An emerging and highly popular track in the field of behavior modification, ABA is devoted to understanding and improving human behavior and quality of life. This is accomplished through the application of scientific methodology to real-world problems and solutions.
The Manhattanville 37-credit Master’s of Professional Studies in ABA is designed to train the student in the emerging field of ABA and certify the student as an LBA (Licensed Behavior Analyst) and BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), all at the graduate level.
ABA has applications in business and industry; autism, and intellectual disabilities; education at all levels; treatment of psychiatric disorders and family relationships; geriatrics; general and specialty medicine; and numerous other areas. Its primary application, however, is in the treatment of autism, and job opportunities in the field are at an all-time high.
Students who successfully complete the MPS or Advanced Certificate in ABA are eligible to sit for the BCBA exam and certify as both a BCBA and a NYS LBA.
Partner college(s):
Program Location(s):
- Live Online
FAQ
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree. The practice is used extensively in education, healthcare, and business management. It is particularly prominent in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), for which it is considered a scientifically valid therapy.
The Manhattanville College Master of Professional Studies in Applied Behavior Analysis is a 37-credit graduate program ideal for an individual who wishes to pursue a career in the field of ABA. Graduates will be eligible to apply for Licensure through NYS and take the BCBA Exam for certification from the BACB.
This Master’s degree in ABA was specifically developed in response to the increasing demand for professionals who are trained to design, implement, and supervise behavior analytic programs for individuals with autism and related disorders, and for a variety of other students with and without disabilities. The aim of the ABA graduate program is to prepare students as scientist-practitioners who can use behavior analysis to solve problems of human importance.
Among the career options available are: Behavior Analyst, Applied Behavior Analysis Therapist, Behavior Consultant, Behavior Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Behavior Interventionist, and more.
Behavior Analysts made U.S. News and World Report’s Top 100 Best Jobs of 2017, and full-time practitioners in NYS earn an average of $125,000 annually. Male ABA therapists are in high demand.
We are proud to have partnered with Manhattanville College, a highly-ranked, private, liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in the village of Harrison, NY. All degree programs offered at Manhattanville College are authorized and approved by the New York State Education Department. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and it has received accreditation for its teaching programs through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
There are two credentials that professionals in the field of ABA seek to acquire:
- New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) – Required to practice in NYS
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) – Required to practice nationally
The Master of Professional Studies in ABA from Manhattanville College is approved by New York State for licensure as an LBA, and by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board as a BCBA.
The program will help guide students through the requirements and processes for national certification and for New York State licensure.
This degree will allow you to work as a BCBA anywhere in the country, since it’s a national certification. The field of ABA is lucrative throughout the country and many new ABA agencies open on a constant basis.
This accelerated degree can be completed in five semesters.
As stated above, there are two credentials that you can earn– LBA (NYS) and BCBA (BACB).
To apply for BCBA certification, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. Students may fulfill their fieldwork requirements during the course of the program.
To apply for LBA certification, students must complete 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork. These are included in the 2,000 hours mentioned above. 150 of the fieldwork hours must be completed during the Practicum courses. Students who reside in NY need to be supervised by an LBA.
Students who complete the required fieldwork hours will be eligible to apply for licensure and take the licensing exams following graduation.
There are numerous agencies and fieldwork opportunities available throughout the tri-state area. Students are free to arrange their own fieldwork positions in the agency of their choice provided they will receive proper supervision.
For students who wish to avail themselves of our resources, Sara Schenirer/ Manhattanville is excited to have partnered with Proud Moments ABA, a full-service ABA agency, which can provide all required fieldwork hours for our students. Proud Moments ABA features numerous sites conveniently located throughout the tri-state area.
If you wish to complete the required fieldwork hours while in the program, you will likely be unable to maintain separate employment. Please note, however, that students are generously compensated for their fieldwork hours by the agency for which they are employed. Students who wish to complete their required supervision hours at a slower pace have the option to do so.
For 40 years, Sara Schenirer has offered high-quality education, accelerated degrees through partner colleges, an uncompromised environment, and outstanding professors. We are especially proud of the warm and supportive attention every single student receives throughout his years in Sara Schenirer. For students and parents alike, the world of college and degrees is confusing, costly, and difficult to navigate. We work extra hard along with our college partners, to offer personal guidance to every student to ensure their success and timely graduation.
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A Yeshiva Degree (BTL) is acceptable.
If you already have a Master’s degree in the field of education, special education, or psychology, you may choose the 33-credit Advanced Certificate in ABA instead of the Master’s degree in ABA. The Advanced Certificate also leads to NYS licensure, but requires fewer courses and features a lower tuition rate. Details on the Advanced Certificate are available here.
All courses are offered online in a hybrid format. Approximately half of the courses are offered live-online, while the remaining are asynchronous.
The live-online classes are offered one/ two times per week on weeknights.
Thanks to a generous discounted rate offered exclusively to students registered through Sara Schenirer, the total cost for the full complement of coursework (37 credits x $608 per credit) is only $22,496!
At the graduate level, financial aid is available in the form of loans that can cover the full cost of the degree. Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year through the federal unsubsidized direct loan program. After the origination fee, the remaining balance due can be paid by semester or on a monthly payment plan. Additionally, students will receive compensation from the supervising agency for their fieldwork hours.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed online at this link. Manhattanville’s FAFSA school code is 002760. Be sure to complete the correct year’s application.
Additionally, there are a number of scholarships open to Jewish graduate students for which we encourage you to apply:
Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund – The Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish full-time students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate school in the United States.
Rose Biller Scholarship Fund – The Rose Biller Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish residents of NYC’s five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island with financial need. It provides scholarships to Jewish men and women with significant economic need attending undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.
Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund – The Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund provides interest-free loans to aid Jewish undergraduate and graduate college students who exhibit exceptional academic achievement and face financial difficulties pursuing a higher education. These loans must be repaid within ten years of graduation or termination of studies.
To get more information on these scholarships, please reach out to each organization directly. Please check scholarship websites for availability and deadlines. Most scholarships are not available every semester.
To request an application, please submit this form.
When completing the application, you will also be requested to supply:
- Undergraduate Transcript(s)
- Resume
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Essay
- Personal Photograph
- Non-refundable Application Fee
Even if you do not have these available at the time of application, we recommend submitting your application immediately and submitting the requested documents as they become available.
Once your application is submitted with all the required documents, an interview will be scheduled to continue the admissions process.
Registration is now open for Fall (September) semester. Applications are accepted until approximately one month before the start of the semester. Please inquire about specific dates for the coming semester.
Course Listing
EDU 5216
Cultural Pespectives
EDU 5640
ABA: Concept & Principles
EDU 5641
Ethical & Professional Conduct
EDU 5642
Measurment & Single Experimental Design
EDUC 5643
Developing & Increasing Behaviors
EDU 5644
Functional Behavioral Assessment
EDU 5645
Advanced Topics in ABA
EDU 5646
Maintaining Client Records
EDU 5647
Verbal Behavior
EDU 5648
Advanced Practicum in ABA I
EDU 5650
Advanced Practicum in ABA II
EDU 5653
Trends & Issues in ABA Research Hybrid Course
EDU 5573
Autisum Spectrum Disorder & Other Low Incidence Disorders
Career Paths
300+
Graduates
$125K
Average Annual Salary*
Per Indeed.Com for Brooklyn-based BCBA