M.Ed in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis emphasis) - Online *Launching in Fall 2025*

At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.

Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:

• Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
• Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
• Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.

Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:

• Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
• Participate in and guide online discussions.
• Attend online office hours in discussion threads or via Zoom.
• Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.
• Weekly cohort meetings with program Director/Practical Training Supervisor

• We are committed to the continuous improvement of the science and practice of behavior analysis with a focus on socially significant behavior change.
• We believe that the effectiveness of interventions is defined by meaningful impact on the consumer and that interventions must be centered on consumer needs.
• We center social validity as a core tenet of applied behavior analysis and believe that seeking consumer feedback to inform research and practice is an essential value of the field.
• We believe in centering the autonomy of individuals with disabilities and designing interventions that promote quality of life as defined by people with disabilities and their supporters.
• We value the flexibility of applied behavior analysis and the application of behavioral principles to meet the needs of consumers from all backgrounds through contextually relevant practice.
• We are committed to the ethical and compassionate practice of applied behavior analysis, centering well-being and positive behavioral supports in our research and in our practice.
• We acknowledge harm when caused and work with consumers to improve our field and our practice to avoid future harm.

Masters in Education

The mission of the University of Utah ABA Program is to promote and advance the practice of applied behavior analysis through the preparation of skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate behavior analysts.

To fulfill our mission, the ABA program will:

• offer coursework that meets the requirements of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® for applying to sit for the BCBA® exam
• provide individual advising to students in order to support their mastery of important skills and concepts related to applied behavior analysis
• provide guidance through experiential learning to support student mastery of skills relevant to the application of behavioral principles
• seek and apply student feedback to promote high quality program offerings

^aBCBA® Exam Pass Rates reflect percent of first time test takers who passed the certification exam in the year following the listed graduation year and may reflect scores from test takers from previous cohorts

^bThe University of Utah ABA Online Program will be accepting its first cohort in Fall 2025 and this cohort will graduate in Spring 2027.

Please find additional information about the program, faculty, and the college of education in the program handbook (link coming soon).

While the field of applied behavior analysis is best known for its application to supporting individuals with disabilities, professionals in ABA work across educational and community settings in a variety of roles. Board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) have reported primary areas of professional emphasis related to child welfare, brain injury rehabilitation, organizational behavior management (e.g., human resources), public policy and advocacy, and sports and fitness. Learn more about the subfields of ABA.

National employment demand for BCBAs has increased each year since 2010, with a 23% increase in demand from 2021-2022 (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2023 [PDF]). According to Ziprecruiter, the average annual salary for BCBAs in the United States in 2024 is $89,075 with Utah salaries ranging from $64,400 to $120,624 depending on experience and location.

Please see below for criteria for admissions to the ABA Online Program. If you have additional questions, please schedule a time to meet with the Special Education Academic Advisor using the link below.

meet with the advisor

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required, though lower GPAs may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any applicant with a GPA below 3.0 is advised to meet with an academic advisor prior to applying.
• It is strongly encouraged that applicants have related human service experience (paid or volunteer) prior to applying

Application Criteria

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Three letters of professional and/or academic recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume
• No standardized test scores are required to apply.

Application Deadline

• July 1 2025 for a Fall 2025 start.

$600/ credit hour*

*Subject to change without notice

This program qualifies for the U of U employee reduced tuition benefit.