The Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program prepares students to become Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and New York State Licensed Behavior Analysts. Applied Behavior Analysts focus on the science of human behavior. This program focuses on compassionate behavior change. Students may acquire field experience in a variety of settings, including schools, residential facilities, healthcare organizations, or community settings. This program was designed to align with the Association for Behavior Analysis International’s Verified Course Sequence requirements and New York State’s requirements for Licensed Behavior Analysts.

Program Delivery and Tuition Rate

Students may enroll full or part-time and can complete the 41-credit program in as little as two years. The M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis offers a fully online curriculum paired with required clinical experiences to provide a rigorous, yet flexible program. Students may acquire field experience in a variety of settings, including schools, residential facilities, healthcare organizations, or community settings. This program is billed at the non-MBA rate.

Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure

New York State takes pride in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals.  For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State.  SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public.  Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.  The full details regarding this disclosure related to the applicable SUNY Empire degree programs may be found here. 

Admission Overview

Admission to the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program is selective. This program enrolls new students in the Fall term only.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and demonstrate the academic, professional, and interpersonal readiness necessary for graduate‑level study in Applied Behavior Analysis and evidence‑based behavioral intervention.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following materials for admission consideration:

• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities
• Resume/CV
• Application Essay
• Video Essay
• One (1) Professional Recommendation
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• $50 nonrefundable orientation fee

Applications are reviewed only when all required materials have been received, including all transcripts and required essays.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of:

• Academic history and GPA
• Quality of the written Application Essay
• Substance of the Video Essay, demonstrating thoughtful engagement with ABA and motivation for entering the field
• Strength of the professional recommendation, addressing the applicant’s suitability for graduate study and the ABA profession
• Alignment with the program’s focus on ethical, evidence‑based behavioral practice

Start Terms

This program admits new students in the:

• Fall term only

Deadlines

Applications are reviewed regularly throughout the year, but only when all required materials—including all previous college transcripts—have been received.

To guarantee review for the Fall term, applicants must submit all required materials before the posted general deadline.

Priority deadline applicants are reviewed first, and applicants who complete their materials early may receive earlier decisions and have a better chance of securing a seat in the cohort.

Deadline information changes each cycle. For specific deadlines, please see the Graduate Admissions Deadline page.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the SUNY Empire application portal and select Graduate: https://www.sunyempire.edu/application.html

Complete the online application, upload all required documents, and arrange for official transcripts to be sent directly to SUNY Empire.

Applications are reviewed only when complete.

SUNY Empire alumni and current students do not need to request their Empire transcript.

International Applicants

The program coursework may be completed 100% online. In addition to standard materials, international applicants must submit:

• A NACES‑member course‑by‑course evaluation (e.g., WES) for all non‑U.S. transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS), unless exempt

Additional Information

Please see the Graduate Admission section of this catalog for a complete listing of materials required to complete a graduate application.

Program Curriculum

The following tables outline the required courses and suggested enrollment sequence of the program. The graduate fall and spring terms are 15 weeks long, and the summer terms have some offerings for eight weeks and some for 15 weeks.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CORE Courses
APPL 6005	Applied Behavior Analysis I	3
APPL 6010	Applied Behavior Analysis II	3
APPL 6015	Single Subject Design &Measurement	3
APPL 6020	Developing & Increasing Socially Significant Behaviors	3
APPL 6025	Functional Behavioral Assessment	3
APPL 6030	Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis	3
APPL 6035	Supervision & Organizational Behavior Management	3
APPL 6045	Diversity, Neurodiversity & Affirming Approaches	3
CAPSTONE Courses
APPL 7000	Optional Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis	0
APPL 7001	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone I	2
APPL 7002	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone II	2
APPL 7003	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone III	2
PRACTICUM Courses
APPL 7005	Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum I	3
APPL 7010	Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum II	3
Total Credits		36

Suggested Enrollment Sequence

This suggested sequence is based on a typical full-time (9cr) schedule. The exact enrollment sequence should be planned between the student and the advisor as part of degree planning.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credits
APPL 6005	Applied Behavior Analysis I	3
APPL 6015	Single Subject Design &Measurement	3
	Credits	6
Spring
APPL 6010	Applied Behavior Analysis II	3
APPL 6020	Developing & Increasing Socially Significant Behaviors	3
APPL 7005	Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum I	3
	Credits	9
Summer
APPL 6040	Maintaining Client Records in Applied Behavior Analysis	2
EDUC 6045	Teaching Diverse Learners	3
	Credits	5
Second Year
Fall
APPL 6025	Functional Behavioral Assessment	3
APPL 6030	Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis	3
APPL 7001	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone I	2
APPL 7010	Applied Behavior Analysis Practicum II	3
	Credits	11
Spring
APPL 6035	Supervision & Organizational Behavior Management	3
APPL 6045	Diversity, Neurodiversity & Affirming Approaches	3
APPL 7002	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone II	2
APPL 7003	Applied Behavior Analysis Capstone III	2
	Credits	10
	Total Credits	41

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of behavior analysis, including determinism, empiricism, selectionism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, philosophic doubt, and pragmatism.
• Demonstrate an understanding of radical behaviorism and distinguish behavior analysis from related disciplines and practices.
• Define, explain, and apply concepts and principles of behavior to a variety of contexts.
• Become skilled consumers of research to evaluate evidenced-based practices that promote socially valid behavior change.
• Select, implement, and measure behavior, including data display methods and analysis of data to inform decision-making, in a manner that is socially valid.
• Design, conduct and interpret behavioral assessment, including direct and indirect assessment, to identify socially significant target behaviors and inform the development of culturally responsive and affirming, evidence-based interventions that are socially valid.
• Design, implement, and evaluate culturally responsive and affirming procedures to promote behavior change, generalization, and maintenance across settings and populations that is socially valid.
• Use behavior analytic methods in supervision, training, consultation, and organizational behavior management to promote socially valid behavior change by indirect consumers (e.g., caregivers, professionals, teams), supervisees, and organizations.
• Explain and adhere to behavior analytic professional ethical requirements and jurisdictional regulations and guidelines.
• Demonstrate culturally responsive and affirming approaches within behavior analytic service delivery and research to promote the dignity and autonomy of direct and indirect consumers.