Program Requirements

PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis: Program Requirements

• The program requires at least 93 post-baccalaureate credit hours of graduate study.
• Each student will complete an MA degree in their first 2-3 years including at least 53 credit hours, and an empirical thesis. Students must successfully present and defend their thesis to their faculty committee.
• Each student must pass a doctoral qualifying examination.
• Each student will complete at least 40 credit hours in doctoral-level coursework.
• Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student's committee that results in an original, high quality, significant, and substantial body of research. Students must successfully present and defend their dissertation to their committee.
• Each student will complete a 1-year external internship.
• All requirements for the degree must be completed within the timeframe set forth by the Graduate School.
• At least 2 of the academic training years must be completed at UNCW.
• At least 1 year of the program must be completed in full-time residence.
• All grades for students in The General Clinical concentration must be a B or higher.

PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis: Course Requirements

I. Discipline-Specific Knowledge

• PSY 505 – History & Systems of Psychology (Credit Hours: 1)
• PSY 517 – Learning and Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 520 – Developmental Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 556 – Advanced Physiological Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 565 – Personality and Social Psychology (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 695 – Advanced Integrative Study Seminar (Credit Hours: 3)

II. Research and Quantitative Methods

• PSY 515 – Small-n Research Design (Credit Hour Hours: 3)
• PSY 555 – Quantitative Methods in Psychology I (Credit Hours: 4)
• PSY 579 – Advanced Research Practicum (Credit Hours: 1)
• PSY 580 – Advanced Research Practicum (Credit Hours: 1)

III. Thesis and Dissertation

• PSY 599 – Thesis in Psychology (Credit Hours: 1-6; 6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)
• PSY 699 – Dissertation Proposal (Credit Hours: 1-3; 3 credits required)
• PSY 799 – Dissertation Research (Credit Hours: 1-5; 6 credits to be taken over at least two semesters)

IV. Profession-Wide Competencies

• PSY 518 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessment and Intervention 1 (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 519 - Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 521 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessment and Intervention 2 (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 522 - Advanced Topics in Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 1; 3 credit hours required, may be repeated 7 times)
• PSY 547 - Advanced Psychopathology (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 550 - Evidence-based Psychotherapies (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 552 - Cultural, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Mental Health (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 593 – Clinical Practicum: Child Clinical-ABA (Credit Hours: 1-2; 5 required)
• PSY 596 - Applied Behavior Analysis: Professional Considerations (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 617 – Advanced Topics in Experimental Analysis of Behavior (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 618 – Verbal Behavior: A Translational Approach (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 625 – Psychodiagnostic Assessment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Credit Hours: 3)
• PSY 671 – Psychology of Diversity (Credits: 3)
• PSY 693 - Intermediate Clinical Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 1-3; 3 credits required)
• PSY 793 - Advanced Clinical Practicum: Applied Behavior Analysis (Credit Hours: 1-3; 5 credits required)

V. Internship

• PSY 898 – Predoctoral Psychology Internship (Credit Hours: 1; 3 credits required over at least 1 year)

VI. Teaching

• PSY 530 – Teaching Psychology I (Credit Hours: 1)
• PSY 531 – Teaching Psychology II (Credit Hours: 1; optional)