Last updated: June 19, 2024 @ 04:40PM

Applied Behavioural Analysis

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Behaviour Analysis

Faculty Information

Dean

Ingrid Makus

Faculty of Social Sciences

Associate Dean

Dawn Zinga

Faculty of Social Sciences

Core Faculty

Professor Emeritus

Maurice Feldman

Associate Professors

Priscilla Burnham Riosa, Rosemary Condillac, Julie Koudys, Valdeep Saini, Kendra Thomson, Kimberley Zonneveld

Assistant Professors

Jessica Cauchi, Alison Cox, Kieva Hranchuk, Nicole Luke, Laura Mullins

Participating Faculty

Professors

Maureen Connolly (Kinesiology), David Ditor (Kinesiology), Jan Frijters (Child and Youth Studies), John McNamara (Child and Youth Studies), Shannon Moore (Child and Youth Studies), Dawn Zinga (Child and Youth Studies)
Associate Professors

Christine Tardif-Williams (Child and Youth Studies), Donato Tarulli (Child and Youth Studies), Tricia Vause (Child and Youth Studies)

Adjunct Professors

Marjorie Aunos (University of Quebec), Ivan Brown (University of Toronto - retired), Ivy Chong (May Institute), Tom Craig (International Communicology Institute), John Davis (McMaster University-retired), Kimberly Harris (NavON), Barry Isaacs (Surrey Place), Darren Levine (Royal Roads University), Xudong Liu (Qingdao University), Yona Lunsky (CAMH), Kimberly Maich (Memorial University), Andrew McNamara (George Brown College), Christina Peters (Northwest Behavioral Associates), Karl Stobbe (McMaster University-retired), Valerie Temple (Surrey Place), Rebecca Ward (Phoenix Centre for Learning)

Chair and Graduate Program Director

Rosemary Condillac

905-688-5550, extension 5671

adsgpd@brocku.ca

Administrative Coordinator & Academic Advisor

Brandy Sokoloski

905-688-5550 extension 5987

ads@brocku.ca

Graduate Coordinator & Academic Advisor

Rachel Wilkins

905-688-5550, extension 5395

ads@brocku.ca

Website

http://www.brocku.ca/ads

Program Description
The Vision of the Department of Applied Disability Studies is to be an internationally-recognized, preeminent academic program that contributes to the betterment of the lives of people in our community and beyond with a focus on persons with disabilities and underserved populations. We strive to contribute knowledge and improve services by conducting cutting edge basic and applied research, and by providing transdisciplinary, quality postgraduate education to the next generation of professionals, researchers and educators, and experienced professionals in the field. Faculty are internationally respected in disability studies and Applied Behaviour Analysis.

The Department of Applied Disability Studies (ADS) offers a PhD in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), in addition to a Master of Arts (MA) degree, a Master of Applied Disability Studies (MADS), and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Disability Studies with specialization in ABA (see the Applied Disability Studies calendar entry https://brocku.ca/webcal/index.php). The PhD program in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) provides doctoral students with opportunities to a) learn advanced theory, application, and critical thinking relating to research and practice in behaviour analysis, b) to gain practical experiences in assessment and intervention planning, oversight, and supervision, and c) to undertake rigorous empirical research and scholarship. The program is offered Full-time primarily in person.

The program is designed to meet the coursework requirements for ABAI accredited doctoral programs, and we hope to apply for accreditation in the future. For PhD students interested in practicing ABA in Ontario, please note that The Psychology and Applied Behaviour Analysis Act (2021), will be proclaimed on July 1, 2024. Once proclaimed, the use of the title “Behaviour Analyst” is restricted to members of the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts, who are registered as Behaviour Analysts. Please be aware of changing requirements from BACB® and the new regulatory requirements for Ontario. Current information on the regulation process in Ontario is found at https://cpo.on.ca/aba/. Please refer to http://www.BACB.com for additional eligibility and certification requirements.

Admission Requirements
Successful completion of a Master’s degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or a Master’s degree in a related field with successful completion of a Verified Course Sequence set forth by the Association for Behavior Analysis International with a minimum of 80% average. Completion of a master’s thesis in ABA or a related field (e.g., psychology, education) or evidence of research competence. Evidence that they have begun collecting supervised independent fieldwork hours towards certification as a BCBA®.

Successful applicants should possess a background in ABA, knowledge of research design and analysis, evidence of scholarly activities (e.g., peer reviewed journal publications, research assistant positions, conference presentations), evidence of academic and research excellence, and supervised ABA field experience.

Preference will be given to applicants (a) who have graduated from an ABAI-accredited program and/or have completed an ABAI Verified Course Sequences (b) who hold BCBA® Certification, and (c) have completed a master’s thesis or equivalent; however, all applicants, will be assessed using the same objective and rigorous evaluation process.

All applicants must fulfill the minimum criteria set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The Department Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.

Degree Requirements
PhD in ABA is a 10 credit program. Requirements include: ADST 7F60, 7P02, 7P70, 7P71, 7P73 and two electives from 7V01, 7V02 or 7P13. Students must also take 7N01, 7N02, 7N03, and 7N04 (non-credit required proseminar courses) across four years. This path of study involves advanced practicum experience (7F03, 7F04, 7F05 and 7F06), two comprehensive examination courses (7P60 and 7P61) and intensive research resulting in a dissertation.

As students progress through the program, there will be a gradual and greater emphasis placed on mastering learning objectives related to research (e.g., dissertation progress, research productivity), practice (e.g., practica), and knowledge (e.g., proseminar).

A dissertation proposal and a completed dissertation of original work are required of all students in the PhD ABA program.

This program is designed to be completed full-time in twelve terms or four years.

Course Descriptions
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable timetable for details. Students must ensure that prerequisites are met.

Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.

ADST 7L60

Dissertation
Develop, execute, and defend a dissertation aligning with the degree's dissertation requirement, including that their project contributes substantially to the scientific knowledge base. Successful dissertation completion permits candidates to demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge and enact research independently.

ADST 7P02

Verbal Behaviour
Introduces a behaviour analytic approach to language. Learn to recognize examples of these concepts as they occur in everyday life. Also (a) critically analyze research and (b) design verbal behaviour protocols to teach verbal behaviour to learners.

ADST 7P13

Advanced Organizational Behaviour Management
Overview of advanced contemporary research and practice in the field of Organizational Behaviour Management (OBM), a behaviorally based specialization within the field of Industrial Organizational Psychology. OBM is most closely aligned with the area of organizational behaviour and personnel / human resource management. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to practice and research in OBM and to provide students with the skills needed to apply the fundamental principles of ABA to a variety of performance problems in organizational settings.

ADST 7P60

Comprehensive Exam 1
Promotes mastery across all relevant subject areas, including demonstrating sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge across the discipline. The supervisory committee will determine the form and content of this requirement in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

ADST 7P61

Comprehensive Exam 2
Further promotes mastery across all relevant subject areas, including demonstrating sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge across the discipline. The supervisory committee will determine the form and content of this requirement in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.

ADST 7P70

Advanced Research Methods
Advanced applications and analysis of single-case research design, as well as complementary statistical analysis, emphasizing applied methodological issues in research in ABA.

ADST 7P71

Experimental and Quantitative Analysis of Behaviour
Methods, assumptions, basic principles, and recent developments in the psychology of learning from a behaviour analytic perspective to familiarize students with basic concepts in learning that have been developed through laboratory and quantitative research with both humans and animals.

ADST 7P73

Advanced Behavioural Assessment and Intervention
Advanced behaviour analytic approaches to assessment and treatment. Focus on identifying defining characteristics of this approach, developing assessment and treatment protocols, and appropriate strategies to evaluate validity and effectiveness.

ADST 7V01

History & Systems of Applied Behaviour Analysis
Reviews the history of the disciplines of ABA and Applied Disability Studies and examines the intersection between the two fields in the practical work of systems designed to improve the human condition in several key areas of social interest. Provides students with opportunities to refine their communication skills.

ADST 7V02

Ethics, Supervision, Leadership, Consulting
Examines the ethics of supervision and leadership in ABA and Applied Disability Studies. Explores issues of institutional and personal leadership in human service settings, with a leadership focus in clinical ethics, nonprofit ethics, and code of conduct for consultants. Students practice creating systems designed to motivate ethical action in the disabilities sector and taking responsibility for creating ethical cultures in ABA practice settings.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COURSES

ADST 7F03

Clinic-Based Experiential Learning Practicum 1
Clinic-based opportunity to implement mastered ABA skills and systematically acquire new skills through the application of knowledge gleaned from coursework and research. Students are required to complete approximately 20 hours per week, with regularly scheduled supervision (e.g., observations coaching, feedback) by designated course instructor and other qualified supervisors, when relevant.

ADST 7F04

Clinic-Based Experiential Learning Practicum 2
Clinic-based opportunity to begin working towards mastery of build on ABA techniques targeted in their first placement and begin to develop supervision skills through the oversight of other implementers (e.g., undergraduate, MA students). Students are required to complete approximately 20 hours per week, with regularly scheduled supervision (e.g., observations coaching, feedback) by designated course instructor and other qualified supervisors, when relevant.
Prerequisite(s): ADST 7F03

ADST 7F05

Clinic-Based Experiential Learning Practicum 3
Clinic-based opportunity to help students systematically incorporate new knowledge acquired through coursework, research and previous placements to continue working towards mastery. Opportunity to build and refine continue working towards mastery of ABA assessment and intervention techniques and supervisory and consultation practices targeted in previous practica. Students are required to complete approximately 20 hours per week, with regularly scheduled supervision (e.g., observations coaching, feedback) by designated course instructor and other qualified supervisors, when relevant.
Prerequisite(s): ADST 7F04

ADST 7F06

Community-Based Experiential Learning Practicum
Community-based opportunity to work towards mastery of ABA assessment and intervention techniques, and supervisory and consultation practices. Development of skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and work in community settings will be emphasized. Students are required to complete approximately 20 hours per week, with regularly scheduled supervision (e.g., observations coaching, feedback).
Prerequisite(s): ADST 7F05

NON-CREDIT COURSES

ADST 7N01

Proseminar I
Expand breadth of knowledge and demonstrate understanding and application of behaviour analytic concepts and principles by participating in discussions on a variety of topics with their peers, faculty, and guests.

ADST 7N02

Proseminar II
Expand breadth of knowledge and skills and demonstrate understanding and application of behaviour analytic concepts and principles by introducing content to their peers and contributing to seminar discussions on a variety of topics with their peers, faculty, and guests. Prerequisite(s): ADST 7N01

ADST 7N03

Proseminar III
Expand breadth of knowledge and skills and demonstrate understanding and application of behaviour analytic concepts across different domains by leading seminar discussions, introducing new content to their peers, and contributing to discussions on a variety of topics with their peers, faculty, and guests.
Prerequisite(s): ADST 7N02

ADST 7N04

Proseminar IV
Expand breadth of knowledge and skills and demonstrate understanding and application of behaviour analytic concepts across different domains by organizing and leading seminar discussions, introducing novel ideas to their peers and contributing to discussions on a variety of topics with their peers, faculty, and guests.
Prerequisite(s): ADST 7N03