Skip Section Navigation

 

Graduate Admissions for the M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Thank you for your interest in our Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis offered by the UNT Department of Behavior Analysis. We are proud to offer a flexible, fully online degree program designed to provide the knowledge base for effective and compassionate practice in behavior analysis. Our completely online and asynchronous coursework offers students flexibility and independence in their learning.

Our coursework meets the specifications of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The degree offers ten 3-hour courses that are grounded in scientific principles and prioritize compassion, analysis, responsiveness, and effectiveness (CARE) in practice.

What we Look for in Applicants

Our application process is competitive and holistic. We seek applications from caring individuals who are passionate about the value applied behavior analysis brings to people’s lives.  Students with experience in behavior analysis or related fields (such as special education) are typically the most successful in this rigorous program.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round. All required application materials—including letters of recommendation—must be received by the deadline to be considered for that semester.

We strongly encourage you to begin the application process early to ensure that all materials, including letters of recommendation, are submitted on time.

  • Fall semester: June 15
  • Spring semester: October 15
  • Summer semester: March 31

Important note: If your application is incomplete by the deadline, you will need to submit a new application and pay the application fee again to be considered for a future semester.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • GPA requirements:
    • For Fall 25 applicants, a 3.0 GPA overall or 3.25 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is required.
    • For Spring 2026 applicants, a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or a 3.25 GPA in graduate work is required.
  • GRE is not required.

Preferred Qualifications

  • A 3.5 GPA, overall.
  • At least one year of experience, preferably in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); related fields such as special education also strengthen your application.
  • A specified plan to receive BCBA supervision. Existing placements for supervision strengthen your application.
  • Strong written communication skills.

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

To be considered for admission, all of the following materials must be received by the stated deadlines:
  1. Graduate School Application via UNT GradCAS (Centralized Application System)
    Submit your application through GradCAS and upload the following required documents within that system:
    1. Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Upload a current and complete resume or CV, including your most recent education and work experiences.
    2. Transcripts: Request and submit official transcripts from all institutions you attended.
  2. Department Application
    Complete the Departmental Application Form (via Qualtrics). This is a separate step from the GradCAS application.
  3. Personal Statement
    Submit a personal statement that includes two parts: Use Arial, Aptos, or Calibri font with 1-inch margins for the statement.
    1. Part 1 (500-600 words):
      1. Briefly describe your educational and work background, as related to your experience in ABA or related fields.
        REQUIRED: Specify how many years of relevant professional experience you have, especially in behavior analysis.
      2. Explain why you are interested in behavior analysis and your professional aspirations.
    2. Part 2: Supervision Plan (300 words maximum):
      1. Describe your plan to gain supervised fieldwork hours, including whether you currently work in a location where this is possible and who might serve as your BCBA supervisor.
      2. Identify the settings and types of experiences you hope to gain during supervised fieldwork.
  4. References
Provide reference information directly in the UNT GradCAS application. A minimum of two professional references are required. These references should address your professional skills, conduct, and your ability to succeed in graduate-level work. Including one academic reference and one professional reference (preferably a BCBA or work supervisor) can strengthen your application.

Important Note About References:
We will contact your references with a recommendation form for them to complete. References will  not be contacted until all application materials have been submitted. The application deadlines are  firm, so please submit your reference information as early as possible to allow time for processing    by the closing date.

Additional Support

Please review the Graduate Admissions website for information on how to submit your documents through GradCAS.

 If you have any questions, please contact us at BAO@unt.edu.

Disclaimer Regarding Licensure Laws

Many states are passing laws that require licensure to practice Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Licensing is different from certification. It is possible that even after becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) you will not be able to practice in the state where you live without licensure. Some states even have rules regarding which coursework programs will be allowed when applying for licensure in that state.

Our online program offers asynchronous courses leading to a Master of Arts (MA) degree or Graduate Academic Certificate (GAC) in Applied Behavior Analysis. When combined with supervised fieldwork that is obtained outside our program, you will be eligible to take the national Board Certified Behavior Analysis (BCBA) exam administered by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). Obtaining BCBA certification meets the criteria to become Texas Licensed Behavior Analysts (TX-LBA). If you are located outside of Texas, please refer to the US Licensure of Behavior Analysts section on the BACB website.

ABOUT US

The Department of Behavior Analysis Master of Science degree program was the first graduate program in the nation to be accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis. The program has attracted students from Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, England, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, and Norway as well as from 17 states in the U. S. Whether alumni go on to pursue a doctoral degree or assume professional positions in the community, they are consistently viewed in their new settings as highly accomplished behavior analysts.

The department’s Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis was the first of its kind in the nation. Its curriculum includes intensive training in the principles and application of applied behavior analysis, in the context of a broad general education.

Due to the increasing demand for applied behavior analysts (or applied behavior analysis practitioners) in 1999 the department developed a sequence of internet courses. These courses allowed professionals to continue their behavior analysis education as well as meet the academic requirements for professional certification by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

In 2003, the Department of Behavior Analysis received a research endowment from the estate of Beatrice H. Barrett, Ph.D. In 2004, the department established the Beatrice H. Barrett Research Program in Neuro-Operant Relations.

behv.unt.edu
Behavior.Analysis@unt.edu
940-565-2274
Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #310919
Denton, TX 76203

Physical address:
Chilton Hall, Suite 360
410 Ave. C
Denton, TX 76210