Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)

The Program | Entrance Requirements | Course Requirements | Course Schedule | Dept of Psychology Degree Course Registration | Continuing Education Course Registration | Registration Deadline | Frequently Asked Questions | For More Information

Program Overview:

This Certificate prepares you to work with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. The program provides academic grounding in the principles and techniques of behaviour analysis and the theory underlying the application of these principles to practical problems and to provide practical supervised experience in applying the principles of behaviour analysis. Graduates of the Program will able to assess behaviour problems, design basic academic and self-care programs, and carry these out with reference to accepted ethical guidelines under the supervision of qualified specialist.

 

Entrance Requirements
Successful completion of Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1200) with a grade of C or higher or written permission of the Department of Psychology is a prerequisite for Behaviour Modification Principles (PYSC 2440). You must complete this prerequisite before you are admitted to the Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis. You must also meet the University of Manitoba admission requirements if you are not already admitted to the University of Manitoba.

The ABA Program consists of four courses totaling 246 contact hours. You must complete each course with a grade of B or better before taking the next course.
The four courses must be taken in the following order:

	Fall 2013	Winter 2014
Behaviour Modification Principles (PSYC 2440)	x	x
Behaviour Modification Applications (PSYC 2450)	x	x
Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis I (98154)	x
Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis II (98155)		x

Courses offered by the Dept of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts

Behaviour Modification Principles (PSYC 2440) (3 credit hours)
The fundamental assumptions, principles and procedures of behaviour modification are described and illustrated by application to normal and abnormal human behaviour. Students may also conduct supervised projects in applied areas or in basic behavioural research.
Prerequisite: a grade of “C” or better in PSYC 1200 or both PSYC 1210 and PSYC 1220 or written consent of Department Head. This course is offered by the Department of Psychology

Behaviour Modification Applications (PSYC 2450) (3 credit hours)
Guidelines for designing, implementing, and evaluating behaviour modification applications are described in detail. Students may also conduct supervised projects in applied areas or in basic behavioural research.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2440 or the former PSYC 2340.
This course is offered by the Department of Psychology.

Courses offered by Extended Education

Practicum in Applied Behaviour Analysis I
(84 contact hours)
Course no. 98154 Tuition Fee: $567

This online course will help you acquire skills in the assessment of problem behaviours, assessment of basic verbal skills of language deficient individuals, establishment of effective reinforcement systems, task analysis of potential training tasks, and teaching training tasks and basic verbal skills. Teaching methods will include video tutorials, tests, readings and demonstrations. You will demonstrate the application of various procedures either through scheduled sessions with the instructor on Skype or by submitting a self-recorded video and will receive feedback. You will require a friend or partner to play the role of a client to help demonstrate the skills they have learned (e.g. assessing a client). Peer review is also a requirement in this program.

Technical requirements: The following is required for this course: Internet access, a web cam for Skype and a video player. This course is best viewed with Internet Explorer 6.0+ but most browsers will also work.

Required textbook: Behaviour Modification: What it is and how to do it. Garry L. Martin and Joseph Pear, 9th ed., Pearson, 2010. Any edition from the 5th to the 9th is acceptable.

Prerequisite: Behaviour Modification Principles (PSYC 2440) and Behaviour Modification Applications (PSYC 2450) formerly 17.244 and 17.245, respectively.

Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis II
(84 contact hours)
Course no: 98155 Tuition Fee: $567

This practicum will take place in a service facility that provides treatment for persons with developmental disabilities, children with autism spectrum disorder, or some other population for whom applied behavior analysis is the treatment of choice. Practicum II will add applied behavior analysis consultative and supervisory skills to the direct application skills acquired in Practicum I. You will work closely with a supervisor in assessing behavioral deficits and/or excesses of clients, designing and executing appropriate intervention programs, and assessing and programming generalization and maintenance of behaviour improvements.
Prerequisite: Practicum in Applied Behaviour Analysis I

How to Apply to the ABA Program

You apply to the program once you have completed Behaviour Modification Principles (PSYC 2440) and Behaviour Modification Applications (PSYC 2450). To be accepted for credit in the certificate program you must complete these courses with a grade of B or higher.

Registration in the psychology courses does not mean you are accepted in the certificate program.

To apply to enter the Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis at the Extended Education Division, University of Manitoba, submit the Application to Enter Certificate Program. Along with your application to the program please submit a Request for Certificate Credit Form to transfer the PSYCH 2440 and 2450 (one form per course) courses into your ABA Program.

If you have successfully completed Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1200) and are not currently admitted to the University of Manitoba, you must apply for admission to the University. You can apply through General Studies in Extended Education.

Once you are accepted into the Program, you can register for the Practicum in ABA I course 98154 using the Course Registration Form or register online.

How to Register for PSYC 2440 and PSYC 2450:

To take degree credit courses you must be admitted to the university. If you are not in a degree program and only want to take the two Behaviour Modification courses (PSYC 2440 and 2450), you would apply to General Studies through Extended Education. You can apply online, by mail or in-person. For online application go to Application to General Studies and follow the instructions. Application and registration deadlines are available at this link as well. There is a $75 fee for admission to the University.  Once you are admitted, they will send you your acceptance and student number and then you can register online through Aurora, the student online registration system, for the courses you want.
To find the schedule of dates for the degree courses PSYC 2440 and PSYC 2450:

1. Go to the U of M home page (www.umanitoba.ca) and select "current students".
2. Click on Aurora Student (under Online Services)
3. Choose Class Schedule to find the dates
4. Search by term (e.g. fall 2013, winter 2014. Click on Submit.
5. Choose Psychology as the Subject
6. Enter the course number ( i.e. 2440 or 2450)
7. Click on Class Search. You don’t have to enter the other fields.

Registration deadline:
The registration deadline date for the two Psychology courses can be accessed online at the following websites:
On campus Regular Session: Aurora Student
Distance and Online Education: umanitoba.ca/distance
On Campus Summer Session: umanitoba.ca/summer
Registration for the two Psychology courses (PSYC 2440 and 2450) is online through Aurora Student.
Registration for the two Practicum courses is through Extended Education (Course Registration Form). 

Course delivery formats:
Behaviour Modification Principles (PSYC 2440) and Behaviour Modification Applications (PSYC 2450) are available online. For more information on this option, check the in Aurora Student for sections offered online.
Practicum I is only delivered in an online format.
Practicum II is individual work with a clinician at a site to be determined by the needs of the student and the availability of qualified supervisors.

Additional Requirement for the Practicum in ABA Courses:
You will be required to have a Criminal Record Search Certificate and Vulnerable Sector Consent as well as a Child Abuse Registry check. There is a $10 fee for the Child Abuse Registry check; the fee for the Criminal Record Search Certificate is $32.50.  In addition, you may be required to attend an orientation session to the facility for Practicum in ABA II before you begin the practicum course.  As those requirements may take up to three weeks to be completed, we urge you to apply to the ABA Program and start the process early.  The Program Administrator will provide you with practicum guidelines and information on the forms required.

Graduation:
To qualify for graduation, you must complete all course work within five years of initial registration in the program. Although the U of M pass mark for individual certificate courses is 50%, students seeking the ABA Certificate must achieve a grade of B or better in each course.  It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the graduation requirements of the program in which they are enrolled. To be eligible to graduate, students must submit the Application for Graduation by the deadline indicated on the form.

View Course Schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information:

Sandy Stechisen
Program Administrator
(204) 474-6685; toll free 1-888-216-7011 ext 6685
Fax: (204) 474-7660
E-mail:sandra.stechisen@umanitoba.ca
Miriam Chavez
Program Assistant
(204) 474-6700
Toll free: 1-888-216-7011 ext. 6700
Fax: (204) 474-7660
Email: chavezm@extended.umanitoba.ca