Vanderbilt University

ABA Degrees Offered at Vanderbilt University

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

The Department of Psychology and Human Development within Peabody College at Vanderbilt University offers a Master of Education in Child Studies with Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis and a Master of Education in Special Education-Applied Behavior Analysis.

The Master of Education in Child Studies Applied Behavior Analysis focuses on creating solutions for challenges facing today’s children and their families. The program prepares students to work directly with children as practitioners. A total of 36 credit hours are needed to complete the program. The required coursework includes Introduction to Single-Subject Research Methodology, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Management Procedures for Academic and Social Behaviors, Administering Ethical Behavior Analytic Services, and Advanced Procedures in Classroom Management. Students must also complete a field-based placement to apply classroom learning to real-life situations.

The Master of Education in Special Education-Applied Behavior Analysis strives to educate students to improve the lives of children and youth with disabilities. Students work with other students and faculty on important initiatives and engage in fieldwork and research projects. A total of 30 to 60 credit hours are needed to complete the program. The required courses for the ABA specialization include Introduction to Single-Subject Research Methodology, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Management Procedures for Academic and Social Behavior, and Administering Ethical Behavior Analytic Services. Students must also complete an internship component. Graduates of the program are prepared to take the Behavior Analyst Certification Board examination.

About Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is a private, nonprofit, research institution of higher learning located in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1873 by Cornelius Vanderbilt. For the first 40 years, it was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1914, it separated from the church. It gained national recognition in 1949 from the Association of American Universities. The university has continued to flourish and expand over its history. Today, Vanderbilt University is home to more than 12,000 students from all 50 states and 95 countries on its urban 333-acre campus. It operates on the semester-based academic calendar.

Vanderbilt University is committed to inclusive excellence and it is focused on the discovery and acquisition of knowledge to improve the human condition. It is dedicated to operating as an institution of scholarly research, creative instruction, and service to the community. It upholds the highest standards and strives to act as a leader in the discovery of new knowledge through scholarship, distribution of information through instruction and outreach and innovative experimentation of concepts and ideas.

Vanderbilt University is home to 10 schools and colleges: College of Arts and Science, Peabody College, School of Engineering, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Blair School of Music, Divinity School, Law School, Graduate School, and Owen Graduate School of Management. It offers 69 majors across four different undergraduate schools. The most popular majors include social sciences, economics, political science and government, and neuroscience. The student to faculty ratio is seven to one to promote close connections between students and faculty. About 66 percent of classes have less than 20 students.

The U.S News and World Report ranks Vanderbilt University number 14 in its 2019 edition of National Universities publication. It also ranks the university number seven in Best Value Schools.

Vanderbilt University Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges regionally accredits Vanderbilt University to grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The master of education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Vanderbilt University Application Requirements

Vanderbilt University is considered a competitive and most selective school as it has an 11 percent acceptance rate every year. The following materials are needed to start the application process:

Undergraduate

• Submit application via Common Application, QuestBridge, or Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Official high school transcript
• Official transcripts from previously enrolled postsecondary institutions
• Official scores from standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT
• Counselor letter of recommendation
• Two academic teacher letters of recommendation

Graduate

• Submit online application
• Official transcripts from previously enrolled postsecondary institutions
• Official scores from graduate-level standardized tests, such as the GRE, GMAT
• At least two letters of recommendation, some programs require three
• Statement of purpose
• Additional requirements for specific programs

Online

• The online programs hold the same standards for admissions as the campus-based programs.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

The estimated costs for full-time undergraduate students: $48,600 per year

Tuition for graduate students varies by programs but is generally around $1,967 per credit hour

Financial Aid

Vanderbilt University offers multiple types of financial aid options to help students pay for their higher education, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Approximately 50 percent of full-time undergraduate students receive some sort of need-based financial assistance. The average award is $47,294.

Scholarships

• Ingram Scholarship
• Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship
• Chancellor’s Scholarship
• National Merit Scholarships
• The Carell Family Scholarship
• The Clark Scholars Program
• The Maggie Craig Memorial Scholarship
• The Curb Leadership Scholarship
• The John Seigenthaler Scholarship
• The Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship

Grants

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Tennessee Student Assistance Award
• Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program

Loans

• Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
• Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan

Student Employment

The Federal Work-Study program is a financial aid option funded by the federal government that provides funding to students working part-time jobs. Students must demonstrate a financial need to qualify for this program. Jobs are available both on and off campus and undergraduate students are able to work up to 19 hours per week. Graduate and professional students are able to work up to 29.5 hours per week. The pay starts at $7.25 per hour but varies by type of job and position. Students are normally paid every other week.

Vanderbilt Institutional Employment Program

Vanderbilt University offers an institutional employment program for those who do not qualify for the Federal Work Study option. Undergraduate students can work up to 19 hours per week and graduate students up to 29.5 hours per week. There is an array of work settings and locations. The biweekly pay begins at $7.25 per hour but differs by type of job.

Due to the increasing rate of behavioral conditions, highly trained professionals are needed to meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities. The ABA degrees offered at Vanderbilt University provide students with a sound knowledge of the methods of Applied Behavior Analysis to truly make a difference in a variety of settings, including schools, medical centers, and mental health facilities.