Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Certificate)
The BCBA certificate is for students who wish to pursue credentialing as
Board Certified Behavior Analysts. Note that this is an INTERNATIONAL
certification and is independent of the Texas practitioner licenses. BCBA
certification requires passing a national exam that is administered by the
Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc. The certificate course sequence
offered at UTPA has received approval from the Behavior Analyst
Certification Board, Inc. so graduates who complete the certificate will be
eligible to sit for the exam. Sitting the exam also requires having a Master’s
Degree but not necessarily in psychology.
The BCBA certificate can be taken independently or in conjunction with the
clinical or experimental psychology Master’s degree. It is a 24 credit course
sequence. If taken in conjunction with the clinical psychology degree, the
total number of credits required to complete both is 69. If taken in
conjunction with the experimental psychology degree the total number of
credits required to complete both is 36.
Admissio n Requirements
Apply to the UTRGV Graduate College:
Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.applytexas.org.
The university application fee of $50 ($100 for International Applicants)
can be paid online by credit card or electronic check (in the online
application). All application fees are nonrefundable.
Step #2: Register on the UTRGV Recommenders and Document Upload
Webpage (www.utrgv.edu/gradupload). This is where you will request
recommenders and upload program requirement documents, and where
the graduate office will upload your transcripts. If you do not complete this
step, we will not be able to process your application.
Step #3: Request your transcripts and other supporting documentation to
be mailed to:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The Graduate College
Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
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Personal Statement detailing reasons for pursuing the graduate
certificate and professional goals.
Signed Acknowledgement Form provided by the program.
GRE Test Scores. GMAT and GRE test scores are valid for 5 years.
Students whose native language is not English or who studied at a
University outside the U.S.:
 TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on
paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on internet-based for the
TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years.
For additional information, or exemptions, click here.
 English translation of educational records.
 Transcript Evaluation by the Foreign Credentials Service of America
(FCSA). For additional information, or exemptions, click here.
Transcripts or any supporting documentation should be sent to:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The Graduate College
Marialice Shary Shivers Bldg. 1.158
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
Program Contact
Program Director: Dr. Mark Winkel
Phone: (956)665-3328
E-Mail: [email protected]
Deadlines
Domestic
Fall
March 31
Note:
Students admitted only to a Certificate Program are not eligible to obtain a
Student Visa from UTRGV.
Review and submit all Program Requirements:
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Last Revised May 2015
Online application. The university application fee of $50 can be paid
online by credit card or electronic check (in the online application). All
application fees are non-refundable.
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the
United States or a recognized international equivalent in a similar or
related field.
Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted
directly to UTRGV).
Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional
sources.
www.utrgv.edu/grad
Course Descriptions
Program Requirements
Must have completed or be concurrently
enrolled in a master’s degree program in
Psychology or Education. The certificate can be
added on to the M.A. in Clinical Psychology
degree plan for a total of 63 hours or used as
electives in the M.A. Experimental psychology
degree plan.
Required Courses
(when the certificate is added to a
psychology degree plan)
15
PSYC 6174: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review 1
PSYC 6274: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review 2
PSYC 6315: Applied Behavior Analysis 3
PSYC 6334: Single Subject Designs
3
PSYC 6350: Behavioral Assessment
3
PSYC 6362: Contemporary Professional
Issues and Ethics in Applied
Behavior Analysis
3
Required Courses
18
(when the certificate is a stand‐ alone)
PSYC 6174: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review 1
PSYC 6274: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review 2
PSYC 6315: Applied Behavior Analysis 3
PSYC 6325: Conditioning and Learning 3
PSYC 6334: Single Subject Designs
3
PSYC 6350: Behavioral Assessment
3
PSYC 6362: Contemporary Professional
Issues and Ethics in Applied
Behavior Analysis
3
PSYC 6174: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review [1‐0]
This course is designed to monitor progress of
students in the BCBA concentration of the M.A.
Experimental Psychology program and to
provide a format to review recent literature in
Applied Behavior Analysis.
PSYC 6274: Special Topics in Psychology:
Journal and BCBA Review
[2‐0]
This course is designed to monitor progress of
students in the BCBA concentration of the M.A.,
Experimental Psychology program, and to
provide a format to review recent literature in
Applied Behavior Analysis.
PSYC 6315: Applied Behavior Analysis [3‐0]
Principles and techniques of modifying
behaviors across therapeutic, institutional, and
natural settings. Following a review of
behavioral principles and functional analysis,
practical, educational, and clinical aspects of
behavior interventions will be emphasized.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3405, PSYC 4318, PSYC
6325, or with consent of instructor.
PSYC 6325: Conditioning and Learning [3‐0]
A study of the principles of laws of respondent
and operant conditioning in determining
behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the
experimental analysis of behavior with
attention to other learning theories that have
been extensively studied in the laboratory and
productively applied to problems of human
behavior. Prerequisites: PSYC 3405, PSYC 4318,
PSYC 6325 or with consent of instructor.
PSYC 6334: Single Subject Designs
[3‐0]
A comprehensive examination of single‐subject
designs and methods used to evaluate behavior
change as a unique strategy in the experimental
analysis of behavior and applied behavior
analysis.
PSYC 6350: Behavioral Assessment
[3‐0]
Theory and methods of the behavioral
measurement and assessment of individuals
and systems with an emphasis on direct
observation of overt behavior, environmental
assessment, functional analysis, task analysis,
needs assessment, experimental analysis of
behavior, program monitoring, and evaluation.
Prerequisites: PSYC 3405, PSYC 4318, or with
consent of instructor.
PSYC 6362: Contemporary Professional Issues
and Ethics in Applied Behavior
Analysis
[3‐0]
Mastering principles in the practice of
professional psychology according to the ethical
standards established by the American
Psychological Association and American
Counseling Association with attention to related
legal issues as well as the specific guidelines for
responsible conduct and disciplinary standards
as articulated by the Behavioral Analyst
Certification Board. Prerequisites: PSYC 3405,
PSYC 4318, or with consent of instructor.