California State University Sacramento

california-state-university-sacramento-masters-in-rehabilitation-counseling

ABA Programs Available at California State University Sacramento

California State University Sacramento is also featured in our ranking of the Top 25 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Programs.

California State University Sacramento offers two applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs for different types of students. One of the two options available is a certificate in ABA. Designed for post-bachelor students, it requires that they have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a similar field before they begin. Students must receive a grade of C or higher in each of the six classes they take, which are each worth between three and four credits. Those classes include Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology of Exceptional Children and Clinical Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis. There is also a practicum that includes fieldwork and teaches students about the ethics of working in this field.

Graduate students can earn a Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis too. This graduate program prepares students for sitting for the exam to become a licensed behavior specialist and requires that they maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0. Students will also need to receive a grade of B or higher in each course or the university will ask that they retake those classes. The university asks that students take a written placement exam and do a thesis or project to earn their degrees.

Featured Programs

This graduate program includes two core courses: Methods in Empirical Psychology and Survey of Contemporary Statistical Methods in Psychological Research. Students will also take 24 units of additional required classes and 24 units of ABA classes. Those classes include Seminar in Learning and Behavior, Research Methods in Behavior Analysis, Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis and Applied Behavior Analysis in the Workplace. Six of the credits that students get come from their research and thesis work. Whether they do a thesis or a final project, students will need to get approval from the department and pass a written exam before doing any of this final work.

About California State University Sacramento

California State University Sacramento is a public university in Sacramento, California also known as CSUS and Sacramento State. Established in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it opened as an extension of Sacramento Junior College and offered classes on that college’s campus. Though locals petitioned the state for a new college as early as the 1920s, it wasn’t until the end of World War II that a college finally opened in the city. This new school provided opportunities for those who had GI Bill benefits that they could use for college. The college began working on a separate campus in 1951 and saw more than 30 buildings completed within the decade. Guy West Bridge was one of the first structures on the campus and is something of a local landmark today.

After joining the California State University system in 1972, it became CSUS. The university added its first doctoral program in 1999 and now offers multiple doctoral and graduate programs as well as options for undergrads. Students called the campus Sac State for many years, which led to the university adopting the Sacramento State nickname. This nickname also separates it from the other California State University campuses. Ranked nationally by Times and Forbes and regionally by U.S. News and World Report, Sacramento State saw its enrollment grow as its curriculum did to reach a high of more than 31,000 students.

California State University Sacramento Accreditation Details

Sacramento State has regional accreditation that allows it to accept transfer credits from incoming students. This accreditation comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and comes up for renewal once every 10 years. Sacramento State renewed its accreditation several times over the years. WASC accreditation also lets this public university give financial aid packages to students based on both their need and merit that includes government programs.

California State University Sacramento Application Requirements

Students applying to the post-bachelor ABA certificate program must meet the same requirements that traditional undergrads do. This includes both an official transcript and an application. Students who have a bachelor’s degree and maintained a GPA of at or above 3.0 do not need to submit their test scores, but the university asks for an ACT or SAT score from any applicant with a lower GPA. A student’s transcript should also show that he or she took specific courses, including Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods in the Social Sciences or similar courses.

Featured Programs

CSUS asks that prospective graduate students use the Cal State application online and create an account to access the application. They will also submit two official transcripts because one copy will go to the ABA program and the second will go to the university’s graduate school. A GRE score is also required, and it can take up to six weeks for the university to receive that score. The Psychology Department at Sacramento State also looks at those transcripts to make sure that students took statistics and advanced research classes. This department requires that all incoming graduate students provide three letters of recommendation too. CSUS encourages students to submit two academic letters and one professional letter.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Sacramento State students enrolled in a certificate program pay $2,449 per semester if they take six or fewer credit hours of classes. When they take more than six credit hours, those students pay $3,655 per semester. Both figures include tuition fees and other mandatory fees charged by the university. Those enrolled in the psychology and ABA graduate program will pay $2,866 per semester to take up to six credits of classes. When they take more than six credits, they pay $4,372 per semester.

Applying for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the easiest way for prospective students to get financial aid from CSUS and the government. Those who qualify for work-study can get assistantship jobs and help their professors or undergraduates with their classes and assignments. There are some assistantships available that include research opportunities too. The university’s Psychology Department has several scholarships and awards available for graduate and post-bachelor students too. Those who use the FAFSA can also take out direct student loans and other loans from the government, but they may want to use one or more private loans also. All the ABA programs offered by California State University Sacramento accept financial aid that comes from the university, government and external sources.