Behavior Analysis

Master's Degree Program

College of Public Affairs and Community Service

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 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.

Opportunities for graduate studies

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service offers an innovative program in applied behavioral and social sciences. Our Master’s of Science degree in Behavior Analysis is a unique program 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 provides training in behavior analysis that enables you to seek professional employment upon graduation or to pursue a doctoral degree. You will gain:

• knowledge of principles, theory and research methods of applied behavior analysis and the experimental analysis of behavior
• procedures for systematic application of behavioral technology in natural environments
• practical experience in functional analysis and in designing, implementing and evaluating behavioral intervention programs

In addition to behavior analysis, the college houses programs in anthropology, applied arts and sciences, 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.

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 consultations regarding behavioral interventions and human performance in institutions, business and industry.

The graduate program has been accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis (1219 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, Mich. 49001, 269-492-9310).

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements for the Toulouse Graduate School and the following program requirements:

• complete two behavior analysis prerequisite courses, which may be taken at UNT
• commit to a career in behavior analysis
• attain a recommended 3.4 GPA and acceptable scores on the GRE
• submit three letters of reference and a statement of interest
  

Degree requirements

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. If you are interested in obtaining the M.S. degree as an avenue to doctoral training, you may complete the requirements for 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.

In the applied track, you must complete 48 semester hours including core courses, a thesis, elective courses, practica 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 6 to 9 hours of course work per semester and finish in five to six semesters.

Core courses

• BEHV 5000 Observation and Measurement of Behavior and Environment
• BEHV 5010 Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• BEHV 5020 Theory and Philosophy in Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5100 Introduction to Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5140 Research Methods in Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5150 Techniques in Applied Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5250 Quantitative Methods in Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5810 Practicum

Behavior analysis electives

• BEHV 5250 Topics in Behavior Analysis: Autism I and II, Functional Analysis, Staff Training, Organizational Behavior Management, and other special seminars
• BEHV 5330 Verbal Behavior and the Analysis of Human Behavior
• BEHV 5540 Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Behavior Analysis
• BEHV 5560 Development of Behavior Intervention Programs
• BEHV 5570 Training and Supervision of Staff in Human Service Settings
• BEHV 5900 Special Problems

Research and Applied projects

UNT faculty members are working on several field-related projects, and many have employment opportunities for behavior analysis students.

The Behavior Analysis Resource Center research and treatment team systematically assesses and develops treatment for behavior disorders exhibited by persons with developmental disabilities. This project provides services to residents of the Denton State Supported Living Center and as clients of Denton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation. It also provides training for personnel of the Department of Aging and Developmental Services. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Richard Smith (Rick.Smith@unt.edu)

Direct Assessment, Teaching and Analysis research examines the effects of behavioral interventions on the acquisition, fluency and generalization of academic or communication skills with individuals with or without disabilities. An emphasis is placed on conceptual systematic interventions that enhance some aspect of verbal behavior. Faculty supervisor: Dr. Traci Cihon (traci.cihon@unt.edu)

The North Texas Autism Project offers learning opportunities by providing services that apply behavioral approaches to the treatment of autism. Training opportunities are available in the Family Connections Project, Teaching Partners in Early and Intensive Behavioral Interventions, Distance Education Program and through the Global Learning Community Project. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Shahla Ala’i-Rosales (Shahla.Alai-Rosales@unt.edu)

Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals is a group based out of the behavior analysis department for graduate and undergraduate students interested in gaining experience in animal training. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Jesus Rosales (Jesus.Rosales-Ruiz@unt.edu)

Basic research laboratories

The Beatrice Barrett Neuro-Operant Lab employs a small number of students to run experiments in Dallas using fMRI to measure neural events as learning occurs. Current experiments are being supervised by Dr. Michael Schlund (DBA Research Scientist). Future experiments are planned by Dr. Michael Schlund (schlund@pitt.edu).

Behavior and Culture Lab performs experimental analysis of microsocieties and cultural transmission of individual behavior. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Sigrid Glenn (Sigrid.Glenn@unt.edu).

Behavior Research Laboratory studies the relationship between environmental events, physiological events and verbal behavior and uses biofeedback equipment to monitor physiological responses. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz (Jesus.Rosales-Ruiz@unt.edu)

Human Operant Lab research attempts to understand the processes that underlie complex human behavior such as abstraction, concept formation and remembering. Populations studied typically include developing and developmentally delayed persons of all ages. Areas of focus include stimulus equivalence, short-term remembering and attending. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Manish Vaidya (Manish.Vaidya@unt.edu)

Pigeon Lab research seeks to understand the limits of human-nonhuman similarities and differences by studying the development of complex performances in pigeons. Recent topics have included concept learning and short term remembering. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Manish Vaidya (Manish.Vaidya@unt.edu)

Career opportunities

Behavior analysis comprises a basic science and its associated applications. Applied behavior analysts specialize in applying behavioral principles to solve performance problems, build new behaviors and strengthen existing appropriate behaviors. 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 skill deficits and companies that have difficulties with employee performance.

Graduates from the applied track have worked in various areas:

• autism treatment specialists in autism treatment centers
• behavior analysts with the state school system
• behavior specialists with public schools
• consultants in the performance management division of retail companies
• consultants to public schools and to state agencies for behavioral services
• designers of behavioral programs for juvenile delinquent intervention services
• directors of work teams in hospitals
• management support for electronics and software firms

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, as faculty in universities or as researchers in medical schools, if their doctoral work is in an area such as behavioral pharmacology or behavioral neuroscience.

Financial assistance

Multiple opportunities for financial assistance are available to students in varying amounts each year:

• research assistantships (10 to 20 hours per week)
• part-time employment in faculty-supervised projects (10 to 20 hours per week)
• teaching fellowships for select second-year students
• Donald L. Whaley $1,000 scholarship converting tuition to in-state rate
• Douglas P. Field Graduate Research Scholarship