UNT Home | Graduate Studies | College of Public Affairs and Community Service | Behavior Analysis
Shahla Alai-Rosales, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Kansas, 1998. Applied behavior analysis and autism; early childhood education; parent and teacher training; errorless teaching techniques.
Janet Ellis, Professor; Ph.D., North Texas, 1981. Applied behavior analysis; staff training; parent training; basic research in organizational behavior management; behavioral programs for institutional settings.
Sigrid S. Glenn, Regents Professor; Ph.D., North Texas, 1977. Behavior theory and philosophy; behavioral and cultural evolution; verbal behavior; instructional design and technology.
Cloyd Hyten, Associate Professor; Ph.D., West Virginia, 1986. Organizational behavior management in business and industry; performance consulting; experimental analysis of human behavior; research methodology; belief systems.
Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Kansas, 1995. Applied behavior analysis in the community; experimental analysis of stimulus control; behavior development; generalization processes.
Michael Schlund, Research Scientist III; Ph.D., Auburn, 1995. Neurobiology of learning, memory and behavior therapy; neurobiology of emotion and psychopathology.
Richard G. Smith, Associate Professor and Chair; Ph.D., Florida, 1994. Behavior analysis in developmental disabilities; analysis of basic processes in severe behavior disorders; treatment of self-injurious behavior; parent training and related services.
Manish Vaidya, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Florida, 1999. Basic stimulus control processes; stimulus control technologies; history and philosophy of science.
Janet Ellis, graduate adviser
P.O. Box 310919
Denton, Texas 76203-0919
Chilton Hall, Room 360
Phone: 940-565-565-2274
Fax: 940-565-2467
TTY callers: 940-369-8652
www.unt.edu
www.unt.edu/behv
E-mail: ellis@pacs.unt.edu
940-565-2383 or toll free 888-UNT-GRAD
The College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of North Texas offers an innovative program in applied behavioral and social sciences. In addition to behavior analysis, the college houses programs in anthropology, applied arts and sciences, applied economics, applied gerontology, criminal justice, emergency administration and planning, public administration, rehabilitation, social work, sociology and studies in addictions. Behavior analysis students are encouraged to seek opportunities for interdisciplinary research in these or other fields.
Established in 1971 as the Center for Behavioral Studies, the department has provided undergraduate and graduate courses in behavior analysis since 1984. The master of science degree program began in 1989, and the center became the Department of Behavior Analysis in 1994.
The department was instrumental in founding the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis and remains its headquarters. The department maintains excellent relations with behavior analysts at other major universities and in the non-academic sectors. Faculty members also provide consultation regarding behavioral interventions and human performance in institutions, business and industry.
The M.S. program with a major in behavior analysis is unique in Texas and is one of only a few in the nation. Approximately 75 students are enrolled, and 15 to 20 new students are admitted each fall.
The program is designed to accomplish multiple objectives:
The M.S. program provides the training in behavior analysis that enables you to seek professional employment upon graduation or to pursue a doctoral degree.
You may choose to concentrate in the applied track or the research track. If you plan to work as a behavior analyst upon completion of the M.S. degree, you should finish requirements for the applied track. Obtaining the M.S. degree as an avenue to doctoral training may complete the requirements of the applied or research track depending on your long-term goals. No matter which track you wish to pursue, you must complete a thesis and take core curriculum and elective courses tailored to your interests.
The graduate program has been accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis (1219 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, Mich. 49001, 269-492-9310).
You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the following program requirements:
In the applied track, you must complete 48 semester hours including core courses, a thesis, elective courses, practicums and an internship. Students are placed in internships with well-known behavior analysts throughout the nation.
In the research track, you are required to complete 42 semester hours in the same categories without an internship or the complete practicum sequence. Full- or part-time study is possible, as long as a satisfactory pace is maintained. Ordinarily, students take a minimum of 6 hours per semester and finish in five to eight semesters.
6 hours in any field
Applied track only
Laboratory or applied experimental research
UNT faculty members are working on several field-related projects, and many have employment opportunities for behavior analysis students:
BATSS Behavioral Assessment and Technology Support System (Janet Ellis, professor) Designs and implements behavior programs to help school-children with severe behavior disorders.
Behavior Analysis Resource Center Denton State School (Richard Smith, associate professor and chair) Conducts service, learning and research activities with residents of Denton State School.
Behavior Analysis Resource Center Behavior Management And Parenting Services (Smith) Conducts parent training and direct intervention services to prevent child maltreatment.
EPIC Eagle Performance Improvement Consultants (Cloyd Hyten, associate professor) Provides performance-oriented management consulting to area companies.
Instructional Technology Lab (Sigrid Glenn, Regents Professor, and Leslie Burkett, program/project coordinator) Develops multimedia behavior analysis courses for Internet delivery.
North Texas Autism Project (Shahla Ala'i-Rosales, assistant professor) Trains students to develop, implement, supervise and evaluate early intervention programs for children with autism.
ORCA Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, associate professor) Designs and implements animal training programs for pets and zoo animals.
READY Repertoire Enhancement and Development with Youth (Rosales-Ruiz) Works with at-risk youngsters to further develop their pro-social and personal behavior.
Teaching Assistants/Fellows (Hyten) Develops teaching and presentation skills through meetings, feedback and teaching of undergraduate behavior analysis classes.
Basic research laboratories The department operates four basic research laboratories, including human and pigeon behavior research labs under the direction of Rosales-Ruiz, Hyten and Manish Vaidya, associate professor, and the Behavior and Culture Lab under the direction of Glenn. Michael Schlund, research scientist, and several faculty members participate in research on neuro-operant relations funded by the Beatrice H. Barrett Research Endowment.
Behavior analysis comprises a basic science and its associated applications. Applied behavior analysts specialize in applying behavioral principles to solve performance problems, build new behavior and strengthen existing appropriate behavior. Career choices are varied because expertise in measuring, analyzing and changing behavior is needed in many areas.
Behavior analysts work in schools, universities, human service settings, business and industry, and government agencies. Clients include children with autism, students with academic skills deficits and companies that have difficulties with employee performance.
Graduates from the applied track have worked in various areas:
Many UNT graduates pursue doctoral studies in basic research fields or applied fields at top universities. The M.S. program provides excellent preparation for pursuing doctoral study. Behavior analysts with doctoral degrees have careers as consultants in the private sector, faculty in universities or researchers in medical schools if their doctoral work is in an area such as behavioral pharmacology.
Multiple opportunities for financial assistance are available to students in varying amounts each year: