ABA Programs at the Columbia University Teachers College
Columbia University Teachers College is also featured in our ranking of the Top 25 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Programs.
The Columbia University Teachers College offers two applied behavior analysis degree programs, both of which are designed for graduate and doctoral students. Students in the graduate program can get a dual certification, which allows them to teach all types of students in New York and to work with special education students. They will also meet some of the requirements for becoming a licensed behavior analyst in New York or a certified analyst. Certified analysts can work in other states. One of the top requirements of this program is an internship, which lasts for two years. The college asks that students work in one of the research and development schools associated with Columbia University.
Students in the Master of Arts program must take eight key classes, including Applied Behavior Analysis I and II. Applied Behavior Analysis III is a separate course that focuses on school systems and the application of ABA methods in those schools. Students who do not already have their teaching licenses must agree to do observations in the field. They’ll also need to take other courses to meet the requirements for teachers in the state. The ABA program teaches students how to work with kids and adults who are self-learners and how to teach those individuals in schools and other settings.
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A Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Behavior Analysis is also available through the university. This program features seven required courses: three of which focus on research methods and prepare students for their dissertation work. They will also need to take seven classes from within the ABA specialization, including Problems in Special Education and Advanced Seminar in Special Education. The program includes a practicum too, which asks majors to work in schools with students on the autism spectrum and those in special education classes. Students can get certification to work with kids up through the fifth grade through this program too.
About the Columbia University Teachers College
The Columbia University Teachers College is the graduate school at Columbia University that is responsible for all of the university’s advanced education programs. It uses the official name of Columbia University, Teachers College and the nickname TC. Some also call it the Columbia University Graduate School of Education. Established in 1887, the school opened after William Vanderbilt Junior donated money to the Industrial Education Association (IEA). IEA used that money to open a small school that trained New York teachers to work in public schools. It became the New York School for the Training of Teachers and then the Teachers College. The name it uses today came about in 1898 after it became affiliated with Columbia.
TC now offers Master of Arts, Education, and Science degree programs as well as Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs. Most of the programs look at the issues facing teachers in urban districts, including a lack of funds and less interest from students. Many of the teachers who graduate from the college work in New York public schools in low-income districts. U.S. News and World Report ranked the college as the best graduate school in America five different times in the past and ranked it as the seventh best graduate school in 2019. QS World University Rankings ranked the college, which has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students, as the ninth best school for education and training in the world.
Columbia University Teachers College Accreditation Details
The New York State Department of Education approved TC and all its degree programs. It has regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and accreditation for all its teaching programs, which comes from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The applied behavior analysis programs offered by the college also have accreditation from Applied Behavior Analysis International.
Columbia University Teachers College Application Requirements
TC hosts online events in the form of webinars that let prospective students speak to already enrolled students as well as some professors. The college also holds open houses regularly and allows students to attend special events away from its campus to learn more about the ABA programs. Interested students can also follow the college on Facebook and other social media sites to hear about upcoming events.
Any student who wants to apply to the college can use the same application. TC only offers graduate programs and has an application deadline of June first for the fall semester. It also has deadlines of November first and March first for the spring and summer semesters. The application asks students to create an account and requires an email address, full name, and date of birth. There are areas on the application for students to upload a resume, statement of purpose and transcript. Students can also submit their official transcripts through the mail. The statement of purpose asks students to give their reasons for applying to the ABA program and to explain what drew them to TC. Students must also provide two letters of recommendation and a writing sample.
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Tuition and Financial Aid
Any student attending TC will pay $1,635 per credit hour and fees of $458 per credit hour. Students from New York and those from other states all pay the same rate because the college does not have a nonresident fee. Those who take nine credits of classes will pay $15,173 per semester, while those who take 12 credits pay $20,639 per semester. This includes all fees and a health insurance package from the college. TC requires that any student enrolled full-time pay a $561 fee for health insurance.
Financial aid is available from TC for students who qualify though. The college recommends that graduate students apply for aid by January 15 and that doctoral students apply for aid by December 15. Students only need to submit the FAFSA to find out if they qualify for the TEACH grant or for federal student loans. The FAFSA also helps them qualify for work study. More than $9 million in scholarships go to incoming and returning students each year too. CT also offers assistantships and fellowships that require students to work on research projects, do administrative work or help their professors. Students applying to the applied behavior analysis degree programs at the Columbia University Teachers College can get financial aid from the college and government aid too.
