AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College has launched a new distance education option for its master’s degree and advanced certificate programs in applied behavior analysis (ABA), making it the only New York State registered ABA programs of its kind available in both traditional and online formats.

“Expanding our applied behavior analysis programs to a distance education format is an ideal extension of our existing offerings in the traditional classroom setting,” said Elizabeth Wright, dean of health and human services. “The online programs, which build on our strong reputation for academic excellence, will enable us to educate students in applied behavior analysis well beyond our physical campus.”

Designed to provide greater flexibility for working professionals, Daemen’s distance education ABA programs are fully online and offered in an asynchronous format. The same high-quality curriculum and requirements are included in both the distance education and traditional on-campus ABA programs.

According to Dr. Vicki Madaus Knapp, ABA program director, the master’s degree distance education program will provide comprehensive graduate-level training in applied behavior analysis, an intervention approach used with individuals with autism spectrum or related disorders. The program is geared to students who hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, social work, sociology, or health promotion.

Graduates of the 31-credit hour program will meet the academic requirements to apply for licensure as a behavior analyst in New York State without the need for more course review.

“This online option will give students from across the state educational access to experienced Daemen faculty who are experts in the applied behavior analysis field,” said Knapp. “Our program offers exceptional preparation for program graduates to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience to meet the growing demand for behavior analysts.”

The 28-credit hour advanced certificate program is designed for students who already hold a master’s degree in education, psychology, or applied behavior analysis. Based on the same academic rigor as the master’s degree in ABA, the certificate program offers students the credentials to pursue a new career path as behavior analysts.

The distance education programs, which have been approved by the New York State Department of Education, follows the launching of the on-campus ABA programs in 2017.

For additional information or to apply, contact Megan Beardi at mbeardi@daemen.edu or call 716-839-8225 or 1-800-462-7652.