The University of Cincinnati is also featured in our ranking 40 Best Online ABA Graduate Certificate Online Programs.
University of Cincinnati Online Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate
Faculty at the University of Cincinnati designed the curriculum for the ABA graduate certificate around the recommendations of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. As such, the program meets the coursework eligibility requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination. Students will have to complete the practicum and internship requirements after completion of the program and before they sit for the exam, though. The entire program consists of six courses, each of which lasts for 15 weeks, and can be completed online in 1 to 2 years with no required campus visits. Five of the six classes are standard for everyone in the program and include Applied Behavior Analysis I and II and Functional Behavioral Assessment as well as an ethics and a research class. Students can choose between two options for the remaining course depending on their career goals, either Academic Assessment and Intervention or Family Intervention and Early Intervention. The University of Cincinnati does offer another ABA program that also satisfies academic requirements for the certification exam. The Master of Education in Foundations in Behavior Analysis curriculum includes all of the courses listed above as well as an additional nine credit hours in topics like child development, disabilities, and diversity as they relate to the educational setting. This program is also 100% online but requires at least 20 months of study. All five of the primary faculty members involved in the UC behavior analysis graduate programs are experienced in the field and hold doctoral degrees, and two of the full-time professors are also board-certified behavior analysts and school psychologists.
About University of Cincinnati
After two false starts in 1819 and 1835, the University of Cincinnati officially opened in 1870 after a wealthy resident willed the majority of his estate to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, specifically to open a university. The school grew quickly, and by 1906 it had settled in its current location, merged with the local medical and law schools, and added the colleges of education and of pharmacy as well as a graduate school. UC continually looks for ways to expand and improve and currently has multiple campuses and research facilities in the region. In total, there are over 40,000 students enrolled in the 14 different UC colleges that offer more than 100 individual degree programs including about 40 that are delivered entirely online. The school is said to have invented cooperative education principles in 1906 and remains dedicated to engaging students in practical applications of theories and experiential learning in every class. The school continues its tradition of innovation and received over $193 million from a variety of sources for research just in 2017. It has also been named an R1 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education which represents institutions that complete the most research. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked the University of Cincinnati 75th on its list of public schools nationwide as well as #62 out of all online graduate programs.
Featured Programs
University of Cincinnati Accreditation Details
As a whole, the University of Cincinnati is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) which is the organization charged with evaluating colleges and universities in 19 states, mostly in the central region of the United States. Every ten years, a school gets recertified if it continues to meet all standards, and UC last completed this process in 2009 and will finish its next cycle in 2019. Standards for accreditation are divided into five categories which include Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness, Teaching and Learning, and Integrity. Regional accreditation not only provides assurances for students, but it also is a requirement for federal financial aid including student loans. Additionally, the process encourages universities to regularly assess their weaknesses and implement necessary program and policy changes. Many individual programs are reviewed and approved by private industry-specific organizations. For example, the ABA program is designated as a Verified Course Sequence by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), certifying that the program meets academic requirements for certification and work in the field.
University of Cincinnati Application Requirements
For admission to the Applied Behavioral Analysis certificate program, the University of Cincinnati only requires a completed bachelor’s degree in a related field with at least a 3.0 GPA. However, according to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, in order to be eligible for certification, individuals must have earned at least a master’s degree in a related field like education or psychology. When applying to UC, students first submit the Graduate School application online and pay the $20 fee. Supplemental application material specific to the ABA program includes transcripts from previous colleges, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a statement describing the student’s motivation for attending the program. No standardized test scores are necessary. While the admissions board evaluates all aspects of a student’s application, the strongest consideration is given to those whose current employers value and practice ABA principles. Application deadlines fall in July, November, and April for fall, spring, and summer start dates respectively.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For students in the online ABA graduate certificate program, the in-state tuition rate is $724 per credit hour which is $13,032 for all 18 credit hours. Out-of-state students do pay a higher rate, but it is only an additional $15 per credit hour for a total program cost of $13,302. There are no additional fees except for purchasing books which are estimated at around $150 per semester. Since this is a certificate program and does not culminate in a degree, students are not eligible for some of the more traditional methods of financial aid but are encouraged to submit a FAFSA to determine their estimated family contribution and loan or grant options. Students are also advised to check with their employers because oftentimes businesses are willing to pay all or part of the tuition costs for employees who are pursuing higher education in their field. Additionally, there are numerous private scholarships available for applied behavioral analysis students including the Autism Recovery Foundation Behavior Analysis Scholarship and the Dr. Clyde and Ethelyn E. Wilcox Scholarship. Staff in the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Cincinnati are available to provide advice and resources regarding scholarships, student loans, and veteran educational benefits.
