Policies and Procedures and Expectations for the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis

Please download and save a copy of the MA Student handbook for your records. We encourage all MA students to review the policies and procedures in the handbook, which are also listed below.

MA Student Handbook, Fall 2023

Technology Requirements

• Students must have a desktop or laptop computer running Windows or macOS on which they can download programs.
  • A tablet can be used for the majority of the coursework, but some activities will require the use of a downloaded program on a desktop or laptop. (More information and instructions on this will be provided in the individual courses.)
  • A webcam is required for the online proctoring of exams.
  • Chromebooks will not work for some activities and students may have difficulty completing coursework on them.
• UNT uses the Canvas Learning Management System. Students need to be sure their computers meet the Canvas hardware and software requirements.
• UNT students have access to Microsoft Office 365 and to the OneDrive Office Web Apps. For more information and step-by-step instructions on installing Microsoft Office and using the OneDrive Office Web Apps, please see the IT Help Desk website.
  • Students will specifically need to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in their courses.
• Students must be able to open, print, and occasionally fill out PDF documents. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free to complete these tasks.
• UNT students will need access to Zoom if they wish to attend office hours or other online tutoring services (e.g., the Writing Center). To learn more about your UNT Zoom account, please see the Zoom Basics page.

Course Transfer Policy

Applicants to the MA program may substitute BEHV 5613 (Ethics) and/or BEHV 5634 (Staff Performance) with coursework taken in another Verified Course Sequence as long as:

• the coursework was completed in a BACB or ABAI Verified Course Sequence and covered the same number of content hours as the course(s) they wish to replace (i.e., BEHV 5613 and/or BEHV 5634);
• the coursework was completed with the grade of B or higher;
• all coursework taken to satisfy the MA degree requirements, including coursework that was transferred in, must be completed within 4 years.

During the admissions process, a coursework evaluation must be completed to ensure that the content hours required for BEHV 5613 Ethics and/or BEHV 5634 Staff Performance have been met and can be transferred into the BAO VCS. Written permission specifying that BEHV 5613 and/or BEHV 5634 may be replaced by the previously taken coursework must be secured by the student prior to starting any courses in the BAO program.

BAO coursework evaluations are completed independent of the BACB. BAO coursework evaluations are conducted only to determine if coursework from another VCS can replace BEHV 5613 and/or BEHV 5634.

Please note that the BACB will independently evaluate coursework to determine adherence to the currently required content hours. If desired, students may choose to have an official evaluation of any previous coursework completed by the BACB to determine adherence to the current requirements. For more information on this, please see the BACB’s website.

Concurrent Enrollment Policy

Classes must be taken in numerical order. MA students can take up to three classes concurrently. See the Course Sequence table for more information.

Earning below a B (80%) in any course requires students to take that course again. While retaking a class, students may not take it with any other class for which the one they are retaking is a prerequisite.

Course Performance Requirements

A grade of B (80%) or higher is required in order to pass a class and proceed to the next course(s) in the sequence.

Earning lower than a B (<80%) is considered failing a course and requires that the student take that course again. See the Concurrent Enrollment Policy for more information.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Please see UNT’s information on dropping a class and withdrawing.

Incompletes

No more than one “Incomplete” (‘I’) may appear on a student’s transcript for any course on the student’s degree plan. Students must remove the ‘I’ within the time period specified by the instructor, not to exceed one year from the time it is given.

Course Duplications

(per UNT policy)

Beginning Fall 2018, students may duplicate only two graduate courses in which they received a grade of C or lower for grade replacement. A single course may only be repeated once for grade replacement. If a student earns a master’s degree and then pursues a doctoral degree, the two-course limit is per degree level. Courses duplicated prior to Fall 2018 are not considered in the two-course limit. Post baccalaureate and non-degree courses duplicated apply to the master’s limit.

The responsibility for initiating the official recording of a grade duplication lies entirely with the student. However, the Registrar’s Office may post duplications at the request of the student’s advisor or to update academic status. In the absence of such a request, all grades received for a course will be included in the student’s cumulative hours attempted and grade points earned. Once a duplication request is submitted, only the last grade received is included in the student’s cumulative hours attempted and grade points earned.

Academic Integrity Policy

Please see the Academic Integrity Policy.

Academic Status

(per UNT policy)

This term is used as an indication of a student’s academic standing with the university. Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.6 in the initial term of enrollment and a CGPA of 3.0 in all subsequent terms to remain in good academic standing.

Cumulative grade point average (CGPA) refers to all graduate courses taken, including hours transferred from other institutions (see this page for more information).

Academic Probation

(per UNT policy)

A graduate student is placed on academic probation at the end of the initial period of enrollment if the CGPA drops below 2.6. A graduate student is placed on academic probation at the end of any subsequent term in which the CGPA falls below a 3.0.

Student Success

If a student is placed on academic probation, they will only be allowed to enroll in two courses per semester until their CGPA is at 3.0 or higher. Continued progress through the program is contingent on passing both courses taken while on probation. See Academic Suspension and Dismissal From the Program for more information.

Academic Suspension

(per UNT policy)

A graduate student who is placed on academic probation and who does not receive either a semester or a cumulative 3.0 graduate GPA during the term/semester of probation will be subject to academic suspension for a period of up to one calendar year before becoming eligible to reapply for graduate admission (see “Readmission of Graduate Students” in the Admission section) and enroll for further graduate courses. After the one-year period of suspension, students may re-enroll in graduate courses under probation. Students who are then suspended a second time without having returned to good academic standing by achieving a CGPA of 3.0 or better will be dismissed from the university. Programs are not required to readmit students who left the university on probation or suspension and reapply.

BAO Readmission Policy

Students who are placed on academic suspension are eligible to reapply to the program after one year (3 semesters). When reapplying, students must go through the same application and admissions process as new applicants to the program. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed; students reapplying to the program will be evaluated in the same way as all other applicants for that semester.

Dismissal From the Program

The UNT Toulouse Graduate School’s probation and suspension policies (see above) indicate when students are subject to dismissal from the University.

If a student feels they have been unfairly dismissed from the program, they can follow the Appeal Process procedures below.

Tuition and Fee Waivers

Several exemptions and waivers are available to qualifying students. Brief descriptions of these and additional information about exemptions and waivers can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

Program Completion

Students have four years to complete the MA program. If all courses are not completed within four years of starting the program, students will be required to start over if they wish to complete the program.

Application for Graduation

(per UNT policy)

It is the responsibility of the student to stay abreast of progress toward the degree and to file an application using the MyUNT student portal. Consult the Graduate School’s website for the proper dates. The applicant’s grade point average on all graduate work attempted must be at least 3.0 for the application to be accepted.

Because of the time required for receipt of transcripts, students otherwise eligible for graduation who complete their last course or courses elsewhere will not graduate at the end of the term/semester or summer session/term in which the work is completed but will receive their degree at the close of a subsequent UNT term/semester or summer session/term.

Tuition and fees information is available online. Students anticipating graduation should apply through MyUNT under Academic Records when graduation applications for that semester opens.

Leave of Absence

(per UNT policy)

Leave of absence applies to students admitted to the master’s or doctoral degree who wish to discontinue work toward the degree for a specified period of time due to exigent circumstances. If approved, the leave of absence may “stop the clock” on the time limit for the degree for a maximum of one year. In the case of extenuating circumstances, a leave of absence may be extended for a second year by the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School on the recommendation from the student’s committee, graduate coordinator, department chair, or academic associate dean. A leave of absence form must be submitted to the Toulouse Graduate School and must have approval of the student’s department chair or academic associate dean prior to submission to the Toulouse Graduate School. Once a student returns from an approved leave of absence of one year or longer, the student must submit an application through www.goapplytexas.org to reactivate the student record. After application, the student will automatically be readmitted to the prior programs and their time limit for completion of the degree will resume.

Leaves will only be granted under conditions that require suspension of all activities associated with pursuing the degree. Scenarios such as military deployment and medical leave (including childbirth, adoption of a child, or to care for a sick parent) are examples of a leave of absence that may be approved to “stop the clock” on degree time limits. Personal leave may be approved for a leave of absence but will not stop the clock on the degree time limit. (See “Time Limitations” in the master’s and doctoral degree requirements sections of this catalog.)

Click here for a Leave of Absence form.

Appeal Process

(per UNT policy)

Students who believe they have not been fairly treated in any aspect of their graduate program have the right of appeal. Students with questions concerning discrimination, grade appeal, academic integrity, disability, financial aid, accommodations, or the Code of Student Conduct must contact the appropriate academic personnel or compliance officer and refer to the appropriate policies. Appeals concerning extension of time to complete a degree should be initiated through the student’s major department. Appeals concerning admission to the Toulouse Graduate School are initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Appeals concerning admission to a particular degree program should be initiated through the student’s major department. Appeals regarding specific requirements to complete a degree should be initiated through the student’s major department. All other appeals should be initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School.

Admission decision and time extension appeals will be handled in a different manner. Information about these processes should be sought from either the student’s department or the Office of the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School.

Grade Appeal

(per UNT policy)

Students are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled as well as requirements for completion of their academic programs. Faculty members are responsible for establishing standards of academic performance and for evaluating student performance in an equitable manner. Faculty decisions in such matters are considered authoritative and can be overturned only when it has been determined that a grade was assigned in an inequitable, arbitrary, or erroneous manner. This policy outlines the grounds for a student grade appeal and the process by which it must be carried out.