ABA Admission Information

Yes, our MA in ABA program is Tier ABAI-accredited and meets all BCBA requirements. Supervised fieldwork is integrated into the program through practicum placements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all applicable BCBA certification requirements, including the required supervised fieldwork and any other requirements in effect when they apply.

No, all students are expected to enroll in 9 credits per semester and work as full-time employees at one of the four partnered sites.

Although the MA program in Applied Behavior Analysis at UMBC trains students to practice ABA, it is not a clinical or counseling psychology program and does not prepare students for careers in those fields.

Courses in ABA are typically in-person and held in the evenings on the Catonsville campus or in Baltimore.

No, the MA in ABA program only admits new cohorts in the fall semesters and does not offer spring admissions.

All students complete a capstone project, which is an independent research project conducted under the mentorship of one of the core faculty members. Often, students and faculty publish these studies in peer-reviewed journals. Students may have opportunities to participate in other research related to applied behavior analysis, depending on faculty projects and availability. Students interested in research should contact the program faculty to discuss current opportunities.

The practicum positions are paid, full-time placements. In addition to pay rates, each site also offers tuition reimbursement; these policies are set by the individual sites. Contact Dr. Cengher for information about the placement process, available sites, and employment expectations.

Tuition rates for each academic year can be found on the Student Business Services website.

Please visit the Student Business Services website for information about Residency.

Since students are expected to work as full-time employees, it’s generally not possible for students to fit graduate assistantships into their schedule. Additionally, the UMBC Dept. of Psychology only offers graduate assistantships to doctoral students.

To be considered for financial aid from UMBC, please see the guidelines and deadlines on Financial Aid’s website. this page. There are additional UMBC scholarships that you may be eligible for through Scholarship Retriever. You may also consider seeking external sources for scholarship funding.

Visit these pages for more information about resources and scholarships for international graduate students.

Finally, in addition to pay, all our practicum partners offer some money toward tuition reimbursement. The amounts and conditions vary by practicum site. Prospective students should contact Dr. Cengher for details if interested.

UMBC’s master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis welcomes international applicants. However, our students have traditionally worked full-time at one of our approved practicum settings, which may not be feasible for international students because of visa-related employment restrictions. If you are an international student interested in applying, please contact Dr. Cengher to discuss potential alternatives to full-time employment.

In-person interviews are not required for the selection process. For students who strongly wish to visit, we occasionally conduct interviews on a case-by-case basis each year. Please contact the program liaison (Dr. Mirela Cengher, cengher@umbc.edu) to schedule an interview.

The minimum standard for full admission to the Graduate School is a “B” average, or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; however, students who receive offers of admission typically have a GPA of 3.5 or above. We don’t require or expect GRE scores.

Although most of our students do hold an undergraduate degree in psychology, the program does admit students who did not major in psychology. Admission decisions are based on the applicant’s background, interests, and qualifications.

Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology are encouraged to describe in their Statement of Purpose letter any related experiences they have, including ABA coursework or work experience in or related to ABA. Furthermore, applicants should demonstrate that they have a good understanding of what behavior analysis is and that they understand the fundamental concepts and principles of behavior analysis.

No, we do not offer a certificate or coursework-only option. Enrollment for ABA courses is reserved only for students who have been admitted to the MA in ABA program.

Many accept positions working in school districts, private schools, consulting companies, and other organizations that provide behavioral services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. This is where the greatest current demand is for individuals trained in Applied Behavior Analysis. A large number have continued to Ph.D. programs in behavior analysis or psychology.

No, the MA in ABA program does not participate in the Accelerated Program. The only program in the Department of Psychology that participates is the MPS in Industrial & Organizational Psychology program.