Please download and save a copy of the MA Student handbook for your records. We encourage all MA students to review the policies and procedures in the handbook, which are also listed below.

Technology Requirements

Students must have a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or macOS on which they can download programs. A tablet can be used for the majority of the coursework, but some activities will require the use of a downloaded program on a desktop or laptop. (More information and instructions on this will be provided in the individual courses.) A webcam is required for the online proctoring of exams. Beginning in Fall 2026, students will also be required to use a second camera (e.g., a smartphone or tablet) during exams that use Respondus Monitor. The second camera must be a separate device and cannot be an additional webcam connected to the same computer. Chromebooks will not work for some activities and students may have difficulty completing coursework on them.

UNT uses the Canvas Learning Management System, and students are responsible for ensuring that their computers meet Canvas hardware and software requirements. UNT students have free access to Microsoft 365 and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Students will be required to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint throughout the program and must be able to open, print, and occasionally complete PDF documents. 

UNT Policies

General UNT policies for undergraduate and graduate students can be found here. Select the graduate catalog for the year you were admitted into the program. Students are expected to abide by all UNT policies. 

Course Transfer Policy

Applicants to the MA program may request to substitute prior coursework for BEHV 5613 (Ethics) and/or BEHV 5634 (Staff Performance). To be eligible for consideration:

During the admissions process, the applicant must submit the course syllabus from the term in which the course was completed and any other documentation requested by the program. A coursework evaluation will be conducted to determine whether the prior coursework is equivalent to BEHV 5613 and/or BEHV 5634 and may be applied toward the BAO MA degree requirements.

 

The student must receive written approval specifying which BAO course may be replaced before beginning coursework in the BAO program. Approval of prior coursework for degree purposes does not, by itself, establish that all BACB certification eligibility requirements have been satisfied.

Concurrent Enrollment Policy

Classes must be taken in numerical order. MA students can take up to three classes concurrently. Exceptions apply for Summer terms, where a maximum enrollment of two courses is allowed and students placed on Probation Status. See the Pathway 2 Course Grid for more information.

Earning below a B (80%) in any course requires students to take that course again. While retaking a class, students may not take it with any other class for which the one they are retaking is a prerequisite.

Course Performance Requirements

A grade of B (80%) or higher is required in order to pass a class and proceed to the next course(s) in the sequence. Earning lower than a B (80%) is considered failing a course and requires that the student take that course again. See the Concurrent Enrollment Policy for more information.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Please see UNT's information on dropping a class and withdrawing.

Incompletes

No more than one “Incomplete” (‘I') may appear on a student's transcript for any course on the student's degree plan. Students must remove the ‘I' within the time period specified by the instructor, not to exceed one year from the time it is given.

Course Duplications (per UNT policy)

A student may take a course a second or subsequent time.  Students may duplicate graduate courses in which they received a grade of C or lower, for grade replacement. The Registrar’s Office will post duplications at the request of the student, at the request of an academic advisor or upon review of the student’s record. Once a duplication is processed, only the second grade received is included in the student’s cumulative hours attempted and grade points earned.  A single course may only be repeated once for grade replacement. Departments may submit to the Toulouse Graduate School a request for an exception to duplication processing based on extenuating circumstances.

Academic Integrity Policy

See UNT's Academic Integrity Policy.

BAO Academic Integrity Policy

You are responsible for reading and understanding the Academic Integrity Policy and Artificial Intelligence Policy, both linked in your course, as well as the UNT Student Academic Integrity Policy. These documents provide details about what is and is not allowed and penalties that accompany violations.

 Honesty is a core value in the practice of behavior analysis. Progress depends on honesty in data collection, reporting, and documenting. For that reason, academic misconduct is especially troublesome for behavior analysts in training.

 All work in courses must be completed independently and must be your own work in your own words. Unless instructed in writing, copying or paraphrasing content from any person and/or artificial intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited. Written assignments are usually submitted to TurnItIn which screens for both similarity (i.e., plagiarism) and/or misuse of AI.

 If you have previously taken a course, please ask the instructor whether you are allowed to resubmit any work from your previous attempt(s). Using any work from other courses in the sequence is strictly prohibited.

 If academic misconduct is identified on one activity, you will not receive points for the activity. If academic misconduct is identified on a second activity in this course, you will receive an “F” in the course. If academic misconduct is identified more than once, either in the same course or different courses in the sequence, you will be dropped from the program.

BAO Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Artificial Intelligence is defined as any text-generating software (e.g., ChatGPT, iA Writer, Marmot, Botowski, Grammarly). We recognize the positive impact that AI is likely to have during your career, as well as barriers that will prevent meaningful outcomes for those you serve. For instance, in your coursework, you need to independently demonstrate mastery of skills such as analysis, reflection, application, and integration. In our courses, AI use is not permitted unless it is specifically defined in the Artificial Intelligence Policy. The most likely penalties for misuse include a zero on the assignment or an F in the course. A second instance could lead to dismissal from the program.

Academic Status
The term "academic status" is used as an indication of a student's academic standing with the university. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.6 in the initial term of enrollment and a CGPA of 3.0 in all subsequent terms to remain in good academic standing. Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) refers to all graduate courses taken, including hours transferred from other institutions. See UNT's GPA Calculator for more information.

Academic Probation

A graduate student is placed on academic probation at the end of the initial period of enrollment if their CGPA drops below 2.6. A graduate student is placed on academic probation at the end of any subsequent term in which their CGPA falls below a 3.0.

Student Success

If a student is placed on academic probation, they will only be allowed to enroll in two courses per semester until their CGPA is at 3.0 or higher. Continued progress through the program is contingent on passing both courses taken while on probation. See Academic Suspension and Dismissal From the Program for more information.

Academic Suspension

A graduate student who is placed on academic probation who does not receive either a semester or a cumulative 3.0 graduate GPA during the term/semester of probation will be subject to academic suspension for a period of up to one calendar year before becoming eligible to reapply for graduate admission and enroll for further graduate courses. After the one-year period of suspension, students may re-enroll in graduate courses under probation. See UNT's Readmission of Graduate Students Policy for more information. Students who are then suspended a second time without having returned to good academic standing by achieving a CGPA of 3.0 or better will be dismissed from the university. Programs are not required to readmit students who left the university on probation or suspension and reapply.

BAO Readmission Policy

Students who are placed on academic suspension are eligible to reapply to the program after one year (3 semesters). When reapplying, students must go through the same application and admissions process as new applicants to the program. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed; students reapplying to the program will be evaluated in the same way as all other applicants for that semester.

Dismissal From the Program

The UNT Toulouse Graduate School's probation and suspension policies indicate when students are subject to dismissal from the University. If a student feels they have been unfairly dismissed from the program, they can follow the Appeal Process procedures below.

Tuition and Fee Waivers

Several exemptions and waivers are available to qualifying students. Brief descriptions of these and additional information about exemptions and waivers can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

Program Completion

The average time to complete the program is approximately five semesters. To support continuity of learning and timely progress, students are encouraged to maintain continuous enrollment and to plan to complete the program within four years when feasible. In accordance with university graduate policy, all degree requirements must be completed within five years.

Application for Graduation

It is the responsibility of the student to stay abreast of progress toward the degree and to file an application using the MyUNT student portal. Consult the Graduate School's website for the proper dates. The applicant's grade point average on all graduate work attempted must be at least 3.0 for the application to be accepted. Because of the time required for receipt of transcripts, students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their last course or courses elsewhere will not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session/term in which the work is completed but will receive their degree at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester or summer session/term. Students anticipating graduation should apply through MyUNT under Academic Records when graduation applications for that semester opens.

Leave of Absence

Leave of absence applies to students admitted to the master's or doctoral degree who wish to discontinue work toward the degree for a specified period of time due to exigent circumstances. If approved, the leave of absence may “stop the clock” on the time limit for the degree for a maximum of one year. In the case of extenuating circumstances, a leave of absence may be extended for a second year by the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School on the recommendation from the student's committee, graduate coordinator, department chair, or academic associate dean. A leave of absence form must be submitted to the Toulouse Graduate School and must have approval of the student's department chair or academic associate dean prior to submission to the Toulouse Graduate School. Once a student returns from an approved leave of absence of one year or longer, the student must submit an application through Graduate Admissions to reactivate the student record. After application, the student will automatically be readmitted to the prior programs and their time limit for completion of the degree will resume.

Leaves will only be granted under conditions that require suspension of all activities associated with pursuing the degree. Scenarios such as military deployment and medical leave (including childbirth, adoption of a child, or to care for a sick parent) are examples of a leave of absence that may be approved to “stop the clock” on degree time limits. Personal leave may be approved for a leave of absence but will not stop the clock on the degree time limit. (See “Time Limitations” in the master's and doctoral degree requirements sections of this catalog.)

Click here for a Leave of Absence form.

Appeal Process

Students who believe they have not been fairly treated in any aspect of their graduate program have the right of appeal. Students with questions concerning discrimination, grade appeal, academic integrity, disability, financial aid, accommodations, or the Code of Student Conduct must contact the appropriate academic personnel or compliance officer and refer to the appropriate policies. Appeals concerning extension of time to complete a degree should be initiated through the student's major department. Appeals concerning admission to the Toulouse Graduate School are initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Appeals concerning admission to a particular degree program should be initiated through the student's major department. Appeals regarding specific requirements to complete a degree should be initiated through the student's major department. All other appeals should be initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Admission decision and time extension appeals will be handled in a different manner. Information about these processes should be sought from either the student's department or the Office of the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School.

Grade Appeal

Students are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled as well as requirements for completion of their academic programs. Faculty members are responsible for establishing standards of academic performance and for evaluating student performance in an equitable manner. Faculty decisions in such matters are considered authoritative and can be overturned only when it has been determined that a grade was assigned in an inequitable, arbitrary, or erroneous manner. This policy outlines the grounds for a student grade appeal and the process by which it must be carried out.

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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.