Best Online Master’s in Behavioral Psychology Programs

The University of South Florida is a state research university with three campuses in the Tampa Bay region. Together, these locations serve more than 50,000 students, including about 11,000 learners enrolled in graduate programs. USF also offers a number of online programs, such as a master's in applied behavior analysis.

Recent graduates of this 41-credit program boast a nearly 100% employment rate. Required courses cover topics including behavior therapy, observational methods, and single case experimental design. Students must also participate in a supervised practicum and directed research experience.

To qualify for admission, prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a background in applied behavior analysis — through coursework or experience. Applicants also need to submit GRE scores.

Simmons University is a private institution located in the heart of Boston. The university offers undergraduate programs for women and a coeducational graduate school, serving more than 6,500 students each year. Online offerings at Simmons include programs in public health, nursing, social work, and behavior analysis.

The school's online master's degree in behavior analysis prepares graduates to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's examination. Students complete a 42-credit curriculum, including 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. During fieldwork, Simmons-appointed board certified behavior analysts host individual and group mentoring sessions in live, online classrooms.

Prospective students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a bachelor's degree. Applicants need to submit a current resume, an essay, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.

Drexel University is a major research university with a global reach and a commitment to experiential learning. Online students at Drexel receive access to numerous virtual support services, a large professional network, and opportunities to study abroad. The school offers an online master's in applied behavior analysis, which requires 46-48 credits.

Core courses cover behavioral interventions, measurement and experimental design, and ethical considerations. Three concentration options are available, in autism spectrum disorders; social, emotional, and behavioral wellness; and fieldwork. All students must complete a thesis or a practitioner capstone course.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal essay. Individuals also need to participate in an interview.

Bay Path University is a private institution with a main campus located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. A member of the Women's College Coalition, Bay Path has a long history of serving women in its undergraduate programs. However, the university's more than 30 graduate programs — including a master's inapplied behavior analysis — are coeducational.

Behavior analysis students can take courses entirely online or in a blended format. The 48-credit, five-semester program covers topics related to behavioral assessment and evaluation, ethical practice, and research methods. Independent and supervised fieldwork experiences are interwoven throughout the program.

Applicants must provide official transcripts, an essay, a current resume, and two letters of recommendation. Bay Path accepts applications throughout the year, with program start dates available in February and October.

Ball State University is a public institution in Muncie, Indiana, serving upwards of 20,000 students each year. Ball State extends academic opportunities to learners across the country through its flexible online programs. Asynchronous course delivery provides extra convenience for those with professional and/or personal obligations.

Ball State's online master's degree in applied behavior analysis offers an emphasis in autism and is well suited for students from a variety of educational backgrounds, including psychology, education, and social work. The 30-credit curriculum requires classes in behavioral consultation and verbal behavior, as well as a field-based experience. Participants can graduate in two years.

Prospective students must possess a bachelor's degree and a 2.75 minimum GPA from a regionally accredited institution. However, Ball State does not require applicants to submit GRE scores.

Daemen College is a private school located in Amherst, New York. Approximately 2,500 students attend each year, enjoying small class sizes with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-1. Although the school is primarily residential, Daemen College offers online options for several programs, including its master's in applied behavior analysis.

The 31-credit program can be completed in 18 months and is designed to prepare graduates for licensure and certification in New York. Required courses cover topics in functional assessment, maintenance of client records, and issues of cultural diversity. All students must also complete a final capstone research project.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with transcripts demonstrating a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Applicants must submit a resume, written statement, and two letters of recommendation. Interviews are also required.

Arcadia University is a private institution in Glenside, Pennsylvania, serving more than 3,500 students each year. Several of the school's programs can be completed online, including a master of education with a concentration in applied behavioral analysis. All instructors in this program are board certified behavior analysts with extensive experience in the field.

The 36-credit curriculum provides specialized knowledge and skills, preparing graduates to work effectively in schools, homes, organizations, and communities. A culminating research project is required. Students looking to meet requirements to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's certification exam can take advantage of Arcadia's optional practicum opportunities in the Tri-State area.

Arcadia accepts applications on a rolling basis and recommends a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Prospective students must provide official transcripts and two letters of recommendation.

The University of Houston-Victoria is a public institution boasting a catalog of more than 80 academic programs. A popular destination for online learners, approximately 40% of all undergraduates and 70% of all graduates enroll exclusively in distance education courses. Among UHV's online programs is a master of education in special education with a concentration in applied behavior analysis.

Required courses explore behavior analysis from philosophical, historical, ethical, and applied practice perspectives. While the 39-credit course sequence satisfies curriculum requirements needed to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's exam, students are responsible for arranging their own supervised experience hours. Additionally, students must complete a final comprehensive exam on site in Victoria or Katy, Texas.

UHV accepts graduate applications on a rolling basis. Prospective students must provide two letters of reference and a statement of purpose. GRE or MAT scores are typically required, although some students may qualify for a waiver.

Nearly 12,000 students attend Southeast Missouri State University each year, enrolling in more than 145 undergraduate and 75 graduate programs. Forty-four percent of graduate students at SEMO enroll exclusively in distance education programs, including the school's master's in applied behavior analysis degree track.

The 42-credit curriculum consists of eight core classes, 750 on-site practicum hours, and a comprehensive examination. Flexible, asynchronous course delivery allows students to complete this two-year, six-semester program at their convenience. This program prepares students to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's examination.

For admission consideration, prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Two letters of recommendation and a letter of intent are also required. New cohorts begin each fall semester.

St. Cloud State University is a comprehensive public university in Minnesota that boasts about 200 undergraduate programs, 60 graduate programs, and hundreds of online courses. Students who pursue an online master's degree in applied behavior analysis are prepared for careers as clinical behavior therapists, education behavior support specialists, and behavior analysts.

The program offers a 45-credit thesis track and a 46-credit comprehensive exam track. Coursework provides advanced training in behavior analysis, community integration strategies, program evaluation, and staff development. All students complete 750 hours in an approved clinical internship setting where they are supervised by a licensed psychologist or certified behavior analyst.

Admission requires a minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA and submission of official transcripts, recommendation forms, and a statement of intent. However, GRE scores are not required.