Behavior Analysis

Master's 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 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.

Opportunities for graduate studies

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:

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

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).

Admission requirements

You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies 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 two letters of reference and a statement of interest

Degree 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.

Curriculum

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, Organizational Behavior Management, Advanced OBM 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

Free electives

6 hours in any field

Practicum and internship

Applied track only

Thesis

Laboratory or applied experimental research

Applied projects

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.

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 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:

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

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