Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

Learn how to address the behavioral needs of individuals in areas of general and special education, organizational management, gerontology and many more. The certificate establishes a pathway for graduate students to obtain Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification program is a graduate-level certification in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Professionals certified at the BCBA level are independent practitioners who provide ABA services. ABA is an evidence-based practice that focuses on assessing the environmental influences on behavior, assessment-based intervention, and data-driven decision making. ABA has been used to address the behavioral needs of individuals in multiple areas, including general and special education, organizational management and safety, gerontology, and many more. ABA is best known as being the leading evidence-based treatment approach for autism and other developmental disabilities. The BCBA course sequences will meet the Verification Course Sequence (VCS) standards as set by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Learn more at usd.edu/BCBA.

DELIVERY: On campus

Certificate Requirements - 21 Credit Hours

• HSC 601 - Principles and Concepts ABA I 3 cr
• HSC 602 - Single Subject Research Design 3 cr
• HSC 603 - Principles and Concepts ABA II 3 cr
• HSC 604 - Behavior Assessment 4 cr
• HSC 605 - Behavior Change Procedures 4 cr
• HSC 606 - ABA in Practice: Ethics 3 cr
• HSC 607 - ABA in Practice: Supervision 1 cr

• 
  The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the preceding courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination.

Application Requirements

1. Completed application
2. $35 application fee
3. Official transcripts*
4. Letters of recommendation*
5. Admission test scores*
6. Statement of purpose
7. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. For specific program requirements and submission deadline, visit: catalog.usd.edu.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage. Licensure-Track Programs

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization

Questions?

Public Health and Health Sciences Department
605-658-6500 | health@usd.edu | usd.edu/phhs

Graduate Admissions 
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad