Academic Programs

Applied behavior analysis is an applied science that focuses on identifying how environments affect behavior and how we can use that information to develop effective behavior change strategies across a wide range of settings and populations. It teaches mastery of basic behavior-analytic skills, such as measurement, experimental design, and various principles and procedures of behavioral change to help students become better therapists, teachers and clinical practitioners.

Georgia State’s Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis includes collaborations with faculty members, opportunities for practicum internship placements and a cohort model that fosters lasting professional relationships. You will also learn client-centered responsibilities, such as problem identification, methods of intervention and implementation, management and supervision. This program also gives you important foundational knowledge, including the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts.

Exam pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation. To access current pass rates, current and potential students may visit BACB’s University Pass Rates page.

For more information on the faculty, our research, news and other items of interest regarding Applied Behavior Analysis, visit our ABA unit page.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the program course sequence toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst ® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. 

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Georgia State University’s Audiology Specialty Certificate is designed to provide professionals in other disciplines an in-depth knowledge about audiologic assessment procedures, as well as a robust understanding about audiologic and communication management resources for the hard of hearing and deaf populations.

Postbaccalaureate/graduate students with a unique interest in the following areas and/or populations can greatly benefit from this certificate: pediatric and school-age hearing-impaired and deaf populations, adults and elderly populations with hearing loss and related communication problems, cochlear implants, auditory processing disorders (i.e., management and intervention techniques), auditory training, aural habilitation/rehabilitation, comprehensive assessment of communication needs and hearing conservation, among others.

This fully online program is designed to be completed in two consecutive semesters, primarily via synchronous meetings.

The Birth Through Five Graduate Certificate is an online program for professionals who work in early care and learning settings, and individuals interested in pursuing careers in the diverse professional field of early care and childhood education.

This certificate program was designed with three specific objectives:

1. Provide a flexible professional development format for the early childhood workforce.
2. Offer a quality, student-centered online teaching and learning approach to early childhood teachers’ preparation.
3. Introduce students to the Early Childhood and Elementary Education Master of Arts in Creative and Innovative Education degree program.

The B-5 Graduate certificate is not a teacher certification or leading program. If you are interested in teacher certification please visit Birth Through Five B.S.Ed. and Early Childhood M.A.T.

In Georgia State University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S. program you will collaborate and consult with other mental health professionals to take the next steps in your career as a mental health counselor.

This Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited master’s degree meets the educational requirements for professional licensure as a counselor and prepares you to work with people across the lifespan in individual, couples and group settings.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of:

• psychological and emotional wellness
• professional and ethical practices
• social and cultural diversity
• social justice and advocacy
• human growth and development
• counseling theories, interventions and best practices
• career development
• assessment, research and program evaluation
• and more

Your program culminates in a three-semester practicum-internship. In that experience, you will work with clients in community settings to resolve their challenges.

There is also a non-degree version of this program. To view admissions requirements and deadlines visit the Admissions Requirements tab below.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

The Georgia State University communication sciences and disorders program offers a unique educational opportunity for students to become highly qualified speech-language pathologists.

Our downtown Atlanta location gives students excellent clinical experiences across the city. Our faculty’s commitment to students’ success provides an exceptional learning environment. Cohorts of 30-32 students begin each fall semester, and students receive individual attention and work together throughout the year.

The program’s intensive field-based education prepares students to:

• Implement best practices in the profession
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients
• Work collaboratively with other professionals who serve individuals with communication disorders and their families
• Pursue opportunities for advanced degrees

The Master of Science education program in speech-language pathology at Georgia State is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

The Comprehensive Intervention Model (CIM) is a well-coordinated, Response to Intervention seamless design for providing intervention services to struggling readers.

The CIM is a systemic model for reversing the reading failures of struggling readers through layered interventions, including differentiated classroom instruction and supplemental interventions in small groups or one-to-one.

The goal is two-fold. In kindergarten through third grade, the goal is to increase the overall literacy achievement by the end of the third grade and to reduce the number of children identified with learning disabilities within 1.5% or less of the general population.

In fourth through sixth grade, interventions focus on research-based strategies for reading and writing in the content areas.