Letter to Prospective Applicants
The graduate program in Behavior Analysis emphasizes integration of Radical Behaviorism as a philosophy of science and as a general behavioral theory with both experimental and applied behavioral analysis. The organizational theme of the program is the premise that both Radical Behaviorism and Natural Science methods unite the experimental and theoretical literatures in basic and applied areas. This orientation is reflected by required courses in theoretical foundations of behavioral analysis, advanced experimental analysis of behavior, literature in applied behavioral analysis, and strategies and tactics of animal and human behavioral research. Advanced seminars are offered on topics such as schedules of reinforcement, behavioral pharmacology, behavioral medicine, substance abuse, verbal behavior, behavioral assessment, human operant behavior, developmental disabilities, and others. All faculty and students meet weekly in a "current topics" seminar in which current research and articles of general interest are discussed.
Current animal research activities include studies on conditioned reinforcement, drug-behavior interactions, choice, and other topics. Human operant research involves the evaluation of rule-governed behavior, human choice, substance abuse, cigarette smoking, and other topics. Applied research includes training programs such as manual breast examination, functional analysis and treatment of self-injurious behavior, school-based interventions. Students are encouraged to work closely with one or more of the faculty in developing a continuing research apprenticeship. Recent graduate students have published thesis and dissertation research in major behavioral journals including Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
All graduate students must fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School and the Department, the general requirements of the Behavior Analysis program, and the special requirements of basic or applied tracks. All students are expected to be involved in research and teaching throughout their tenure in the Department. Additional course work in Psychology and other departments is completed according to individual goals and interests as specified in each student's unique program of study.
The Behavior Analysis program is currently in the process of revising its curriculum, which may involve adding new courses to the offerings listed below. Currently, a major portion of each student's advanced course work occurs within the context of the two major advanced seminars - EAB 6939 and EAB 7089. Recent offerings in EAB 6939 include functional analysis, self-injurious behavior, ethical and professional issues in applied behavior analysis, behavior analysis and therapy and other topics. Recent offerings in EAB 7089 include human/nonhuman continuity, interpretive systems, and learning theory. The EAB 6937 Continuing Seminar, taken by all students each semester during their tenure, serves as a most important forum for discussion of ongoing research of both students and faculty, and as a means of integrating the program. Additional course work in a Minor Area is required. Area graduate students have minored in Comparative Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Special Education, Clinical Psychology, and General Psychology.
Since its beginning in 1970, the Behavior Analysis program has graduated more than forty Ph.D.'s, with initial placements at Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University, University of North Carolina, Walter Reed Medical Center, University of Kansas, among others. Many graduates of the program now hold senior positions at their respective institutions, are Fellows in APA, serve on editorial boards of major journals, and have achieved national and international distinction. The Behavior Analysis Program has achieved international recognition by recently receiving the Award for Enduring Programmatic Contributions in Behavior Analysis from the Association for Behavior Analysis in 2002.
EAB 5055 - Advanced Experimental Analysis of Behavior
EAB 5436 - Behavioral Pharmacology
EAB 6118 - Theoretical Foundations of Behavior Analysis
EAB 6707 - Applied Behavior Analysis
EAB 6716 - Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities
EAB 6719 - Seminar: Strategies and Tactics of Human Behavioral Research
EAB 6750 - Quantitative Methods
EAB 6937 - Continuing Seminar: Special Topics in Experimental Analysis of Behavior
EAB 6939 - Special Topics in Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavioral Parenting
Behavior Analysis and Therapy
Functional Analysis of Behavior Disorders
EAB 7089 - Advanced Seminar in Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Interpretive Systems
The Nature of Human Nature
EAB 7090 - Verbal Behavior