About the Program

Psychology Department
Buckham Hall A238
(716) 878-6215
psychology.buffalostate.edu/

Exceptional Education Department
Ketchum Hall 204
(716) 878-3038
exceptionaleducation.buffalostate.edu/

Enrollment in this combined pathway allows highly qualified, currently-enrolled SUNY Buffalo State students to begin work on a M.S. degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) while completing a B.S. degree in Psychological Science. Twelve (12) credits of designated master’s courses would be incorporated into the B.S. program and count toward both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission into the combined pathway is highly selective. Matriculated undergraduate students may apply to the BS/MS pathway in their junior year and will complete all of the application requirements for the program. The admission application process includes a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in Psychology, a statement of intent, and names of 3 references.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:
1. Critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of psychology.
2. Generate a scientific hypothesis in a given area of psychology.
3. Demonstrate understanding of basic research designs used in psychology and related mental health fields,
4. Utilize appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
5. Apply valid conclusions based on topic area, hypothesis, review of literature, and study outcomes.

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33
Psychology Major Requirements (42 credit hours)
Required Courses (18 credit hours)
PSY 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 3
PSY 350 STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH1 3
PSY 450 RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS2 3
PSY 471 HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY 3
PSY 472 SEMINAR ON PSYCHOLOGY 3
Select one from the following: 3
PSY 458 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 488 INTERNSHIP (3-15)
PSY 495 SPECIAL PROJECT (1-3)
PSY 499 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)
The prerequisite for all 300-level courses is PSY 101 with a grade of C or better unless otherwise noted.
Students must select one course from each of the following groups.

Biological/Cognitive Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement: 3
PSY 304 LEARNING: THEORY AND RESEARCH
PSY 308 SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
PSY 321 COMPARATIVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
PSY 330 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER OF LANGUAGE
PSY 333 BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
PSY 340 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement: 3
PSY 392 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 3

Applied Psychology and Diversity
Select one of the following by advisement: 3
PSY 365 PSYCHOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE
PSY 367 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
PSY 370 ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY I
PSY 375 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 376 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 379 PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY
PSY 381 PSYCHOLOGY OF CULTURE
PSY 383 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
PSY 387 PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER
PSY 388 PSYCHOLOGY OF DEATH AND DYING

Social/Personality Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement: 3
PSY 311 PERSONALITY: THEORY AND RESEARCH
PSY 325 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

Developmental Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement: 3
PSY 301 PERSPECTIVES ON CHILD ABUSE AND ADVOCACY
PSY 355 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 356 CHILD DEVELOPMENT
PSY 357 ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT

Advanced Electives
PSY 310 BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION 3
TWO 400 LEVEL PSY ELECTIVES @ 3 CREDITS EACH 6

Combined Pathway Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Graduate Courses 12
Students must complete each of the following EXE courses during senior year of Psychological Science BS
EXE 522 BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT, INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTION
EXE 544 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS
EXE 634 APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS4
EXE 681 CLINICAL RECORDS AND ETHICAL PRACTICES FOR BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS

All College Electives 33
Total Credit Hours 120

Applied Behavior Analysis MS Requirements (33 credit Hours)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing is required for each of the following
EXE 522 BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT, INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTION 3
EXE 544 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS 3
EXE 634 APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS4 3
EXE 681 CLINICAL RECORDS AND ETHICAL PRACTICES FOR BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS 3
EXE 644 ADVANCED APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS5 3
EXE 645 EFFECTIVE PRACTICES FOR SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER 3
EXE 646 CULTURE, DIVERSITY, DISABILITY, AND EDUCATION 3
EXE 673 PERSONNEL SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT6 3
EXE 683 SUPERVISED PRACTICUM: PERSONNEL SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT7 3
EXE 684 PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH IN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION8 3
EXE 690 MASTER’S PROJECT IN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION 3
Total Combined Graduate Credit Hours 33
1 Prerequisite: At least sophomore status; Completion of the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement – only a MAT course at MAT 114 or higher.
2 Prerequisite: PSY 350 with a grade of B- or higher.
3 Prerequisite: PSY 101 Grade of C and 3 additional hours of psychology.
4 Prerequisite: EXE 500 or EXE 100 or instructor permission
5 Prerequisite: EXE 634.
6 Prerequisite: EXE 644.
7 Prerequisite: EXE 673.
8 Prerequisite: Completion of all core courses except the research requirement and a minimum of 9 hours of coursework from the specialized program.