MS in Applied Behavior Analysis
A joint program between the UNO Department of Psychology and Munroe Meyer Institute at UNMC
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| Applied Behavior Analysis Program Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Mission | Program Overview | Curriculum | ||
| Application Requirements | ABA Handbook 2025-2026 | Frequently Asked Questions | ||
| Questions? Dr. Mark Shriver | Application Deadline: January 10th | |||
Core and Affiliate ABA Faculty
Core Faculty are those who teach courses, provide academic advisement, and serve on the MS ABA Program Committee. Core faculty may also provide fieldwork supervision and research advisement. Affiliate faculty provide fieldwork supervision and/or research advisement and serve on student committees and other program committees as needed.
Program Mission
The University of Nebraska Omaha and Munroe Meyer Institute Applied Behavior Analysis Program’s mission is to graduate students who have met high levels of academic excellence in clinical and research skills in behavior analysis. The ABA Program trains students to provide person-centered, culturally responsive, and collaborative services for individuals across the lifespan, including those with neurodevelopmental disabilities, to promote behavioral health outcomes.
Program Overview
The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program is a joint program managed collaboratively by the UNO Psychology Department and the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. The program prepares students to be behavioral health practitioners with advanced knowledge and skills related to the provision of behavioral therapy for children and adolescents.
Coursework
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the courses outlined below toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination. For more information about the verified course sequence, visit the VCS Directory. Students in the program complete 51-54 credit hours to earn a Master of Science Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. The ABA program typically takes two years of full-time study to complete.
Fieldwork
Supervised fieldwork opportunities are equired as part of MMI 947/PSYC 9470 Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis. Supervised fieldwork may be completed in Intensive Clinical Services (Severe Behavior, Early Intervention, Pediatric Feeding, Autism Care for Toddlers clinic), Clinical Outpatient Behavioral Health (integrated behavioral health in primary care, behavioral health outpatient clinic, community agencies, home-based services), and School-based Services (ABA for students with high-intensity needs, school-based mental health, behavior consultation).
BCBA Certification
Students who graduate from the program will be eligible to sit for the examination (administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board) for certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA).
First-time BCBA exam pass rate is over 90% since 2010.
Provisional Licensure as a Mental Health Practitioner
Coursework in the MS-ABA Program also addresses most of the content areas required for licensure as a mental health practitioner in Nebraska. Upon completion of the program, students interested in obtaining Provisional Licensure as a Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) will need to complete 2-3 additional courses not offered by our program. These courses may be taken through UNO or through other local universities such as Bellevue University.
Once these courses are taken, the student may submit an application for review by the mental health board of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. With the PLMHP, the student will also need an additional 3000 hours of supervised experience and will need to successfully pass a licensing exam to be a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) in the State of Nebraska. Practitioners holding the BCBA® and/or the LMHP typically work in clinical mental health settings, behavioral health community agencies, inpatient and outpatient clinics in hospitals, and schools.
Curriculum
Typical Program Course Sequence for a Full-Time Student
First Year
Fall
PYSC 9040/MMI 904 Proseminar: Learning (3 credits)
MMI 957/PSYC 9570 Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
PSYC 9100/MMI 910 Small n Research Designs (3 credits)
PSYC 9470/MMI 947 Practicum in ABA (3 credits)
Spring
MMI 813 Applications of Statistics in Psychology (3)
MMI 857/PSYC 8570 Behavior Analysis and Intervention (3)
PSYC 9150 Basic Research in Behavior Analysis (3)
PSYC 9470/MMI 947 Practicum in ABA (3 credits)
Second Year
Fall
PSYC 8700/MMI 870 Ethics and Law for Psych and ABA (3 credits)
PSYC 9560 Proseminar: Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
PSYC 8550/MMI 855 Psychotherapeutic Interventions (3 credits)
PSYC 9470/MMI 947 Practicum in ABA (3 credits)
Spring
MMI 905/PSYC 9050 ABA in Education (3 credits)
PSYC 9140 Assessment and Treatment of ASD (3)
PSYC 9160 Behavior Analytic Approaches to Organizational Change and Human Performance Improvement (3 credits)
MMI 947/PSYC 9470Practicum in ABA (3 credits)
Comprehensive Examination (required)
Research credits (3 credits for Research other than Thesis PSYC 9960/MMI 896 or 6 credits for Thesis PSYC 8990/MMI 899) are typically taken during the summer after the first year and/or during the second year of the student’s program.
Total Credit Hours Required: 51-54
Please note: The Association for Behavior Analysis Verified Course Sequence (VCS) System is being discontinued in January 2026.
Applying for certification BEFORE December 2025
Students who plan to submit their application for their BCBA before December 2025 are eligible to apply under Pathway 2 - Verified Course Sequence. The UNO program is currently an approved VCS.
Applying AFTER December 2025
Effective January 1, 2026, the new eligibility requirements will apply. This means that students will apply under Pathway 2 - Coursework Requirements (not VCS).
The UNO/UNMC MS program has been designed to meet the BCBA coursework requirements. Students will need the Pathway 2 Program Contact, Dr. Mark Shriver, to review and provide an attestation for courses completed. Applicants mayneed to meet additional requirements to qualify to take the BCBA exam (e.g., fieldwork).
Please contact Dr. Mark Shriver at mshriver@unmc.edu when you are planning to apply.