Western Education's MPEd | Field of Applied Behaviour Analysis

This Association for Behavior Analysis International verified course sequence (VCS) prepares students to be competent, inclusive, professionals in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Our flexible, online programming is grounded in practice and prepares students to apply behavior analytic principles across domains and populations.

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) publishes yearly Verified Course Sequence pass rate data. This provides information on the percentage of first-time candidates who sat and passed the exam to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) from each Verified Course Sequence in this year.

This is an exclusively online graduate degree program.

Solve real-world problems

Online degree – study anywhere

Continue working while studying

ABAI Verified

What I like about my program is that it is the perfect balance of course work and field experience. The professors helped ensure that I was prepared and ready to take on my role in the classroom.

The program has helped me gain many professional and academic skills. I have found myself challenges through class discussions and being in the classroom.

- Kristen Ciechanowicz, Graduated 2020

Beyond the program details

Admissions

Required:

A four-year degree (20 full courses or equivalent) from an accredited university.
Minimum "B" standing (70%) or equivalent in the final two years of study.

Recommended:

For applicants to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis only, a background in psychology should be apparent.

Notes & Exceptions:

Bachelor of Education and Additional Qualification course grades are not used in calculating admission averages.
Applicants with three-year degrees will be considered on a case-by-case basis if seats are available in programs. Successful experience as an educator in aprofessional setting may be considered in the selection process.
Probationary status: If an applicant doesn’t meet all of the minimum admission requirements (e.g. average below 70% and/or has only a 3-year degree plus B.Ed.) the applicant may be offered admission as a Probationary Student with Conditions.
Conditions: Applicants will be required to maintain a 75% average in each of these courses to clear conditions.
The successful completion of an MPEd does not lead to certification with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

Tuition

Tuition amounts are set each year by Senate and then published on the Office of the Registrar's Fees Schedules web page. Fees are assessed once each term (Fall, Winter, Summer).

Current students can access fee information by logging into the Student Centre (use your Western email log in and password). Students are notified each term once fee amounts have been posted in the Student Centre; it is each student's responsibility to log into the Student Centre and pay fees by the due date indicated. Failure to do so may result in a late payment fee or deregistration.

For questions about fees, including how to pay fees and the methods of payment that are accepted, students should go to the Student Financial Services pages of the Office of the Registrar's web site or contact Student Financial Services (Office of the Registrar) at 519-661-2100.

The Graduate Student Affordability Calculator was designed for you to get a better estimate of what it will cost to attend one of Western's graduate programs for one year. The calculator is not a promise of funding or a place to access scholarship support or financial aid; rather, it is intended to provide you with an accurate estimate of how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and many other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

Funding

The Faculty of Education recognizes the financial commitment required to pursue professional graduate studies.

As the majority of our programs are fully online, we offer students flexible learning that allows them to fund their education by remaining in their current employment. Some employers offer subsidization or time release opportunities for the professional learning of their employees. As a result, internal funding is not available for these programs.

There are also many external funding opportunities for competitive candidates in our professional programs. See our Fees and Funding Page for an additional list of over 30 external awards (see more information below). Also, visit online sites that contain numerous award opportunities.

Please note that students must apply for these awards individually. Read the qualifications carefully, and contact the award provider for more criteria and award information. Some application support is available from the Research Office for research-based awards only.

Many private financial institutions offer financing options (with particular rates and payment plans) to full-time students. Please contact a representative of your preferred financial institution for more information.

Provincial governments offer a variety of loan programs to help students finance their studies. Ontario residents may be eligible to apply for OSAP.

The Government of Canada's CanLearn website provides a listing of contact information for the offices of all government student financial assistance programs. Please visit CanLearn to find your province or territory listing. The Government of Canada implemented the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) to encourage higher education and training. The LLP allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 a year from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance training or education for you or your spouse or common-law partner. For further information on this plan, visit the government's website at www.ccra.gc.ca.

Technology

For online courses, students are required to have access to the following:

High speed Internet access
Access to a computer that enables connection to outside websites (flexible firewall restrictions)
Multimedia playback capabilities (video/audio)
WebCam
Computer capable of running a recent version of Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox; and/or Cisco MOVI client for PC or Mac
Audio headset and microphone for computer

Instructors of onsite courses use the Sakai OWL platform. Access to a course in Sakai OWL is typically opened the first business day of each term. Please note that although your own access may be granted prior to the first business day, course content may not be posted until closer to the scheduled term start. Your Western University login and password is required to access the course (your Western email without the @uwo.ca and its accompanying password). Access to Sakai OWL is found here: https://owl.uwo.ca/portal.

Program information

Description

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst ® Examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

The Laboratory of Practice course (Year 2) requires a site for a hands-on application of the principles of ABA. This site should be obtained by students in the program. Hours for this course do not count towards practical experience as outlined by the BACB. To become better informed about the BACB's full experience requirements, please go to their website at: https://www.bacb.com/

Important Note

The successful completion of a Master of Professional degree does not lead to certification with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

Objectives

The program's concentration in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis exposes students to context-specific best practices and cutting edge research and emphasizes the application of theory to practice. Students are also provided with opportunities to view practice within context and apply their research and theoretical knowledge in their emergent roles as professionals within a laboratory of practice and a capstone project. Our graduates will be assisted to:

Support the professional learning of educators who can construct and apply knowledge to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, families, organizations, and communities;
Provide opportunities for candidates to develop and demonstrate collaboration, communication skills, and leadership skills to work with diverse professionals and communities and to build partnerships;
Provide field-based opportunities through a case studies lens to analyze problems of practice;
Draw on and develop a critically reflective professional knowledge base that integrates both practical and research knowledge and that links theory with systemic and systematic inquiry; and,
Emphasize the generation, transformation, and use of critically reflective professional knowledge and practice.

Students are also provided with opportunities to apply their research and theoretical knowledge in their emergent roles as professionals. Students will be expected to participate in practice throughout their course work to assist them with the application of theory. The program builds toward a capstone project.

Timing/delivery

The MPEd is designated as a full-time program. Full-time status requires that students complete four half-courses in one year. MPEd students will complete one course a time (i.e. one course in the fall, winter, intersession, summer sessions) for two years. Full-time students have access to all Western student services. See SGPS for details.

This program of study is a course-based cohort model. Approximately 20 students will be admitted to each cohort. This cohort structure will provide ongoing support within the course work, enabling students to develop a professional community of practice. To ensure the integrity of the cohort model, continuous enrollment is required, and will necessitate that students complete all the required courses within the timeframe stipulated.

Each course will incorporate case studies to emphasize the application of knowledge of the principles of ABA. This format will serve as the catalyst for identifying other problems and issues of practice students encounter in their own work and for developing problem solving skills. The goal is to develop students reasoning skills as they weave together theoretical formulations, results of empirical research, and facts from real-life situations into a comprehensive analysis of the presenting problem. Ultimately, our goal within each course is for students to develop in critical thinking skills to collaboratively examine and solve, from both a behavioural and research perspectives, real problems found in their everyday practice.

Courses

Year 1 Fall
ED 9460 Basic Behaviour Principles

Introduction to the philosophical underpinnings, concepts, and principles of behaviour analysis and their application to different populations. Readings will be from radical behaviourism, experimental, and applied behaviour analysis.

Year 1 Winter
ED 9464 Behaviour Analysis Research Design: Single Subject Designs

This graduate course will focus on research methodology to evaluate interventions with single subjects, including individuals, families, organizations or other social systems. Readings will be drawn from a variety of textbooks and research articles.

Year 1 Summer - Intersession
ED 9461 Behaviour Assessment and Treatment

This graduate course focuses on functional behaviour assessment and treatment methods. Specific topics include the use of indirect, descriptive, and functional analysis, and positive behaviour support plans.

Year 1 Summer - Summer Session
ED 9462 Advanced Topics in Behaviour Analysis

This graduate course covers advanced concepts and principles of applied behaviour analysis including Verbal Behaviour, rule governed behaviour, and Relational Frame Theory.

Year 2 Fall
ED 9463 Ethics in ABA

This graduate course will focus on ethics/jurisprudence specific to Applied Behaviour Analysis and the legal context of working in the field.

Year 2 Winter
ED 9465 Laboratory of Practice in ABA

This course offers a hands-on application of the principles of ABA. Hours in the field count as course hours, not experience hours required by the BACB. The Laboratory of Practice may be undertaken in schools, private practice, and clinical programs in agencies. Students are encouraged to use their current work placements as supervised placements. If a student does not have access to an environment appropriate for the Laboratory of Practice, please contact the Graduate Programs Office.

Year 2 Summer - Intersession
ED 9466 Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation in ABA

This graduate course covers topics related to the design, implementation, and evaluation of Applied Behaviour Analysis programming. Topics include clinical implementation, effective leadership and supervisory practices, and behavioural consultation.

Year 2 Summer - Summer Session
ED 9467 ABA in the Classroom and School

This graduate course will focus on how to implement behaviour principles in the classroom and on a school wide basis. Assessment and intervention practices will be covered that are practical for the busy teacher and administrator.

Faculty

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