Center for Behavior Analysis Main Office Chilton Hall, 360 P.O. Box 13438 Denton, TX 76203-6438 (817) 565-2274 Sigrid S. Glenn, Director Graduate Faculty: Ellis, Glenn, Hyten. The Center for Behavior Analysis offers a program of general and applied course work leading to the master's degree with a major in behavior analysis. This program prepares students to apply behavioral principles to solve performance problems in work, home, institutional and educational settings. Graduates may work in human service or business settings, or they may go on to doctoral training in one of a number of fields. University library holdings in behavior analysis are extensive. The Donald L. Whaley Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to one or more students in behavior analysis. Research and teaching assistantships are available for qualified students. Students in other fields may minor in behavior analysis. Research Both laboratory and applied research are conducted at the Center for Behavior Analysis, and scholarly work in the theory and philosophy of a science of behavior is ongoing. Applied research in a variety of field settings is supervised by faculty. The center's lab accommodates multiple ongoing experiments in human operant behavior. Current research is in the areas of stimulus equivalence, relations between verbal and physiological measures, choice and rule-governed behavior, work performance of the elderly, functional analysis of self- injurious behavior, behavior fluency, and parent/child relations. Admission Requirements Admission to the master's program in behavior analysis is based on combined information from several sources: GRE scores; undergraduate GPA and, where applicable, GPA in post-baccalaureate courses; letters of recommendation; demonstrated skills and serious interest in behavior analysis (as evidenced by previous course work/grades, completed research and/or applied projects in behavior analysis undertaken at the undergraduate level or in work settings under the supervision of a behavior analyst). Applicants who have GRE scores below a recommended 1000 may be accepted on the basis of their undergraduate record and demonstrated skills, so long as they meet graduate school GRE requirements (see the "Admission" section of this catalog). Similarly, applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than a recommended 3.0 may qualify for admission on the basis of superior performance in research and application and/or an exceptionally high GRE score. The departmental admissions committee considers every applicant on an individual basis in an attempt to ensure that a student who is accepted to the program will be capable of completing the rigorous curriculum. Prerequisites Although no specific undergraduate major is required, an appropriate background is desirable. Students must have a minimum of 6 semester credit hours in behavior analysis, including a course in behavioral principles before beginning course work toward the master's degree. After the first semester of course work, and on a continuing basis, students are advised regarding ways in which they can best achieve the level of expertise required to master the subject matter included in the curriculum. Degree Program Master of Science in Behavior Analysis The purpose of the program is to: -teach principles, theory and research methods of behavior analysis; -teach procedures for systematic application of behavioral technology in applied settings; and -provide practical experience in functional analysis, and designing, implementing and evaluating behavioral applications. The graduate program is designed to enable students to follow either of two career paths upon graduation: 1. Professional employment in the applied field: conduct behavioral assessments and behavioral interventions in human service or business settings, train employees in program interventions and conduct applied research in public and private agencies and institutions; or 2. Doctoral study in behavior analysis: enter PhD programs at other universities to continue advanced study in applied behavior analysis or the experimental analysis of behavior. Students focusing in either area will take courses from a core curriculum, take elective courses tailored to their interests and complete a thesis. Students with disabilities should contact the department office for the name of the graduate adviser. Degree Requirements Students focusing on application will complete 48 semester hours, including 24 hours of core courses and thesis, designated and free elective courses, and 6 hours of practicum/internship. Others will complete 42 semester hours of work in the same categories, but will not have a practicum/internship. Full- or part-time study is possible, as long as a satisfactory pace is maintained. Ordinarily, students will take a minimum of 6 hours per semester and finish in five to eight semesters. Courses of Instruction All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.