Accelerated Dual Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis

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Overview

The Accelerated Dual Degree program allows students to complete both a BA degree with a major in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis in five years. In this accelerated dual undergraduate/graduate degree program, the acceleration is achieved by substituting 12 credits of graduate coursework for 12 credits of undergraduate coursework (specifically, elective credits), thus reducing the total number of credit hours required for the two degrees individually. Further, the accelerated dual degree program avoids the duplication of content required in both undergraduate and graduate level courses in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In addition to earning an MA more quickly, students in this program will save tuition by taking 12 credits of MA courses as a senior at undergraduate tuition rates.

Applied Behavior Analysis involves using well-established and empirically supported principles to assess and treat an array of behavioral concerns. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has been empirically shown to be effective in a wide variety of areas and has received the most recognition for developing effective and ethical behavioral services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and autism, including the treatment of severe behavior. The Applied Behavior Analysis Licensing Act was signed into law in the State of New Jersey in 2020 and will require a professional license for individuals to practice ABA, providing critical protections for consumers and a foundation for workforce development initiatives that will ensure access to quality ABA services provided by trained and ethical professionals. The requirements to become a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) in the State of New Jersey will include 1) a graduate degree from an accredited university and 2) current certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) or equivalent. The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis fulfills the degree and coursework requirements for becoming a BCBA.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. For more information on becoming a BCBA®, see the BACB Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) standards at www.bacb.com.

Accelerated Dual Degree Undergraduate Program Requirements

Rowan Experience, General Education, and Free Elective Courses: 81 s.h.

Rowan Experience (9 s.h.):

All students must complete the Rowan Experience requirements.

Required Courses that are not Psychology Courses (18 s.h.):

Students must take 3 credits of Mathematics in the Science and Mathematics General Education bank and this course will count as fulfilling 3 credits in the Science and Mathematics GE requirement. Students must take:

BIOL 01113 - General Biology: Human Focus Credits: 4 which satisfies the Scientific Literacy of the Rowan Core (also counts as the Laboratory Science course in the Science and Mathematics General Education requirement, 4 s.h.)
Students are required to take 3 additional credits from the Science and Mathematics General Education list (3 s.h.)
Twelve additional credits from the Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education List of which 3 credits must be in Anthropology (ANTH).

Students must also take ONE of the following Philosophy courses:

PHIL 09120 - Introduction to Philosophy Credits: 3
PHIL 09121 - Introduction to Philosophy - WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09211 - Ancient Philosophy - WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09213 - Modern Philosophy - WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09368 - Philosophy of Science Credits: 3

Free electives (54 s.h.):

Four approved graduate-level MA courses may substitute for any of the free elective courses. No more than 12 graduate credits total may be used to replace undergraduate coursework.

Total Required Credits for the Undergraduate Portion of the Program: 120 or 108** s.h. total

**The first number is the official number of credits required for the undergraduate degree; however, the second number reflects the actual number of credits students will take through undergraduate coursework since 12 of the graduate credits are completed in the senior year and count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees

Major Requirements

The BA in Psychology consists of 39 credits in the major (120 s.h. total):

BIOL 01113 - General Biology: Human Focus Credits: 4
PSY 01107 - Essentials of Psychology Credits: 3 (Humanistic Literacy)
PSY 01199 - Navigating Psychology Credits: 1
PSY 01301 - Psychology of Scientific Thinking Credits: 3
PSY 07301 - Statistics in Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 07303 - Research Methods in Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 02300 - Psychology as a Profession and Practice Credits: 3
PSY 09218 - Lifespan Development Credits: 3
or
PSY 09209 - Child and Adolescent Development Credits: 3
PSY 02310 - Learning and Behavior Credits: 3
PSY 05206 - Social Psychology Credits: 3
or
PSY 01230 - Psychology of Personality Credits: 3
PSY 10315 - Physiological Psychology Credits: 3
or
PSY 01326 - Perception Credits: 3
PSY 03200 - Psychological Disorders Credits: 3
or
PSY 09305 - Developmental Psychopathology Credits: 3
PSY 01499 - Psychology Senior Capstone Credits: 1
PSY 02200 - Essential Skills for Behavior Technicians Credits: 3 (elective course for Psychology Majors)

Required BA Courses taken as an Undergraduate ADD student

PSY 02310 - Learning and Behavior Credits: 3 (required course for Psychology Majors)
PSY 02200 - Essential Skills for Behavior Technicians Credits: 3 (elective course for Psychology Majors)

Required MA Courses taken as an Undergraduate ADD student: 12 s.h.

In their senior year, students finish their undergraduate requirements while completing 12 hours of graduate coursework, including the following required courses:

PSY 02500 - Basic Principles of Behavior Credits: 3
PSY 02620 - Behavioral Assessment & Functional Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 02510 - Research Methods in Behavior Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 02610 - Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 3

Total Credits in BA in Psychology: 120 s.h.

Accelerated Dual Degree Graduate Program Requirements

Required MA Courses taken as a Graduate ADD Student: 21 s.h.

PSY 01510 - Philosophy, History, and Conceptual Foundations of Behavior Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 02670 - Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 02680 - Advanced Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 3
PSY 01660 - Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis I Credits: 3
PSY 01661 - Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis II Credits: 3
PSY 02671 - Behavioral Consultation, Supervision, and Management Credits: 3
PSY 02710 - Advanced Experimental Analysis of Behavior Credits: 3

Total Required Credits for the Graduate Portion of the Program: 33 s.h.

Total Required Credits for the Program: 141 s.h.

Requirements for Admission:

Applicants to the Accelerated Dual Degree program will apply for admission to the graduate program during the second semester of their junior year of the undergraduate program (February 15 deadline). Students must have completed at least 75 hours of coursework before applying to the ADD program. Application requirements are as follows:

A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework
Completion of PSY02310 Learning & Behaviorism (a required elective course in the Psychology major) with a final grade of B or better.
Enrollment and/or successful completion of the elective course PSY02200 Essential Skills for Behavior Technicians.
A complete online Rowan Global application, including a personal statement of objectives and two letters of recommendation.

Requirements for Graduation:

Students must successfully complete all courses (core and program-related) required for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, specifically 120 Credit Hours (including 12 graduate credits) with a grade of C or better in undergraduate major courses and a B- or better in graduate level (500 or 600 level) courses. Students must also have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in Rowan University coursework to graduate (Transfer credit/courses do not count toward the RU GPA). Students must also successfully meet all requirements, benchmarks, and graduation requirements for the MA in Applied Behavior Analysis as a Rowan Global Category I program including:

successful completion of 33 credit hours of required graduate courses in Applied Behavior Analysis with no more than two B- grades and no grade lower than B- in these courses,
successfully complete oral and written comprehensive exams,
meet the standards of professionalism of the discipline as evaluated every semester after beginning the graduate level coursework. For the professionalism benchmark assessed each semester during graduate coursework, students must meet all the requirements of the profession in terms of professional demeanor, client interaction, and ethical behavior as determined by the faculty members and off-site clinical supervisors.

Upon completion of the requirements for the program, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis simultaneously.

Student Status: To remain in good standing in the program, students must obtain a grade of B- or better in every graduate level course, with no more than 2 final course grades of B- and pass all established MA program benchmarks including passing written and oral comprehensive exams with a score of 70% or higher and meet the standards of professionalism of the discipline as evaluated every semester after beginning graduate level coursework.

Contingency for Students who do not complete the MA program: Students who enter the Accelerated Dual Degree Undergraduate/Graduate Degree in Psychology & Applied Behavior Analysis but do not maintain satisfactory progress or choose not to continue pursuing the degree will be allowed to apply up to 12 credits of graduate coursework to the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree. If the student opts out before 12 credits have been completed, any remaining credits needed for 120 credits required for the undergraduate degree will be selected through consultation between the student’s advisor, the program/department, and the student.