Applied Behavior Analysis (Graduate Certificate)

Who should apply?
This 21-credit certificate program is designed to augment the professional training of individuals who design, implement, and monitor behavioral interventions in schools, private practices, and agencies. Please note that this certificate does not lead to teacher licensure.

In order to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination®, applicants must have a Master’s in Psychology, Education, or Applied Behavior Analysis. Those with other degrees should contact the Behavior Analyst Certification Board™ before applying to ensure that degree requirements are met to sit for the Board exam.

Why choose George Mason?

• The graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis is a Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)™ Verified Program of Study.

• This online program is part-time, and can accommodate busy professional and family schedules while providing a high-quality, immersive student experience.

• Students may concurrently enroll in the fully online master’s in Special Education program, leading to an MEd with just four additional courses in as little as 18 months.

• Course content is up-to-date and relevant to the field, derived directly from BACB’s™ Task List and Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts.

• Successful completion of this program meets the coursework requirements to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination®.

• An experienced faculty of distinguished scholar-practitioners delivers an education informed by extensive academic and professional experience.

If you are interested in completing the MEd in Special Education in conjunction with this certificate program, please see the MEd program profile for a complete list of requirements.

Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the University Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.

Requirements: 21 total credit hours

Courses for George Mason University’s online ABA graduate certificate are offered in convenient, asynchronous formats.

Core Courses

EDSE 619: Applied Behavior Analysis: Principles, Procedures, and Philosophy
EDSE 621: Applied Behavior Analysis: Empirical Bases
EDSE 622: Philosophical and Conceptual Issues in Behavior Analysis
EDSE 623: Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessments and Interventions
EDSE 624: Applied Behavior Analysis: Applications
EDSE 625: Applied Behavior Analysis: Verbal Behavior
EDSE 664: Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysis

Tuition & Fees (2024-2025):
Tuition is $805 per credit hour. An additional charge of $35 per credit hour applies for a Distance Learning fee.

Financial Aid:
For information on loans, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.

A study by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)™ suggests a steep increase in the number of qualified behavior analysts needed internationally. According to a 2009 survey by the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), most individuals are working full-time.

Graduates are prepared for a broad range of special education and administrative positions in schools, private practice, social service agencies, and at-home learning environments.

Applied Behavior Analysts are devoted to understanding all human behavior and are trained to make behavioral improvements for a broad range of individuals, both with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) graduate certificate track is ideal for:

• Registered Behavior Technicians
• Teachers, Psychologists and Other Providers Who Work With:
  • Children and Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
  • Children in General and Special Education
  • People with Mental Health Concerns and Disabilities
  • Families
• People who Work in the Following Settings:
  • Community Programs
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Schools

If you are unable to find the answers to your questions, submit a Request Information form or contact our admissions representative via the contact information below.

Phone: 703-348-5006
Email: online2@gmu.edu

How do I apply?
Submit an online application to begin the admission process for the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate certificate program. Be sure to apply by April 2025 to give yourself enough time to complete each course before this online program is replaced with our new MS in Behavior Analysis program at the end of 2026. If you have other questions, please see the FAQs below.

Admissions FAQs:

If you are unable to find the answers to your questions, submit a Request For Information form and an admissions representative will be in contact with you soon.

How much will the online Applied Behavior Analysis graduate certificate cost?
The online graduate certificate program is $805 per credit hour.

What is ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a discipline devoted to understanding all human behavior and making behavioral improvements through the application of empirically validated, scientific methodology to real-world problems and solutions. George Mason’s Applied Behavior Analysis online graduate certificate is markedly different from the Autism Spectrum Disorders program; its application isn’t limited to special education or for people who have disabilities – though it often is.

What is the workload like?
The online Applied Behavior Analysis graduate certificate coursework involves video lectures and YouTube videos, guest speakers, discussion boards, attendance at workshops, and interactive educational games (e.g., Quizlet, Inter-teaching, Class Dojo for engagement). Extension resources are available and clarifying lectures help to answer questions from students.

What are the requirements for admission?
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent is required and a GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended for admission. No testing is required for admission, but test score equivalencies from SAT, ACT, Praxis, etc. may be used to compensate for a slightly lower GPA. All prospective students must adhere to university standards for English proficiency and degree equivalency.

Field experience (internship or practicum) is not required; simulations and application activities are built into coursework.

What accreditation does George Mason have?
George Mason University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

How long does it take to complete the program?
You can complete the 21-credit ABA graduate certificate program in one year. Rest assured that George Mason’s faculty and advisors will provide assistance for completing the courses before this online program is no longer offered after August 2026.

Can I transfer credits from another University?
Transfer of similar courses from an accredited U.S. college or university may be possible on a case-by-case basis for the online Applied Behavior Analysis graduate certificate. Transfer credit policies are included in the University Catalog.

When are classes offered?
Applied Behavior Analysis classes will be offered in an asynchronous format through summer 2026. It’s important to apply by April 2025, which will provide ample time for completing this program before it is replaced by our new MS in Behavior Analysis program.

Where can I find course descriptions?
Course descriptions for the ABA certificate are available in the University Catalog.

What tuition assistance is available?
George Mason University’s Office of Student Financial Aid provides information on aid packages for online programs.

How do I receive additional Information?
Prospective students can complete an online request for information form.

How much does it cost to apply?
While there is a $75 application fee, there are multiple times throughout the year that the fee may be waived.