Our Los Angeles campus ABA masters program is offered in a flexible format (including evenings, weekends, and online learning) that is well-suited for working adults. The program requires just two years full-time or three years part-time to complete.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program teaches students to develop essential diagnostic, therapeutic, and consultative skills in order to work with a variety of clinical populations—ranging from children to the elderly—and with a variety of emotional, intellectual, and psychological conditions and problems. Graduates will have the training to work in community service agencies, mental health services, therapeutic day schools, child and adolescent facilities, family counseling centers, group homes, substance abuse programs, and with required licensure, independent practice. The program has adopted the practitioner-scholar model that is predicated on the belief that a competent practitioner must have both a broad knowledge of the scientific and theoretical principles in the clinical practice of psychology and the ability to apply that knowledge to specific clinical situations.

The M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis Specialization is the ethical design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental changes to produce socially significant improvements in behavior. In addition to providing a solid foundation in clinical psychology at the master’s level, the Applied Behavior Analysis Specialization incorporates the content areas and practicum requirements to make graduates eligible for national board certification by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board®. The aim is to prepare students for rewarding careers in the rapidly growing field of applied behavior analysis. Graduates work in residential, school, and community-based settings with a wide variety of clients including children, adults, and seniors. Clients have diagnoses of developmental disabilities such as autism, behavioral difficulties, major mental illness, and a variety of geriatric conditions.

Program Highlights

• Well known in a variety of practices within the clinical psychology field, such as Applied Behavior Analysis, our faculty are experienced in diverse areas such as precision teaching, developmental disabilities, rehabilitation, and psychopharmacology
• Skills that will be vital to a student’s professional work are taught as the foundation of our applied beaver analysis courses, such as the ability to determine experimentally the cause(s) of problem behavior, develop humane and effective interventions, and assess outcomes
• The many ways to approach different clients is learned to be continually validated through frequent progress measurement
• Our Applied Behavior Analysis degree program features thorough training in a variety of ABA techniques
• Practitioners are trained by Applied Behavior Analysis courses that use a theoretical foundation while teaching in a real-world setting
• The ability to work with and understand diverse and underserved populations is considered highly significant in all our ABA programs; successful students demonstrate an appreciation for and competence in this area
• All our Los Angeles Applied Behavior Analysis graduate programs combine excellent theoretical classroom training with out-of-classroom learning opportunities in a dynamic urban environment

• Master’s level Applied Behavior Analysis courses teach students the theoretical frameworks and scientific bases of ABA clinical work.
• Graduates of our Applied Behavior Analysis graduate programs will develop the essential diagnostic, therapeutic, and consultative skills needed to work with a variety of clinical situations and within a myriad of emotional and psychological conditions within the ABA framework.
• As they work toward their Applied Behavior Analysis degree, students will learn research methodologies specifically tailored to ABA and be able to critically evaluate research as it relates to behavioral interventions.
• Students will gain a solid foundation of knowledge by learning the ethical and professional guidelines of clinical psychology and how they pertain to ABA.
• Working with the diverse populations that make up the community of Los Angeles, students will learn to understand and appreciate the impact of diversity and cultural issues in not only the area of Applied Behavior Analysis, but in the entire field of clinical psychology.

Program Requirements

• 52 semester credits, including 44 credits of classroom based course work and six credits of practicum.

• A two-year full-time or three-year part-time program. The program must be completed within five years.

• Structured in a non-traditional format to accommodate the schedule of the working professional. Classes are offered in the evenings and every other weekend in a manner that maximizes efficient in-class and online learning.

• Program requires six credits (1,000 clock hours) of field-based clinical training held at participating sites, as well as a two-credit-hour M.A. thesis.

Qualifications to Apply

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution

• Generally, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required. However, each applicant is reviewed holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Admission to discuss their unique qualifications.

• Completion of one course in statistics or research methods, and at least one course in psychology

Additional Application Requirements for International Students

If English is not your primary language, you must submit official scores from TOEFL (www.toefl.org) (School Code: 7161) or from IELTS (www.ielts.org) with your application. If you attend or have attended a university that is not in the United States, you must submit a “course-by-course” evaluation of your transcripts. You can arrange for an evaluation through several organizations: World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. Students must have a U.S. equivalent bachelor's degree. You also must submit to The Chicago School all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts in addition to the agency evaluation. Visit the Office of International Student Services website for more information about additional requirements once you have been admitted.

International students must have a completed application by the general consideration deadline. This will allow sufficient time to obtain the additional documentation required to study in the United States. Upon acceptance, international students must supply documentation of financial support showing the ability to finance their education. An I-20 visa will not be issued without this documentation.

For more information about our Clinical M.A. Applied Behavior Analysis specialization contact:
Office of Admission
Phone: 312.329.6666
Toll Free: 800.721.8072, ext. 6666
Email: admissions@thechicagoschool.edu

Additional Program Information

Applied Behavior Analysis
Clinical Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Industrial Organizational and Business Psychology
School Psychology
Continuing Professional Development