Applied Behavioral Science Program Details

Return to the overview of the KU online programs in applied behavioral science.

View tuition and fees
To apply
Application deadlines for MA students
Priority deadline: Dec 1
Final Deadline: April 1
Fall only admissions

View comprehensive KU course catalog
View KU grading and grades
Visit KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Visit KU Department of Applied Behavioral Science
View KU Online Faculty
View KU calendar
View KU refund policies

The Johnson County Education Research Triangle (JCERT) helps support this program.

Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science.

Admissions requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.

2. Online application

3. Personal Statement (includes description of research and clinical practice interest)

4. Current Resume

5. Three letters of recommendation. At least one field-related recommendation is preferred.

6. GRE (optional but recommended)

7. Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts will need to be obtained if accepted into the program.)

Students: The online MA program helps meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Kansas or a US territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license or certification in your home state or territory. This website provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Kansas.

Application deadlines:
Priority deadline Dec 1
Final Deadline April 1
Fall only admissions

Curriculum and Requirements

See the Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science curriculum and requirements

Waiving Requirements

If you were admitted for the online Master's degree having taken graduate courses at another university, you are still required to complete all of the ABSC coursework and other requirements for the online Master's degree outlined in Appendix B of the graduate handbook. However, you may request that your prior graduate courses count as fulfilling a portion of the ABSC online Master's degree coursework as long as you earned a grade of A or B (B- is not good enough). For example, you are required to take a research methods course (ABSC 770) for the ABSC online master's degree, but may have already completed a comparable graduate course at another university. If this is the case, then you may petition to waive ABSC 770 by submitting a written request to the Director(s) of Graduate Study. Each request should be accompanied by (a) the course syllabus of the previously completed course (b) the syllabus from the course you are petitioning to waive, (c) documentation of the grade earned in it (e.g., copy of your transcript, which the ABS Graduate Program Coordinator has on file), and (d) a letter of support from your advisor. Here are some important rules you should consider before submitting your request:

You may not request to waive a course with one you took six or more years earlier.
You may waive up to three courses (nine hours).
Students are required to earn from KU the credit hours required for the master's degree: 18 hours of content courses plus three hours (minimum) of practicum, three hours (minimum) of thesis credits, and six hours of elective coursework - a total of at least 30 credit hours for the MA.
All waivers are approved at the discretion of the ABSC Graduate Studies Committee.
You may not submit a petition if you are beyond your first year and you have not submitted an annual progress evaluation in the preceding academic year.

ABAI-verified course sequence in Behavior Analysis

Learn more about the ABAI-verified course sequence in Behavior Analysis.

Admissions Requirements

The online ABAI-verified course sequence is open to applicants who have a master’s degree (or higher) or are currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program. Students who complete the certificate whose M.A. degrees are not in applied behavioral analysis, psychology or education are not eligible to sit for the ABAI exam until January 2022. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the applicant's prior or current graduate program is preferred. Current KU graduate students will need instructor permission to enroll in courses. Applicants not currently enrolled in a KU degree program must submit the following:

An official transcript from both the undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
Personal statement describing their interest in the program.
Two letters of reference.

Note: The ABAI-verified Course Sequence in Behavior Analysis helps students meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Kansas or a US territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license or certification in your home state or territory. This website provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Kansas.

Application priority deadlines

Priority deadline: Dec. 1
Final Deadline: April 1
Fall only admissions