychology
    • 6.4.1: Program Requirements
    • 6.4.2: Careers in ADP
    • 6.4.3: Faculty
    • 6.4.4: Financial Assistance
    • 6.4.5: FAQs
    • 6.4.6: Contact Information
  • 6.5: Human Services Psychology
    • 6.5.1: Program Admission
    • 6.5.2: Program Requirements
    • 6.5.3: Resources
    • 6.5.4: Outplacement Success
    • 6.5.5: Faculty
    • 6.5.6: Financial Assistance
    • 6.5.7: FAQs
    • 6.5.8: Contact Information
  • 6.6: Courses
  • 6.7: Request Information
• 7: Alumni
• 8: Contact Us

ABA Requirements

Students complete course work in basic and applied analysis of behavior, behavioral treatment design and data evaluation, the ethics of behavioral interventions, and practicum placement for hands-on experience with relevant behavioral procedures. In place of a master's thesis, students complete a full behavioral intervention using the skills acquired in the program.

The requirements total 36 credit hours consisting of the courses listed below. Consult the current UMBC Graduate School catalog for detailed departmental course listings as well as for tuition and fees, housing and other important information for prospective students. 

Behavior Analysis courses: (5 courses; 15 credit hours)

• PSYC 605: Learning and Cognition
• PSYC 615: Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis: Design of Interventions
• PSYC 616: Measurement in Applied Behavior Analysis: Observation and Assessment
• PSYC 655: Advanced Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Elective in behavior analysis: Offerings have included Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Organizational Behavior Management, and Verbal Behavior.

Other courses (3 courses; 9 credit hours)

• Biological bases of behavior: preferably PSYC 604, Biological Basis of Behavioral Development. Other options include PSYC 665, Behavior Pharmacology
• Social bases of behavior: PSYC 635: Community Psychology, or PSYC 656: Applied Social Psychology, or PSYC 781: Social Development.
• General elective (may be ABA or other)

On-site training courses at the Kennedy Krieger Institute or other approved site(4 courses; 12 credit hours)

• Practicum (PSYC 693-694)
• Intervention Research and Evaluation (PSYC 793-794)

The practicum gives students hands-on experience with applied behavior analysis evaluation and intervention. The intervention sequence serves as a capstone course in which students are expected to develop, write up, and carry through a full treatment program from incoming evaluation through development of intervention protocols to evaluation of outcomes. The practicum serves in the place of what might otherwise be a thesis; successful applications typically depend on known procedures rather than on treatment or applied intervention innovations, so this course provides critical preparation for subsequent applied work. Students interested in completing an intervention project that is based on original research in applied behavior analysis, and is therefore functionally similar to a master's thesis, should contact the co-directors of the ABA Program for additional information.