University of Michigan

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ABA Programs at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is also featured in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Students on the Autism Spectrum.

The University of Michigan offers programs in special education through the School of Education for students who want to work in applied behavior analysis (ABA). It has a Master of Arts with Elementary Teacher Certification that features 52 credits of work. Students earn 12 credits from their fieldwork experiences, which include both a math practicum and a language arts practicum. They’ll also take courses on working with exceptional children and those who have learning disabilities and behavior disorders.

Another option is the university’s Master’s in Higher Education Student Access and Success. This program prepares majors for working with students in colleges and helping them succeed in their studies. It includes courses on working with those who have disabilities too. Majors must take two research courses and two cognate courses, which they’ll select with help from an advisor. At least three of their credits will come from a clinical practicum. This program features electives for students too, including Organizing for Learning, The Community College, Access and Equity in Higher Education and Law and Higher Education.

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The Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Behavior Analysis. Designed to match the course sequence of the certification board, this program looks at how professionals work with those on the autism spectrum and struggling with related disorders in school and at home. Courses are available in the fall, spring and summer, and students can take as many classes as they want each term. Their courses include Early Childhood Special Education Needs, Science and Human Behavior, Ethics in ABA, Child Maltreatment and Trauma, Introduction to Developmental Disabilities and Program Development, Supervision and Management.

Though the Dearborn campus, graduate students can also complete an applied behavior analysis certificate. This is only open to advanced students who already have a graduate degree but want to study ABA therapy. It helps students fulfill the requirements for taking the ABA licensing exam and helps students graduate in one year or less. Certificate students typically start in the fall and take 21 credits of classes over two to three semesters, but the university allows them to spend more time in the program as needed. Students will take some of the same courses as those in the degree program.

About the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public university that has campuses across the state. Founded in 1817 when Michigan was still a territory and not yet a state, it quickly grew to become one of the leading universities in the country. Also known as Michigan and U of M, it has a flagship campus in Ann Arbor, which ranks as one of the nation’s top college towns. Both Forbes and U.S. News and World Report rank U of M as one of the top 25 colleges in the United States. The education department at the university also ranked as number 11 on the USNWR list of the top education programs in the country. U of M has a total enrollment on the main campus of more than 46,000 students and an annual acceptance rate of 22%.

University of Michigan Accreditation Details

Michigan has regional accreditation, which is why incoming students and those working on their studies can get financial aid. Students will need to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get one of the university’s financial aid packages. This regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). U of M also has accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which covers all of the programs available through the School of Education.

University of Michigan Application Requirements

U of M has specific admissions requirements for students applying to the MS in ABA program. They need a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university. When they apply online, they will need to answer questions about their grades and where they attended school. The application also has a small fee that they need to pay before Michigan will process it. One section on the application allows students to either upload three letters of recommendation or provide their references’ contact information. It also has a section where they can upload a personal statement. This statement needs to list why they want to study ABA at U of M. The university also requires their official college transcripts. Though Michigan accepts students who have a bachelor’s degree in the graduate program, it requires a master’s degree of those applying to the ABA certificate program.

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The application deadline for the university’s education programs is January first for admission to the fall semester. Students need to write a 500-word personal statement on why they chose the university and how their background will help them. They also need to provide GRE scores from tests they took in the last five years, a resume and three letters of recommendation. Students will create an online account to access the application and upload all their information, including an academic statement of purpose and their school transcripts.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time graduate students at U of M pay $12,177 each semester as a Michigan resident or $24,591 as a nonresident. Part-time students pay $1,695 for their first credit hour as a resident and $3,074 as a nonresident. The university then increases the rate they pay for each additional credit to between $1,311 and $2,690. They also pay around $164 in fees each semester. Both the spring and summer semesters are half-terms that reduce the amount students pay because they do not take a full course load. Students are still responsible for paying their fees during these terms.

U of M offers many graduate assistant positions every year that go to students in the School of Education and other departments. They can work as staff or research assistants and as student instructors. The application for these positions requires a resume and cover letter. Students need to agree to take a full course load each semester and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition to jobs, graduate students can qualify for grants, federal loans, and scholarships. The University of Michigan requires that students submit the FAFSA when they apply to the ABA programs to get financial aid.