Earn your applied behavior analysis degree at Florida Tech, a recognized pioneer and leader in the field.
The M.S. in applied behavior analysis (ABA) provides the coursework and supervised fieldwork you need to qualify for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) exam upon graduation.
In this program, you’ll study proven, scientific methods for understanding and improving behavior. You’ll learn how to help individuals with challenges such as those associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or substance abuse, preparing you for a meaningful career that makes a difference in the lives of others.
The program is offered at Florida Tech’s main campus in Melbourne, Florida, and at our Orlando location.
Florida Tech is the first school of behavior analysis, recognized worldwide for shaping the field through pioneering research and training. Here, you’ll study with expert faculty, gain hands-on experience in real-world settings, and graduate prepared to succeed in a rewarding behavior analysis career.
At Florida Tech, you’ll learn in an environment built on the principles of behavior analysis itself, with high standards, accountability and a commitment to growth.
Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and experience to advance the science of behavior and use it to improve lives.
As the first school of behavior analysis, we've set the model for programs worldwide, combining proven training methods with the expertise of faculty recognized for both research and clinical excellence.
Florida Tech’s behavior analysis faculty are dedicated researchers and practitioners committed to advancing the field and training the next generation of behavior analysts. All core faculty are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA or BCBA-D®).
Students benefit from close one-on-one mentorship, working alongside professors on research and client projects. This collaborative culture treats students as colleagues and emerging professionals, fostering a hands-on, professional learning environment.
ABA training includes participation in behavior-based research under faculty guidance. Our professors are published experts in areas such as:
Many of our professors conduct applied research in settings such as clinical treatment or organizational consulting, and students often join these projects, contributing to research that is published in respected ABA journals.
You may lead training sessions for educators on classroom behavior challenges or work with children and families at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, gaining hands-on experience in assessment, behavior therapy and training.
Other students focus on research in areas like behavior assessment, treatment strategies or teaching methods for individuals with disabilities.
Supervised experience is an integral part of the M.S. in applied behavior analysis, providing the fieldwork hours you need to qualify for the BCBA exam. The program has a number of established fieldwork sites, including the Scott Center for Autism Treatment on campus.
In your fieldwork, you will implement behavior analytic intervention strategies to create behavior change in clients, developing and demonstrating mastery of required competencies.
Our graduates consistently achieve high Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) exam pass rates.
We encourage you to review University Examination Pass Rates published by the BACB.
This program is offered at Florida Tech’s main campus in Melbourne, and at our Orlando location (Baldwin Park area).
For the Orlando program, classes meet on Friday afternoons and some Saturday mornings each semester. Orlando students complete a capstone project as part of their degree. Our location is close to a thriving medical community, including hospitals and clinics that provide internships and applied learning opportunities for students.
We invite and encourage you to visit our campus, meet our faculty and talk with current students to get a true sense of the Florida Tech experience.
If admitted, students who have not yet completed a course in the basic principles of learning/conditioning or an introductory course in behavior analysis may need to take a prerequisite course before beginning their ABA core classes.
For more information, please see our graduate admission requirements.
The mission of our M.S. in behavior analysis degree programs is to produce competent behavior analytic practitioners and consultants who are solidly grounded in basic principles derived from the experimental analysis of behavior, who approach the world from a radical behaviorist perspective, who will continue to inform their practice with current research findings, who contribute to behavioral research, who attain BCBA certification and who are prepared to enter doctoral programs.
With an ABA master's degree from Florida Tech, you’ll gain the skills to improve lives by addressing behavioral challenges where they actually happen—at home, at school, in the workplace and in the community.
Florida Tech alumni work in businesses, schools, clinics, residential treatment centers, group homes and private practice around the world.
While ABA is well known for advances in autism support, the field offers a wide range of career paths. Graduates can specialize in clinical work, educational applications, health and fitness, organizational consulting, animal behavior and more.
Applied behavior analysis jobs include:
Learn more about behavior analysis job market growth in the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's report, US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010-2024.
Florida Tech Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job-search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs, including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for behavior analysis careers.
Licensing requirements for behavior analysts in the U.S. may vary by state. This program is designed to meet standards for BACB credentials, which many states require or accept for licensure. Some states may have additional requirements; please see our ABA professional licensing disclosures for details.
Graduates with a master’s in applied behavior analysis can take their expertise even further by pursuing a Ph.D. in the discipline. At Florida Tech, many Ph.D. students benefit from generous assistantships through the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, which often cover most of their academic costs.
This program ensures you fulfill BACB® requirements and gain the knowledge and experience needed to sit for the BCBA exam.
Beginning with the philosophical foundations and core principles of behavior analysis, you'll explore how they connect to professional practice.
You will learn how to decrease, eliminate and replace problem behavior and develop and strengthen new behavior, and then delve into advanced concepts and applications.
Courses address ethics and professional standards, radical behaviorism and organizational behavior management, showing how behavior principles can be applied not only in clinical settings but also in business and industry.
Along the way, practical fieldwork lets you apply what you have learned, enhancing your mastery of the material while you work toward becoming a BCBA.
Check the catalog for a description of all courses. Check the catalog for detailed degree requirements.
Download the Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S., Curriculum now!
As an applied behavior analysis graduate student, you’ll have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, located right on campus.
This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disabilities.
Under the guidance of expert faculty, many students complete their fieldwork at the Scott Center, working with children and their families to provide assessment, training and behavior therapy.
Faculty at the forefront of autism research conduct ongoing studies at the Scott Center as well, enabling students to contribute to research that advances the understanding and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
Learn more about Applied Behavior Analysis at Florida Tech on the website.
The Master of Science degree program in applied behavior analysis is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board.