Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities

DESCRIPTION OF CONCENTRATION This cross-disciplinary program of study provides students interested in working with children with disabilities the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in settings such as a classroom or clinical and applied settings. This program emphasizes two areas—behavior analysis and developmental issues.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCENTRATION A total of 22 credits are required for the concentration. Coursework comes from psychology and education.

INTERNSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES In education, students complete a field experience as part of their course requirements. These placements may include David W. Smouse Opportunity School, an elementary school for children with developmental disabilities and emotional and behavioral problems. This school provides state-of-the-art treatment and also has a behavior analyst working in consultation with the school.

Within psychology, students are encouraged to complete an internship in which students agree to comply with the policies of the employing organization and to attend all required orientations, in-service, and staff meetings, and the employing organization agrees to provide the students with orientation and supervision necessary to carry out specified responsibilities. At the present moment there are two internship sites in which board certified behavior analysts supervise student internships—these locations are The Homestead, which provides residential and in-home services to children and adults with autism, and Woodward Resource Center, a state facility providing residential and habilitative services to adults with intellectual disabilities.

CAREER OPTIONS Individuals completing this concentration are in a unique position to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities contingent on their majors. For example, those earning degrees in education have the background to be successful working with children with special needs. Those earning degrees in psychology or any other major have the background to work in applied and clinical settings with individuals with intellectual disabilities (e.g., residential programs, hospitals, and outpatient clinics).

[back]