Instructors are recognized experts in the fields of psychology and behavior analysis drawn from the Psychology faculty at UNR and other universities as well as expert behavior analysts in Florida.

How it Works

The program will be delivered in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida area by the University of Nevada—Reno (UNR) faculty and is sponsored by Behavior Analysis, Inc. (BAI).

Students are expected to have full- or part-time employment in a human services job. Courses will be offered at times to minimize conflict with these jobs.

Students will take two courses in each Fall and Spring semester. There will also be on additional course in the last summer term.

Upon successful completion of coursework and practica, the student will be granted a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada -Reno, a fully accredited and recognized university.

Each 3-hour course consists of 45 contact hours by expert behavioral faculty from the UNR.

Courses will be offered at times convenient to most students. We anticipate each 3 semester hour course to include 4, two-day classes. Each class will meet  Saturday and Sunday, four times during each semester.

Classes will begin Winter 2005. Registration is now open.

Admission Requirements

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) from an accredited college or university may apply for admission to the program.

Applicants must submit an application to the UNR Admission Office along with an official transcripts, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, 2 letters or recommendation and an application fee of $60. Applicants are reviewed by the Behavior Analysis Training Committee at UNR

Applicants whose GREs do not meet minimum requirements will be admitted to a proscribed program in which satisfactory performance (at least a "B" in every course) in the first full year of study will be required for continuation in the program.

Cost

The cost for the entire 3-year masters program is approximately $13,845.

UNR Core Faculty

Patrick M. Ghezzi

Linda J. Hayes

Steven C. Hayes

Ramona Houmanfar

Michele D. Wallace

W. Lawrence Williams

Other selected expert behavior analysts from around the United States

The Curriculum

PSY 606: Applied Behavior Analysis (3 credits)
Students will become familiar with various themes and topics in applied research and effective practice pertaining to people with developmental disabilities, autism, and other clinical populations.

PSY 673: Behaviorism (3 credits)
Students will understand the theory and philosophy of behavioral psychology as it applies to complex behaviors (e.g., thinking, remembering, speaking) and to societal issues and problems.

PSY 699 (section 1): Professional Ethics (1 credit)
Students will become familiar with the principles and guidelines governing the conduct of psychologists and behavior analysts such as to enable them to fulfill their professional roles in an ethical manner.

PSY 699 (section 2): Principles of Behavior (2 credits)
Students will learn the principles of operant conditioning including reinforcement, stimulus control, generalization, extinction, punishment, and establishing operations. Students will also learn the principles of respondent conditioning, basic schedules of reinforcement, and procedures of shaping, chaining and fading, among others.

PSY 713: Observation and Assessment (3 credits)
Students will learn to define behavior objectively, to employ various observational strategies, to collect useful data, and to conduct functional analyses as to the circumstances responsible for various behaviors. Students will also learn to conduct assessments relevant to the development of individual service plans, including self assessments. Pre-requisite: PSY 699 (sections 1 & 2)

PSY 723: Applied Research Methods (3 credits)
Students will learn the principles and procedures of within-subject research design such as to enable them to be infomred consumers of research, as well as conduct independent research. Pre-requisite: PSY 699 (section 2)

PSY 752: Graduate Research (3 credits)
Students will conduct a study on a topic of choice at either the individual or organizational level, analyze the data, and prepare a report on the project. These projects are conducted under the supervision of a research advisor.

PSY 760: Seminars in Behavior Analysis (6 credits)
Two courses will be offered that consider selected topics relevant to applied behavior analysis. Pre-requisite: PSY 699 (section 2)

PSY 762: Behavioral Interventions (3 credits)
Students will learn proven strategies for teaching new skills, sustaining active treatment, and overcoming problems of adjustment including severely challenging behaviors. Students will learn to develop treatment plans and programs. Pre-requisite: PSY 713

PSY 765: Organizational Behavior Mgmt. (3 credits)
Students will learn proven strategies for impacting organization functioning in the role of a program director or administrator. Topics include such issues as the recruitment, training, performance evaluation and compensation of front line and managerial staff, organizational level goal setting and accountability, and leadership.

PSY 766: Behavior Analysis Practicum I (3 credits)
This course is conducted in the field. Students will develop, deliver, and document needed treatment/training programs for clients in their care, under the supervision of qualified professionals. Pre-requisites: PSY 713 and 762

PSY 767: Behavioral Consultation (3 credits)
Students will learn proven strategies for impacting organizational functioning in the role of a consultant. Topics include such issues as working effectively with parents, teachers, physicians, and other service providers, as well as improving interdepartmental collaboration and team building. Pre-requisite: PSY 765

PSY 768: Behavior Analysis Practicum II (3 credits)
This course is conducted in the field. Students will develop and deliver needed treatment/training programs for clients in their care under the supervision of practicum instructors. Pre-requisites: PSY 765 and 767

PSY 797: Masters Thesis (6 credits)
This is an optional class that will replace PSY 752 and one section of PSY 760. Students will review the literature on a topic of choice at either the individual or organizational level, design and conduct a study on this topic, analyze the data, and prepare a report on the project. These projects are conducted under the supervision of a thesis chair, and with the evaluation of two additional committee members.

For More Information

For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

You can also visit the UNR Psychology Department web site.