This award-winning master’s program is ideal if you desire a career spent helping people. The program merges behavioral theory with practical application, preparing you to excel in top positions in the ABA field.
Watch what our student say about this program.
The demand for well-trained, board-certified behavior analysts is surging. California leads the nation in demand for this role, making now the perfect time to step into this rewarding career. The following resources provide information on average expected earnings, employment opportunities and workforce demand:
A degree in the field not only prepares you for the important work of client recovery and improvement, but it also, if you choose CSUN, qualifies you to sit for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Many, upon finishing this degree, continue on to doctoral work in related fields.
At CSUN, we don't fill courses. We build them, entirely from scratch, each and every time we launch a program. This leads to a unique education, with real and lasting outcomes in your career.
Our world-class faculty design and teach all courses, helping you gain today’s most in-demand skills – and bringing the industry directly to you.
When you enroll, we place you in a small, interactive group of peers from diverse organizations and industries. And from day one to graduation, you’ll learn and grow together.
As you earn your education, we’ll stay with you every step of the way, offering close, personal support when and where you need it.
Behavior analysts focus on the direct behavioral outcomes of their interventions. They typically start by identifying current contexts that are responsible for behavioral problems, then design changes to those same contexts to promote better behavior. This cost-competitive degree also lays the groundwork for admission into the nation’s most prestigious ABA doctoral programs.
Based on a curriculum that addresses the behavioral theory and its real-world application, this two-year program prepares you to step into top positions in the field. You'll receive on-the-ground training in clinical settings arranged by CSUN, with faculty guidance each step of the way.
All courses are taught by doctoral-level faculty and feature BACB® approved content, including curriculum in human development, psychopathology, developmental disabilities (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder), and behaviorism. The program’s course work is designed to promote the progressive development of behavior analytic skills.
Upon graduating and successful completion of supervised fieldwork hours, you’ll be eligible to sit for the BCBA examination.
Ninety-two percent of CSUN's ABA graduates passed a recent BCBA Exam on their first attempt, compared to a national average of just 63%.
Answer: A behavior analyst uses direct observation and experimentation to find causes for desired and undesired behaviors. Behavior analysts design strategies to alter socially significant behavior by changing existing behaviors, teaching new behaviors, teaching what behaviors are appropriate to use in different situations, and consistently evaluating the effectiveness of their behavioral interventions.
Answer: A behavior analyst is Board Certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) after passing the BCBA certification exam. For more specific information regarding the certification process, visit the BACB home page.
Answer: Behavior analysts work with people of all ages, from early childhood to geriatrics, and in multiple settings such as homes, schools, hospitals, residential facilities, rehabilitation centers, research labs and places of business.
Answer: Students are professionals, typically with two to five years of experience. Usually, they’re in their mid-20s to mid-40s. Many students have families and work/life commitments.
For additional questions and answers, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Therapists with a master’s-level certification, such as a BCBA, are predicted to experience 22% job growth by 2029— U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
California has the highest demand for behavior analysts.— Lightcast
113 percent growth in the number of ABA program offerings in the United States, and a 249 percent growth in degree completions.— Lightcast
