Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis

Online Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis

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Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center

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The Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis is an online degree program that allows you to develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a caring, competent, and culturally aware practitioner of applied behavior analysis. This program prepares you for a career working alongside neurodiverse individuals — including people diagnosed with autism — and their families.

Comprehensive online curriculum
Three live sessions per term
Engaging and interactive asynchronous content
Internship
Preparation for certification exam
Completed in two years as full-time

Our program meets the behavior-analytic coursework requirements by the Behavior Analytic Certification Board (BACB) for those pursuing the [BCBA/BCaBA] Pathway 2 eligibility route. Our program has a qualified Pathway 2 Program Contact, Dr. Maryellen Jensen, who can submit the Pathway 2 Coursework Attestation for applicants who are applying for certification on or after January 1, 2026.

The program has been found eligible to apply for recognition by the ABAI in the Tiered Model of Education.

The Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavior Analysis follows a cohort model. Applicants will need to complete supervised fieldwork before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. For more information regarding the complete requirements to become eligible to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® exam visit the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Regarding demand for this growing field, please visit the US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts report.

For information on State licensure requirements in a particular state or territory, see State Authorization.

Why Truman?

Program designed for working professionals

Completely online with three live classes per course

Research-based cohort mode

Provides knowledge and skills to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Learn from the best

Meet the Faculty

Slide 1 - Maryellen Jensen

Dr. Maryellen Koch Jensen, Director of Applied Behavior Analysis

Dr. Jensen, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Applied Behavior Analysis, is the Program Chair of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst also serving as the Director of the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center at Truman State University. Her area of specialty is working with individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Jensen has been involved in the field of Developmental Disabilities and Autism for 34 years. First as a mom and a Chiropractor and then as a Special Educator and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with individuals from birth to 65 years old, in clinics, schools, homes, habilitation centers and now at the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center. Dr. Jensen earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC, her Masters of Education from Arkansas State University and her graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology. She is Board Certified and a Licensed Behavior Analyst as well as a member of Applied Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Dr. Jensen is a strong advocate for clients and their families, as well as students learning to support individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.

Slide 5 - Michelle Thorn

Michelle Thorn, EdD, Adjunct Instructor

Michelle has worked in the field of ESE since 2005. She has experience in residential, home, and school settings plus at the University level. Michelle earned her undergraduate degree in psychology/criminal justice in 2005, a master's degree in criminal justice in 2007, and a master's degree in special education/autism in 2009 from the University of Central Florida. She then earned her doctorate in special education/applied behavior analysis degree in 2017 from Nova Southeastern. Her dream job was to be a profiler for the FBI. However, after graduating with her bachelor's degree, she started working in a residential school for individuals with developmental delays and fell in love with this field. She went back and earned her master's in special education with a graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorders and then her doctorate in special education and applied behavior analysis. Michelle has a wonderful husband, two kids, and a Labrador. Her family is an outdoor family and they love to be on their boat and go to the islands to camp or hang for the day plus go fishing and scuba diving for fun or for lobster.

Slide 6- Jessica Hinman

Dr. Jessica Hinman, PhD, BCBA, Adjunct Instructor

Dr. Hinman is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has worked within the field of ABA for over 10 years working with autistic persons and those with other developmental disabilities. Dr. Hinman received her Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and her Doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus on Disability Studies from University of Illinois Chicago. As a BCBA and researcher, her work primarily focuses on clinical behavior analytic services including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based interventions to promote empowerment and independence in the clients she serves. While Dr. Hinman has lived in four states over the past 10 years, she now enjoys her life in the Midwest. Dr. Hinman is blessed to have two dogs and a cat. Her greatest joy is her child who bears the middle name of a professional wrestler.

Slide 7 - Jennifer Stam Fountain

Jennifer Stam Fountain, BCBA, LBA, Adjunct Instructor

Jennifer Fountain is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and works full time at Kirksville Primary School in addition to teaching at Truman State University. She attended William Penn University and William Woods University to earn a degree in Elementary Education in 1997, she became a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst in 2004, achieved a Masters in Elementary Administration in 2011, and she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst 2012. Originally from Oskaloosa, Iowa, Jennifer attended undergrad at William Penn University in Iowa, and then moved to Kirksville, Missouri to begin her teaching career. She met her husband and his two children in Kirksville and they married in 2003. They enjoy their 4 children and love to travel. Jennifer with her husband and their young twins have taken many road trips all over the United States in the last several years. They also love traveling to see family in Iowa, Ohio, Maryland, and California. Her parents shared with her their love of reading books and being a life-long learner. It is her desire to share this love with her children as well. She has enjoyed teaching in Kirksville for 25 years and she is enjoying her role at Truman State University!

BCBA Careers

Career/Role	Typical Setting	What the BCBA Does
Autism Services BCBA	ABA clinics, in-home therapy, schools, telehealth	Assess behavior, writes treatment plans, supervises RBTs, trains caregivers, monitors client progress
Clinical Supervisor	ABA companies, therapy centers	Oversees treatment quality, supervises staff, reviews data, manages caseloads
Behavior Consultant	Schools, agencies, private practice	Helps teams understand and reduce challenging behavior through assessment and intervention
School-Based BCBA	Public schools, special education departments, cooperatives	Supports students with behavioral needs, writes behavior intervention plans, train teachers and paraprofessionals
Early Intervention Specialist	Birth-to-5 programs, clinics, homes	Works with young children on communication, social skills, adaptive skills, and behavior reduction
Severe Behavior Specialist	Clinics, hospitals, residential programs	Works with aggression, self-injury, elopement, property destruction, and other high-risk behaviors
Parent Training Specialist	Clinics, telehealth, community agencies	Teaches parents how to use behavioral strategies at home
RBT/Staff Trainer	ABA, organizations, schools, residential programs	Trains and supervises direct-care staff using behavioral skills training
Program Director	ABA clinics, nonprofits, schools	Oversees services, staffing, compliance, budgets, quality assurance, and program development
Residential Behavior Analyst	Group homes, foster-care agencies, residential treatment centers	Supports individuals with behavioral, developmental, or trauma-related needs in residential care
Intellectual/Developmental Disability Services BCBA	State agencies, nonprofits, adult day programs, supported living	Builds behavior plans and skill-building programs for children or adults with developmental disabilities
Adult Services BCBA	Vocational programs, supported employment, adult disability services	Helps adults build job skills, independence communication, and daily-living skills
Organizational Behavior Management Consultant	Businesses, healthcare, manufacturing, corporate training	Uses behavior analysis to improve employee performance, safety, productivity, training, and workplace systems
Performance Management Consultant	Corporate or nonprofit settings	Designs systems to improve staff performance, feedback, incentives, and accountability
Safety Consultant	Industrial, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation	Uses behavioral safety strategies to reduce workplace injuries and improve compliance
Healthcare Behavior Analyst	Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, integrated care settings	Supports patient adherence, health routines, staff training, and behavior change related to medical care
Feeding Therapy Behavior Analyst	Clinics, hospitals, pediatric therapy programs	Works with food refusal, restricted eating, mealtime behavior, and caregiver training
Behavioral Gerontology Specialist	Nursing homes, memory care, elder services	Supports older adults with dementia-related behavior, routines, independence, and caregiver training
Substance Use/Addiction Behavior Specialist	Recovery programs, behavioral health clinics	Applies behavior-change principles to treatment adherence, relapse prevention, and skill-building
Mental Health/Trauma-Informed Behavior Consultant	Clinics, schools, residential programs, foster care services	Uses ABA principles carefully alongside trauma-informed care to support emotional regulation and behavior change
Juvenile Justice Behavior Specialist	Detention centers, diversion programs, residential youth facilities	Supports youth behavior change, staff training, reinforcement systems, and skill development
Correctional Behavior Analyst	Prisons, jails, reentry programs	Design behavior-support systems, staff training, and rehabilitation-focused interventions
Animal Behavior Consultant	Zoos, shelters, service-animal programs, private consulation	Uses behavior principles for training, enrichment, behavior reduction, and welfare
Researcher	Universities, research centers, nonprofits	Studies behavior, interventions, learning, skill acquisition, or systems change
Professor/Instructor	Colleges, universities, online programs	Teaches ABA courses, supervises research, mentors future bheavior analysts
Entrepreneur/Private Practice Owner	Independent clinic, consulting business, telehealth	Runs a business providing ABA therapy, consultation, parent training, staff training, or OBM services
Public Policy/Advocacy Specialist	State agencies, nonprofits, professional organizations	Works on access to services, insurance policy, disability rights, ethics, and systems improvment

ABA Program—Academic Calendar

Program starts in the fall of each year. Eight-week courses offered year-round.

2026-27
Spring First Block	Spring Second Block	Summer Eight-Week
1/6/27-3/2/27	3/15/27-5/8/27	6/1/26-7/24/26
Fall First Block	Fall Second Block
8/12/26-10/6/26	10/12/26-12/12/26

Admission

Admission is made on a rolling basis but is limited to 24 students per cohort. Apply early for priority consideration.

Regrettably, we are unable to consider applications for fully-online programs by individuals who reside outside of the United States and its territories at this time. International applicants are still encouraged to consider our face-to-face programs located on campus in Kirksville, Missouri.

Application Requirements

Online Application

Personal Statement

Official Transcripts

Background Check

Minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA

Application Guidelines

Apply

Tuition

credit hours

$571

per credit hour

$18,272

total estimated tuition*

*Total estimated tuition based on 2026-27 academic year. Tuition subject to change.

Graduate Tuition

Financial Aid

Degree-seeking students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester are eligible for federal financial aid programs. For more information, see Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Studies or contact the Financial Aid Office at (660) 785-4130 or finaid@truman.edu.

Get an inside look at the online learning environment, meet your professors, and get all your questions answered during a virtual visit.

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