Main Content

Admissions

Prerequisites and Requirements for On-Campus/Online Masters of Science Students

This program application is for students who are seeking a master’s degree in behavior analysis and want to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA; 5th edition). Prerequisites include obtaining a bachelor's degree in any field. Bachelor's degrees that are the easiest to transition to this master's program include the following: Behavior Analysis and Therapy, Psychology, Sociology, Rehabilitation Services, Human Services and Education. The Behavior Analysis and Therapy program requires potential students to meet an American grade point average of 2.7 or above.

Application Deadline

 

All applications must be turned in by January 2, 2025.

On-Campus Masters of Science (MS) Student

Requirements, forms and due dates:

  1. SIUC Graduate School Application
    1. Personal Data
    2. Program information (Be sure to complete “What is your area of interest?”)
    3. Education History
    4. Unofficial Transcripts
    5. Resume/Vita
    6. Statement of Purpose
      • A one-page document (no set format) about your education/training/career, your experiences, and what made you choose this profession
    7. Research Interest/Experience
      • A one-page document (no set format) about any past research you have done or are doing, what your research interests are for the future, and whom from our faculty you would like to do research with.
    8. Public Safety
    9. Signature Page
    10. Recommendations (3)
  2. BAT Assistantship Application
    1. Letter of application
    2. Resume
    3. Contact information for three professional references

GRE and MAT scores are not required. All forms need to be submitted electronically through the Hobsons Radius application system.

Online Masters of Science (MS) Student

This program application is for students who are seeking a master’s degree in behavior analysis and want to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA; 5th edition). All class formats are 100% completed online. Classes are offered in the evenings and no traveling is required.

Requirements, forms and due dates:

  1. SIU Graduate School Application
    1. Personal Data
    2. Program information (Be sure to complete “What is your area of interest?")
    3. Education History
    4. Unofficial Transcripts
    5. Resume/Vita
    6. Statement of Purpose
      • A one-page document (no set format) about your education/training/career, your experiences, and what made you choose this profession
    7. Research Interest/Experience
      • A one-page document (no set format) about any past research you have done or are doing, what your research interests are for the future, and whom from our faculty you would like to do research with.
    8. Public Safety
    9. Signature Page
    10. Recommendations (3)

GRE and MAT scores are not required. All forms need to be submitted electronically through the Hobsons Radius application system.

Certificate Course Sequence (100% Online)

This program application is for students who previously obtained a master’s degree from an accredited institution and want to take the courses required to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA). This program will help meet the required BCBA coursework curricula. For 5th edition there are seven required courses. All class formats are of 100% completed online. Classes are offered in the evenings and no traveling is required. Further information about the BCBA requirements.

Certificate Course Sequence Prerequisites and Requirements

Prerequisites include obtaining a master's degree that is from an US accredited institution. The Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) does not require a specific degree according to 5th edition BCBA requirements. The Behavior Analysis and Therapy program requires potential students to meet an American grade point average of 2.7 or above.

Requirements, forms and due dates:

  1. SIU Graduate School Application
    1. Personal Data
    2. Program information (Be sure to complete "What is your area of interest?")
    3. Education History
    4. Official Transcripts (from all previously attended institutions). Official transcripts must be sealed from the original institution.
    5. Resume/Vita
    6. Statement of Purpose
    7. Research Interest/Experience
    8. Public Safety
    9. Signature Page
    10. Recommendations (3)

GRE and MAT scores are not required. All forms need to be submitted electronically through the Hobsons Radius application system. Letters of recommendation must be sent to School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences at spbs@siu.edu.

Additional Requirements for International Students

In addition to the requirements listed above for each specific program, international students applying will need to provide the following:

Single Students:

  1. TOEFL/IELTS Scores
  2. Passport copy
  3. Financial Statement
  4. Bank documents/funding letter

Students with Dependents:

  1. TOEFL/IELTS Scores
  2. Passport copy (personal, children’s and spouse’s)
  3. Financial Statement
  4. Bank documents/funding letter
  5. Marriage Certificate in English
  6. Bank documents for family

All additional materials should be submitted in the format that satisfies their program of interest.

Transfer Credits

Once admitted a student will request a written formal petition to have their prior course(s) reviewed by the program director for equivalency with an existing BAT program course. This includes the examination of both the student's transcript and the prior course syllabus. Additionally, if the course transferred is one necessary for the BACB course sequence approval, the prior course content breakdown hours are required. A unilateral decision is made by the program director if the prior course is sufficiently equal to the proposed equivalent course transfer.

Final Steps to Graduation

As you reach the end of your academic career, you realize how much you have achieved and how much you have grown. SIU will always be a part of you - be proud of your Saluki heritage!

School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences | College of Health and Human Sciences | 618-536-2301 |