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Program Overview

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program in California, Los Angeles. The program embeds advanced behavior analysis coursework in a foundational framework of psychology theory, research and professional practice so students receive a comprehensive understanding of behavior and learning in preparation for licensure as a Licensed Psychologist in the state of California. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are prepared to work in educational, clinical, and business settings as behavior analysts and behavioral psychologists who can successfully respond to the diverse needs of consumers of behavioral interventions and therapies, and who can teach and mentor students of behavior analysis in university settings.

Prior to advancing to the Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program, the M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis degree program incorporates the content areas and practicum requirements such that graduates are eligible for national board certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB) in addition to providing a solid foundation in the philosophy, science, and application of behavior analysis.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program is oriented toward the full-time/weekend student who is a working professional during the week, although part-time student options are also offered. The program follows a blended format in which students attend classes on campus every other weekend while in between completing on-line content designed to support material covered during the on-ground classes. The program is rigorous and students are advised to consider carefully the balance between school, family, and work and make reasoned choices about time and resource allocation.

Because of BACB supervised experience requirements, students at the M.S. level (the first two years of the doctoral program) also complete Practicum in conjunction with their supervised independent fieldwork hours. Once certified as a BCBA, qualified doctoral students are encouraged to participate in The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Student Apprentice Program to provide BCBA supervision to Los Angeles M.S. students in Practicum, while working under the direction of a faculty mentor to gain teaching experience in higher education.

Program Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program students will be able to:

1. Explain and behave in accordance with ethical and professional standards set by the American Psychological Association and Behavior Analysis Certification Board.
2. Describe behavior from historical and modern perspectives in psychology and behavior analysis.
3. Review, evaluate and apply research to empirically-based practices and contribute to knowledge of psychology and behavior through research and professional practice. 
4. Identify and describe various research methodologies and experimental designs to evaluate effective and ethical interventions.
5. Identify, describe and use psychological and function-based assessments to develop and evaluate efficacy of interventions and state and plan for possible unwanted effects of those interventions.
6. Provide for ongoing documentation, implementation, evaluation, and termination of behavioral services, including staff training and environmental support.
7. Describe multicultural and diversity issues and the historical variables that contribute to them, and apply the analysis to solving individual and social problems.
8. Communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people in a variety of formats, for varying reasons.
9. Develop and use behavior-analytic procedures to produce short- and long-term benefits for clients.

Admission Requirements

There are two entry points into the Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization Program:

• Post-Baccalaureate - 106 credits (48 Credits MS ABA and 58 Credits as below)
• Post-Master’s and BCBA® requirements - 58 credits

Post Baccalaureate Admission Requirements

Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Ph.D. Psychology Behavior Analysis specialization program (post- baccalaureate) is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements.  Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work. Factors that are considered in admission are: GPA from undergraduate and any graduate schools, successful work history after completion of the baccalaureate degree, the admission essay, and letters of recommendation from academic professors or professional or volunteer experience supervisors. Generally, an undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.

The Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program has two specific required undergraduate courses - a course in psychology and a course in either statistics or research methods - that must be completed prior to enrollment with a grade earned of “C” or better.

Post-Master’s Degree Admission Requirements

Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program (post- Master’s) is open to any person who has earned a master’s degree as specified below from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. 

The school admits applicants whom it judges to possess sufficient academic aptitude, as well as the emotional and social maturity to function effectively as a professional behavior analyst. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to engage in graduate work. Factors considered in admission are: undergraduate and any graduate coursework, GPA from undergraduate and graduate schools; successful work history; admission essay(s); and letters of recommendation from academic professors or professional or volunteer experience supervisors. An undergraduate or graduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to the school’s Applied Behavior Analysis doctoral program. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.

Applicants must meet these requirements for admission to the Ph.D. post-master’s:

• Applicants must fall into one of these two categories:
  • Have a master’s degree in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, or other related degree recognized by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) and hold a current BCBA® certification in good standing OR
  • Have a master’s degree in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, or other related degree recognized by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) and have completed the BACB® approved courses required to qualify for the BCBA® credentialing examination (based on the Fourth Edition Task) list. 

Based on the evaluation of these materials, selected candidates may be invited to interview for further consideration of their application. Applications must be submitted with the $50.00 (USD) application fee in order to be evaluated.

For all students: In addition to the admission criteria, it is recommended that students have access to a computer that is less than three years old, a broadband or Internet connection, and the Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook and, at minimum, the following computing skills:

• A comfort with basic Internet technology
• The ability to open and attach files from and to email
• The ability to send and receive email
• The ability to save documents                 

Applicant Notification

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Admission Committee and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.

If a student is offered admission, in order to secure a place in the incoming class, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $500 will be required by the deposit deadline indicated in the offer of admission. The non-refundable deposit will be applied in full toward the student’s tuition upon enrollment.

Policies

The following policies are located under Academic Policies and Procedures : Academic Calendar, Admissions Requirements, Attendance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Service Learning, and Transfer Credit/Course Waiver. Click the link above for detailed information.

Earning a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis

A student in the post-bachelor Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis program may earn a M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis following the successful completion of required coursework and specific program requirements. At the beginning of the semester in which a student expects to be eligible for the master’s degree, they are required to submit a Petition for Degree Conferral to the Office of the Registrar. The petition is a request to conduct an audit to determine eligibility for the degree. A student who meets the requirements is eligible to participate in the next scheduled commencement.

The specific requirements are as follows:

• Academic and Finaincial Aid Good Standing
• Sucessful completion of required coursework  (48 credits)

The Program

The Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) at the Los Angeles Campus is designed to prepare graduates for a career as a behavior analyst working in educational, clinical, and business settings. In addition, the doctoral program prepares graduates for licensure as a Licensed Psychologist in the state of California. Graduates are equipped with the repertoire to function as leaders in their respective positions (i.e., clinical, educational, academic, etc.) and are prepared to address a range of issues and problems, and to design, implement, and evaluate practical effective solutions. Entry to the program is offered to post-baccalaureate students with and without their master’s degree. The incoming profile of the student determines the semester credits, the course sequence, and the years required to complete the program.

Philosophy

The program is designed to prepare students in a wide variety of areas in behavioral service delivery as a practicing behavior analyst, and Licensed Psychologist in the state of California. Students focus on issues related to the understanding and analysis of human behavior from assessment to development of interventions aimed to help individuals with behavioral challenges to have better lives. A strong understanding of behavior from several perspectives assists graduates in looking at behavior and function of behavior in multiple ways to develop comprehensive behavioral treatment for the individuals they serve. Assessment and treatment of behavior is examined across a wide array, including severe behavior problems, mental health problems, instructional design, organizational behavior management, and applications with non-traditional populations such as geriatrics, people with traumatic brain injury, and regular and special education. Thus, while behavior analytic techniques apply to individuals with developmental disabilities, they are just as useful to people in the general population.

The doctoral program emphasizes not only knowledge in research, assessment and intervention techniques, but also sound understanding of basic concepts and principles of psychology and advanced concepts in behavior analysis so that students will have the conceptual and scientific underpinnings necessary to understand why behavioral interventions work, how to measure their effects, and how to make appropriate modifications to interventions when they do not. This is accomplished through the specialization training within the Ph.D. in Psychology program which provides students with instruction and exposure in subject matter related to all four domains of Behavior Analysis (i.e., Philosophy, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Service Delivery). Because behavioral interventions, such as Applied Behavior Analysis, are based on a rapidly developing and evolving behavioral technology grounded in research, the knowledge base is constantly changing. It is our Mission in the Ph.D. Psychology with specialization in Behavior Analysis program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Los Angeles campus to remain at the forefront of the development of this field.

Certification

The M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis program meets the degree, coursework, and supervised experience requirements to be eligible for Certification as a BCBA®.  

Licensure

Upon successful completion of the Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization program, graduates will have earned a doctoral degree in psychology that meets the degree level and degree name requirements of the California Board of Psychology [www.psychboard.ca.gov].  There are additional requirements for licensure as a Licensed Psychologist in California that fall outside of the scope of the program. Specifically, students will be responsible for completing the required two years (3,000 hours) of supervised professional experience outside of this program. Upon earning a qualifying doctoral degree, successful completion of supervised professional experience, and completion of additional required instructional hours in specified content areas, which are offered as electives in the program, an individual may apply to sit for the psychologist licensing exams administered by the California Board of Psychology.

Ethics and Professional Behavior

Students are expected to learn and to follow the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Behavior Analysis International, and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® during and after their work at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. A class in ethics is required at both the master’s and doctoral levels, and student adherence to ethical codes is evaluated both formally and informally. 

Professional Development Group

All students are required to enroll in a Professional Development Group during their first semester in the post-master’s program.  Their instructor serves as their academic advisor until they select a dissertation chair. The Professional Development Group class is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Comprehensive Examination

Students are required to take and pass a written comprehensive examination and an oral defense before they are allowed to propose their dissertation research to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Four 1-credit courses prepare students to take the exam and to defend their answers. Students have two chances to pass each component (a third attempt may be allowed under extenuating circumstances). When the written and oral components of the comprehensive exam are passed, the student becomes a Doctoral Candidate and can proeced to his/her dissertation research.

Dissertation

Students are also required to complete a dissertation. The dissertation must be a data-based empirical evaluation that marks an original contribution to the published literature. The Ph.D. Psychology, Behavior Analysis specialization course sequence facilitates student completion of the dissertation with a carefully designed course sequence that has the necessary steps toward dissertation completion embedded into the required coursework. Students receive detailed information about the dissertation process and related requirements during their first year in the program.

More specific information is located in the Program Guidebook.