Degrees to Pursue

• Special Education (MS)
• Special Education (EDD)
• Non-degree certification (must have a master's degree)

Job Opportunities

Behavior analysts work in many applied fields including education, business, and clinical psychology. Currently, applied behavior analysis (ABA) has received a lot of attention for its effectiveness with children with autism. Researchers and clinicians (e.g., U.S. Surgeon General, NY Dept. of Health) recognize ABA as the treatment of choice for behavior problems and learning difficulties associated with autism. ABA has applications for other populations as well and has been recognized for producing remarkable results in academic learning and behavior in classrooms. Many behavior analysts work in schools as teachers or school psychologists working with students enrolled in special education. Many also work as scientists and scholars in higher education. Some behavior analysts provide in-home supervision of direct care providers or provide direct care for children with developmental disabilities and Autism. Others provide clinical services including functional analysis of behavior and treatment of serious behavior disorders such as self-injury and physical aggression. Still others work in business providing training for new employees and improving training programs.

However, not everyone who calls them self a behavior analyst is certified by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board®. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a professional who has documented graduate training and supervised, hands-on experience in applying the principles and procedures of behavior analysis, and has passed an examination in ABA given by the BACB

What is the work like?

The Applied in ABA refers to the application of the principles and procedures of the scientific study of behavior that are used to improve socially significant behavior to a meaningful degree.

The Behavior in ABA refers to the assessment and treatment of objectively defined behaviors of social significance.

The Analysis in ABA refers to the application of the scientific method to demonstrate that the improvement in behavior is a result of the procedures used to improve the behaviors. Once these procedures have been demonstrated they can be disseminated to improve the behavior of others.

In sum, ABA is a scientific discipline that is devoted to understanding and improving human behavior for the better (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007).

For well over the past 30 years scientists, teachers, therapists, business people, psychologists, parents, and counselors have used the methods and findings of behavior analytic research to improve academic performance, communication, safety skills, social skills, activities of daily living skills, teaching procedures, and assessment methods, among many other important behavioral repertoires.

In general, behavior analysts ask, “Why does behavior change over time?” Behavior analysts answer that question by primarily looking at environmental factors. Behavior analysts engage in tasks such as:

• Conduct functional behavior assessments and analysis (FBA)
• Interpret data from FBAs
• Design and implement interventions based on the principles of behavior
• Monitor progress and graph and interpret behavioral data
• Usually work with a team of professionals.

Why is the ICL department in the COE the best place to start?

The University of Memphis is now offering a 5 course and practicum sequence at the graduate level that will allow students to qualify to sit for a national board certification in behavior analysis. This program is the only program approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board in the Midsouth. Moreover, it is one of a handful of programs in the world that offer a practicum approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

How do our faculty work in this career community?

We participate in the TN Association for Behavior Analysis which allows us to interact with many practitioners across the state. We also work closely with several community agencies utilizing ABA for a variety of populations in the Memphis area. In addition, we have grants that offer ABA services to the community such as the Regional Intervention Project, Restructuring for Inclusive School Environments (RISE) Project, and West TN Positive Behavior Support Initiative.

What are special about our programs?

Our courses are designed to provide hands-on experience in conjunction with the practicum in ABA. Students will learn how to precisely define and measure the behaviors of interest of their students. They will learn how to determine whether their particular teaching method was effective using the performance of the student as their guide. They will go beyond the basics of learning what to teach when, and learn how to apply the principles of behavior to augment learning for any of their students.

Can you put the career into a context?

At a family gathering, Anthony sits on the floor silently lining up red blocks while his same age cousins buzz around the room dragging out every last toy they can find. He doesn’t seem to be remotely interested in the commotion in the room.
 
Brittany received a stuffed bear for her second birthday. She seldom cuddles the bear; instead she ritualistically pushes the bear through the wooden slats of the headboard on her bed while repeatedly saying, “The bears goes through the hole”.
 
Aaron used to greet his daddy when he came through the door after a long day at work and exclaim, “Hi daddy!” as best as an eighteen month old could. Months later Aaron has grown quiet and increasingly cries for no apparent reason.
 
Do you know someone with a similar story? Do you know someone with a child that is diagnosed with autism that has asked you where he or she can find help?
 
In many parts of the country (including Memphis) parents are seeking ABA therapists to work with their child. In the last 15 years the demand for ABA therapy has increased exponentially. The demand for knowledgeable professionals to oversee and provide direct training for children far outpaces the supply. It really is like the “Wild West” with snake oil salespeople selling their services without proper training and supervision. As a result, The Association for Behavior Analysis created the Behavior Analysis Certification Board to certify institutions and people as having provided and/or completed a rigorous set of course work and practica hours where the students are provided with hands on experience applying the methods and procedures of ABA. In the Spring of 2006 the University of Memphis Special Education program was granted approval to provide the course work and practica by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.

How ABA May Help

After 18 months of ABA, Anthony loves the company of his cousins and other children. The behavior analyst began involving his cousins in activities during ABA therapy that interested them and modeling and reinforcing Anthony’s social skills. Now he hugs a little to often and play skills are still difficult, but these issues are being addressed in ongoing therapy.
 
Brittany is showing signs of imaginative play after the behavior analyst and family members modeled how to play with stuffed animals and reinforced her when she did anything with the teddy bear other than pushing it through the slats of the bed. She’ll seek out other toys and had a tea party with her dolls the other day.
 
By systematically presenting objects or modeling actions and reinforcing Aaron for trying to say the related words, he now has 75 object or action words in his repertoire. He still perseverates on some words. The ABA therapists are working on getting Aaron to combine nouns and verbs.
 
ABA does not offer miracle cures or easy solutions. ABA therapy requires hard work on behalf of the parents, child, and teachers. It is the only research-based intervention that has demonstrated improvements with children with autism.

Our faculty

Dr. David F. Bicard, BCBA
Dave Bicard received his training and experience in behavior analysis at Teacher’s College, Columbia University and The Ohio State University. Prior to coming to the University of Memphis he was an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Florida International University. He has been a preschool teacher at The Fred S. Keller School and Research and Staff Development Coordinator at The Hawthorne Country Day School in New York. He has published four studies in The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and behavior management articles in The Middle School Journal and Preventing School Failure. His research interests include the effects of rules on the behavior of students with ADHD and language development of young children with Autism. He has been a BCBA since 2001.