About this Program

The goal of this program is to provide teachers and related-service providers with instruction in applied behavior analysis that will broaden the range of empirically-supported instructional methodologies used to meet the academic, social, and behavioral needs of a diverse student or client population. It also meets the educational and supervised-fieldwork standards needed to sit for the national Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)® examination.

Program Highlights

  • The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Certificate program has been designed to meet the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Graduate Level Certification Pathway 2 coursework requirements derived from the standards of the BACB. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements (i.e., graduate degree and fieldwork experience) to qualify for the BACB Graduate Level Certification. The program consists of a seven-course sequence (21 graduate-level credits) and an optional supervised-fieldwork experience. Students have the option to complete the supervised-fieldwork experience through the university or independently. The program is based on a cohort model and is offered to students through distance learning on a predetermined schedule over two years: one course per semester during fall, spring, and summer.

  • Â鶹´«Ã½ is honored to announce that our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) certificate program has been ranked #5 among online psychology graduate certificate programs. This recognition underscores our unwavering dedication to providing exceptional education and positions Â鶹´«Ã½ as a leader in the field. Join us and be part of an acclaimed program that prioritizes excellence and achievement.

  • What is a Behavior Analyst? A behavior analyst is an expert in the science of behavior and learning. Behavior analysts conduct assessments to identify one’s abilities and areas of improvement and design instructional programs using evidence-based strategies to promote skills acquisition and generalization and decrease challenging behaviors to promote independence and effective functioning in the natural environment.

  • Where do Behavior Analysts Work? Behavior analysis can work in a variety of settings including homes, schools, clinics, residential programs, and the community. Our program will prepare you to work with individuals with disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disorders across various environments.

AT A GLANCE
Degree Level
Graduate
Degree Earned
Certificate
Delivery Modes
On-Campus

Careers

Check out these ideas from Â鶹´«Ã½'s Center for Career & Leadership Development and the . A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Mental Health Counselors

$48,050 (Approx) Median Salary

Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.

Speech-Language Pathologists

$79,770 Median Salary

Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.

Counseling Psychologists

$81,330 Median Salary

Assess and evaluate individuals' problems through the use of case history, interview, and observation and provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

$64,590 Median Salary

Teach secondary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.

Alumni Careers

Board Certified Behavior Analysts
Clinical Behavior Therapists
Education Behavior Support Specialists
Intensive Behavior Therapists
Residential & Vocational Specialists

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Applied Behavior Analysis at Â鶹´«Ã½?
Students entering the Certificate program in Applied Behavior Analysis should meet the minimum university admission requirements Graduate Admission.
  • Have a master's degree from an accredited university or the equivalent from a foreign institution in any field of study OR be accepted into and currently pursuing a master's degree offered by an accredited university in any field of study

  • Prospective students must first apply to the program directly by completing an application and sending it to the program coordinator, Laura Chezan. The applicants are notified by the program coordinator whether or not they are accepted to the program after the application was reviewed. If accepted to the program, the applicants will then apply to the university.  

  • Applications are accepted only one time per year to begin the program in the fall. Apply by May 15th to begin in the fall semester.

Cost of Attendance

We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance. 

Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.

Virginia Resident
Cost Per-Credit $620
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Cost Per-Credit $642
Non-Resident
Cost Per-Credit $1,486

Ways to Fund Your Degree

There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Â鶹´«Ã½, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.

Contact

Associate Professor

122 LIONS CHILD STUDY CTR
NORFOLK, 23529