Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science

The Department of Applied Behavioral Science trains researchers and scientist-practitioners in the discovery, translation, and application of knowledge toward solving human behavior problems of societal importance.

The Master's in Applied Behavioral Science is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board: annual report data.

Annual reporting period: Calendar year January-December 2023         

  •   Number of students whose degrees were conferred by the program:
    • 1                             
  •   Median years until graduation for students whose degrees were conferred by the program:
    • 3.3              
  •   Number of students enrolled in the program:
    • 2                      
  •   Number of students no longer enrolled for any reason other than conferral of degree:
    • 2 (transferred to PhD program)                        
  •   Number of completed applications received:
    • 10                   
  •   Number of students admitted:
    • 0                          

BCBA Examination Pass Rates

Certifications and Licensure

The Department has established a one-year Certificate Program in Community Health and Development. The certificate program offers advanced training and University-based certification to those involved in building healthy communities. The focus is on training in core aspects of community work from community assessment and strategic planning to intervention, evaluation, and sustainability.

KU’s licensure programs strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about the educational requirements for licensure in U.S. states and territories. However, regulations are subject to change and varying interpretations. In addition to possible changes in educational requirements, licensure often includes additional requirements, such as specific examinations and additional training or practicum hours. It is highly recommended that students seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency before beginning an academic program to ensure they know what is needed to obtain the license/certification/registration in the state in which they intend to practice and/or seek licensure.

KU’s Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science program provides the coursework and experience to meet the Behavior Analysis Certification Board® (BACB) requirements for taking the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) Examination. Furthermore, the program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the states of Kansas and Missouri. The table below outlines whether the KU Master’s program meets or does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in each state and territory in the US.

Master of Arts

State or Territory

Meets Licensure Requirements?

Alabama

YES

Alaska

YES

Arizona

YES

Connecticut

YES

Georgia

YES

Hawaii

YES

Illinois

YES

Indiana

YES

Iowa

YES

Kansas

YES

Kentucky

YES

Louisiana

YES

Maryland

YES

Massachusetts

YES

Michigan

YES

Mississippi

YES

Missouri

YES

Montana

YES

Nebraska

YES

Nevada

YES

New Jersey

YES

New Mexico

YES

New York

YES

North Carolina

YES

North Dakota

YES

Ohio

YES

Oklahoma

YES

Oregon

YES

Pennsylvania

NO for behavior specialist licensure (see below table for behavior analyst licensure)

Rhode Island

YES

South Carolina

YES

South Dakota

YES

Tennessee

YES

Texas

YES

Utah

YES

Vermont

YES

Virginia

YES

Washington

YES

Wisconsin

YES

Wyoming

YES

It is important to note that some states do not have licensure to date and thus do not have licensure requirements (this is denoted for a particular state or territory by N/A in the table below):

State or Territory

Meets Licensure Requirements?

American Samoa

N/A

Arkansas

N/A

California

N/A

Colorado

N/A

Delaware

N/A

District of Columbia

N/A

Federated States of Micronesia

N/A

Florida

N/A

Guam

N/A

Idaho

N/A

Maine

N/A

Minnesota

N/A

New Hampshire

N/A

Northern Mariana Islands

N/A

Pennsylvania

N/A for behavior analyst licensure

Puerto Rico

N/A

Republic of Palau

N/A

Republic of the Marshall Islands

N/A

U.S. Virgin Islands

N/A

West Virginia

N/A

American Samoa

N/A

Arkansas

N/A

California

N/A

Colorado

N/A

Delaware

N/A

District of Columbia

N/A

Federated States of Micronesia

N/A

Florida

N/A

Guam

N/A

Idaho

N/A

Maine

N/A

Minnesota

N/A

New Hampshire

N/A

Northern Mariana Islands

N/A

Pennsylvania

N/A for behavior analyst licensure

Puerto Rico

N/A

Republic of Palau

N/A

Republic of the Marshall Islands

N/A

U.S. Virgin Islands

N/A

West Virginia

N/A

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Kansas need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states currently do not require licensure, but most do and may have additional licensure laws or requirements. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state licensure board. It is important that you be aware of all such requirements BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license in the state or states for which you wish to work. For states in which you seek licensure, we highly recommend that you contact the individual state licensure board.

Provided below is a resource from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB), which provides state-specific information about licensure for Applied Behavior Analysts in the states that require it:

BACB Licensure of Behavior Analysts

ABAI Accredited Master's Program
ABAI Accredited Master's Program