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Mission Statement for the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis

Spring 2026

The mission of the Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is to create and sustain a meaningful, accessible online-learning environment that prepares masters-level scientist-practitioners to utilize applied behavior analysis to the improve quality of life for autistics/people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with CARE (compassion, analysis, responsiveness, and effectiveness).

Vision and Aspirations for the MA in ABA degree at UNT 

As an academic unit, we strive for excellence and aspire to positively impact the world in several ways. Our goals are to: (a) contribute to the quality of clinical, educational, and habilitative services for autistics/people with ASD and people with IDD; (b) increase collaboration between behavior analysts and clients, stakeholders (e.g., families, guardians, teachers, direct care staff), allied professions (e.g., speech language pathology, occupational therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school psychology, special education, social work, medicine), and the community (e.g., autistic advocates, policy makers) in pursuit of common goals that prioritize the well-being and respect the individuality of autistics/people with ASD and people with IDD; (c) nurture leaders who are active contributors to the field and discipline and create positive generational change; and (d) lead innovation and development of online pedagogy through continuous, evidence-based improvement of our practices. 

Shared Values that Guide the MA in ABA degree at UNT

As faculty and students, we share common values that shape the priorities and standards of our MA in ABA program. These values include behaving with honesty and integrity in all activities and contexts; treating clients, students, faculty, and others with compassion and kindness; and championing fairness, consistency, and a supportive environment for all. As individuals and a group, we value improvement based on critical thinking and the scientific method, responsiveness to individuals and their contexts, effectiveness and accountability for processes and outcomes, the use of quality of life as a compass for instruction and intervention design, and responsibility for creating lasting change and generational progress. 

For Whom the MA in ABA degree at UNT is Designed

Students who are successful in our MA in ABA program are currently practicing, highly motivated, focused, and self-directed professionals who seek a high-quality, competency-based MA in ABA program that centers improving quality of life for the people they serve, is completely online in an accessible and asynchronous learning environment and has a high first-time pass rate for the BACB certification exam. Students who are a good fit for our MA in ABA program are eager to learn content specific to the needs of autistics/individuals with ASD and individuals with IDD across the lifespan that considers the whole person and is grounded in strong humanitarian and scientific approaches to human behavior.

What Students in our MA in ABA Degree Program Learn

Students in our MA in ABA program encounter content that is grounded in the current disciplinary and certification guidelines. Our courses are founded in a behavior-analytic and dynamic-systems conceptual framework. We incorporate knowledge and competencies related to effective and compassionate evidence-based interventions that emphasize a quality of life that is person-centered and relationship-based and includes important people in an individual’s life (e.g., caregivers, siblings, educators, friends, community). Throughout the MA in ABA program, we teach students to become scientist-practitioners who engage in reflective practices and gain population (ASD/IDD) specific understanding, knowledge, and skills. Students learn how to strategically approach case conceptualization, decision making, and problem solving in their practice by integrating, synthesizing, and extending beyond the BACB task list and APBA accreditation requirements. 

How we Teach our MA in ABA Degree Students

The pedagogy of MA in ABA program includes methods grounded in the science of behavior and evidence-based online instructional strategies. We build our asynchronous courses with synchronous support from instructors and assistants so that our online coursework is accessible to students of diverse experiences, identities, and environments. Our teaching methods require active engagement and incorporate project-based learning grounded in application and competency. Our instructors provide frequent, encouraging, and improvement-oriented feedback to students to show we care for our students’ well-being and progress. Our instructors regularly analyze successes in our courses and complete error analyses to inform instructional content and design. Using student feedback, student performance, and exam outcomes, our instructors respond to course needs and make ongoing improvements to provide students with a high-quality, rigorous online degree program.

Program Goals

The program prepares student to:

1. Apply behavior-analytic principles to assess and improve behavior in real-world contexts.

2. Design, implement, and evaluate interventions using data-based decision making.

3. Engage in ethical, effective, and collaborative professional practice that prioritizes quality of life.

 

 


Our online program offers asynchronous courses leading to a Master of Arts (MA) degree or Graduate Academic Certificate (GAC) in Applied Behavior Analysis. When combined with supervised fieldwork that is obtained outside our program, you will be eligible to take the national Board Certified Behavior Analysis (BCBA) exam administered by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). Obtaining BCBA certification meets the criteria to become Texas Licensed Behavior Analysts (TX-LBA). If you are located outside of Texas, please refer to the US Licensure of Behavior Analysts section on the BACB website.