Date graduated: December 2017
Degree graduated with: Master of Science Applied Behavior Analysis
City where you are: Atlanta, Georgia
What did you like about the program?
I enjoyed the opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussions and build foundational knowledge. I appreciated that I could actually sit down with my advisor or the department chair and ask questions. They were accessible and that was valuable to me.
Where are you working now? What are your job duties?
I currently work at Hopebridge Autism Center in Brookhaven, Ga. My job duties include the following:
- Conducting assessments (functional behavioral and curricular)
- Graphing, analyzing and interpreting data
- Training and providing supervision for registered behavior technicians and (RBT) and masters level fellows
- Writing Plan of Cares
- Training staff on physical management pro
Words of encouragement for current students?
Make the most of your experience. One of the many worthwhile truths about behavior analysis is that the skills you learn in the classroom will be immediately transferable to practice. I’ve found that the most valuable skill as a behavior analyst is the ability to pivot with each new piece of information you receive. You can only truly do that by first understanding the concepts meaningfully. Additionally, the field of applied behavior analysis is relatively small. You will continue to encounter people who have a connection to previous professors, advisers and peers. Georgia State’s program has a well-rounded group of staff who have continued to open doors, make connections and provide support years after I completed my program. The more opportunities you take, the more prepared you will be. So use the office hours, attend the conferences, dive into the literature and ask thoughtful questions.
Do you remember a favorite course or project that you worked on while studying?
It would be a tie between practicum and single-case methodology. A BCBA did not teach my single-case course, so I got a chance to contact single-case research across different populations and settings. I found this approach to be exciting. During the practicum, I had the opportunity to present studies and projects that I was a part of at work. Additionally, we read texts such as Skinner’s “Beyond Freedom and Dignity.” The behavior analytic principles with philosophical undertones sparked respectful debates that allowed me to form my complex and personal opinions about my chosen field of study.
