Course Requirements
The ABA graduate certificate program is an online program with a total of 21 credits, approved by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) under the 5th edition Task List. PSY 522 must be taken as a pre-requisite to the other courses in the sequence or in the first semester of the program. The program can be completed within two+ years by taking one course per semester or within one+ year by taking two courses per semester. Students who are admitted into the certificate program must complete all courses with a B- or higher in each course and finish with a minimum 3.0 grade point average. The coursework for the certificate must be completed within 5 years to ensure retention of information from all courses in order to pass the BCBA exam.
Since this is a completely online program, you will need access to a computer and a reliable Internet connection. More information about technology requirements. To assess whether you are ready for an Online program, visit the GVSU Online Education webpage.
Please note that pursuing certification as a behavior analyst is both exciting and challenging. Students should be prepared to commit to demanding coursework, a significant number of supervised experience hours with a qualified BCBA, and a rigorous examination by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. More information about becoming a BCBA is provided in the BACB Handbook.

GVSU ABA Graduate Certificate Courses
Class |
Description |
Credits |
Semester |
---|---|---|---|
PSY 522 |
Applied Behavior Analysis I: Foundational Principles |
3 credits |
Fall |
PSY 523 |
Applied Behavior Analysis II: Application to Behavior Change |
3 credits |
Winter |
PSY 550 |
Research in Applied Settings |
3 credits |
Spring /Sum |
PSY 624 |
Behavioral Assessment and Intervention |
3 credits |
Fall |
PSY 527 |
Ethics and Diversity in Professional Practice |
3 credits |
Winter |
PSY 525 |
Behavior Analysis Applied to Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disorders |
3 credits |
Fall |
PSY 658 |
Advanced ABA |
3 credits |
Spring/Sum |
21 credits Total |
5th Edition Task List Content Allocation (fall 2019 - present)
PSY 522 ABA I |
PSY 523 ABA II |
PSY 550 Research |
PSY 624 Behavior |
PSY 525 Autism |
PSY 527 Ethics |
PSY 658 Advanced |
Total |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compliance Code and Disciplinary Systems |
45 |
45 |
||||||
Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts and Principles |
45 |
15 |
5 |
25 |
90 |
|||
Measurement, Data Display and Interpretation; Experimental Design |
45 |
45 |
||||||
Behavior Assessment |
5 |
40 |
45 |
|||||
Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Intervention |
25 |
5 |
30 |
60 |
||||
Personnel Supervision and Management |
10 |
20 |
30 |
|||||
Total |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
315 |
4th Edition Task List Content Allocation (2013- spring/summer 2019)
PSY 522 ABA I |
PSY 523 ABA II |
PSY 550 Research |
PSY 624 Behavior |
PSY 527 Ethics |
PSY 525 ASD/DD |
TOTAL |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ethical and Professional Conduct |
45 |
45 |
|||||
Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis |
30 |
15 |
45 |
||||
Measurements, including Data Analysis |
5 |
15 |
5 |
25 |
|||
Experimental Design |
20 |
20 |
|||||
Identification of the Problem & Assessment |
25 |
5 |
30 |
||||
Behavior Change & Specific Behavior Change Procedures |
8 |
22 |
5 |
10 |
45 |
||
Intervention & Behavior Change Consideration |
2 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
|||
Behavior Change Systems |
5 |
5 |
10 |
||||
Implementation, Management, and Supervision |
10 |
10 |
|||||
Discretionary |
5 |
10 |
15 |
30 |
|||
TOTAL |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
270 |