Applied Behavior Analysis I: Basic Concepts and Principles of Reinforcement

This course is specifically designed for candidates who have been accepted into the BCBA Track program in the Graduate Programs in Special Education (GPSE). Candidates in this course learn the foundational concepts and principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. This course provides the conceptual underpinnings of the behavior analytic principles rooted in the seven dimensions of ABA: Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, Technological, and Generality. Major thematic focuses of this course include the relationship between human behavior and the environment, the difference between respondent and operant behavior, functional analysis technology, principles of reinforcement, andextinction.In addition to the conceptual underpinning, candidates learn skills to be effective practitioners in the field of ABA. These skills include selecting, defining, and measuring human behaviors, as well as, programming for behavior change using different reinforcement strategies, and utilizing behavioral assessment techniques to determine programmatic gains. Course content is delivered via weekly, interactive lectures and learning is assessed through comprehensive assignments and exams. All course content is aligned with the Behavior Analytic Certification Board’s (BACB) fourth edition task list.

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