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William James College ABA Program Overview

Jan 17, 2025

Notes from the William James College ABA Information Session

Introduction

  • Speaker: Beth Rogan, Associate Director of Marketing and Outreach
  • Purpose: Welcome participants and provide an overview of the Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at William James College.
  • Participants: Dr. Ronald Lee (Director of ABA Program), Mario Murga (Director of Admissions).

Overview of William James College

  • Located in Newton, Massachusetts (15 minutes from Boston).
  • Focus on psychology and behavioral health.
  • Emphasis on a supportive community culture among students, faculty, and staff.

Programs Offered

  • Clinical Department:
    • PsyD in Clinical Psychology.
    • Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Master's, both on-campus and online).
    • Master’s in Psychology (online).
  • Organizational Leadership Psychology (Master's and Doctoral programs).
  • School Psychology (includes ABA program).
  • Graduate Certificate in ABA.
  • Undergraduate Completion Program in Psychology and Behavioral Health.
  • Centers of Excellence for academic work, research, advocacy, and direct services.

Core Values of William James College

  • Experiential Education: Learning through real-world experiences.
  • Social Responsibility: Meeting the needs of underserved populations.
  • Workforce Diversification: Breaking barriers to increase services and training for mental health clinicians.
  • Personal Growth: Small student to faculty ratio (1:12) fostering strong mentoring relationships.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Overview (Dr. Ronald Lee)

  • Definition: Study of how organisms learn and behave in different contexts.
  • Applications: Primarily with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.
  • Professional Credentials:
    • BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) certification is essential.
    • Involves coursework, practical experience, and passing an exam.

ABA Workforce and Settings

  • Common Populations:
    • Individuals with ASD and developmental disabilities.
    • Mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression).
    • Non-clinical settings (e.g., business, sports, education).
  • Work Settings:
    • Classrooms, community agencies, residential settings, clinics, hospitals.

Graduate Programs in ABA at William James College

  • Program Formats:
    • On-campus (Newton) and 100% online.
    • 34 credit hours required, can be completed in 4-6 semesters.
  • Course Structure:
    • On-campus: 15-week semesters, evening classes, flexible pacing.
    • Online: Asynchronous components, with some synchronous activities.
  • Field Experience: Not required but recommended for practical application of ABA principles.

Admissions Process (Mario Murga)

  • Application Process:
    • Online application, GRE not required, interviews may be necessary.
    • Need three recommendations (optional personal letter encouraged).
  • Deadlines:
    • Spring 2021: Dec 3, 2020.
    • Fall 2021: Early consideration by Dec 9, 2020; general by Jan 6, 2021.
  • Financial Aid:
    • Federal work-study, Stafford loans, merit scholarships available.
  • Resources: Application Guidelines brochure available online.

Conclusion

  • Encouragement to reach out for questions about the program, admissions, and financial aid.
  • Upcoming virtual open house in November.
  • Emphasis on the vibrant community and opportunities at William James College.

Contact Information

  • Financial Aid: Hillary Baxter (financial aid questions).
  • General Inquiries: Admissions office available for questions.

Full transcript