ABA News and Events

ABA Researchers Share Findings at Leadership Conference

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) faculty Catia Cividini-Motta, PhD, BCBA-D, Kwang-Sun Cho Blair, PhD, BCBA-D, and Tracy-Ann Gilbert Smith, MS presented their research findings at the 2023 Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Leadership and Project Directors' Conference.

In the News: USF Lands $8M in Grants to Train Mental Health Counselors, Study Student Behavior

The USF program also aims to help schools adopt a framework for mental health assessments.

CFS Faculty Receive $2 Million Research Grant From Institute of Education Sciences

The primary goal of the study is to train school-based professionals to become behavioral coaches, equipping them with the necessary skills to guide individualized behavior support teams through the PTR process.

ABA Associate Professor Sarah Bloom Awarded for Outstanding Mentorship
Dr. Bloom was recognized at the 2023 Association for Behavior Analysis Conference.

CBCS Student Employees Recognized for Outstanding Performance
Congratulations to ABA Student Arturo Garcia!

ABA Students Share Research Findings
The students recently participated in poster presentation sessions, sharing the findings of their research projects with fellow students, faculty, and mentors.

In the News/GW44 Tampa Bay: USF to Work with Tampa Bay Students on Addressing Mental Health Challenges
University of South Florida students will be working alongside Tampa Bay education staff to help address mental health in Tampa Bay K-12 students.

In the News/10 Tampa Bay: USF Lands $8M in Grants to Ttrain Mental Health Counselors, Study Student Behavior
The University of South Florida just received millions of dollars in grant money to help train dozens of graduate students to become mental health professionals in our local schools.

ABA Doctoral Student Arturo Garcia Presents Research on Human Trafficking Interventions
He presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Studies (ACJS) in Washington DC, a prestigious international association that fosters professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice.

ABA Program Director Raymond Miltenberger Publishes 7th edition of Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures
This book, first published in 1997, is a commonly assigned textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in applied behavior analysis or behavior modification.

CFS Professor Presents Research on Teaching Safety Skills to Children
Raymond Miltenberger, PhD, BCBA-D presented his research as part of the Pints of Science Quarterly Lecture Series.

ABA Student Julissa Robles Receives BCTOB Fellowship

The fellowship provides a two-semester stipend for a student to work at Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay.

Tampa Midtown Rotary Club's Annual Cycling for Autism on October 22 to Support the ABA Program

The 11th annual event support programs at the University of South Florida focused on helping individuals with autism and their families.

ABA Doctoral Student Speaks at WIBA Conference

Sharayah Tai, MS, BCBA was a discussant and presenter at the Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA) Conference.

Meka McCammon, PhD, BCBA-D, ABA Assistant Professor of Instruction Invited to Join Editorial Board

The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis publishes research about applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance and is noted as the premier flagship journal in the field of behavior analysis.

ABA Program Director Ray Miltenber, PhD Recognized for Exceptional Mentorship

He received the award at the 2022 Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference in Boston.

ABA Assistant Professor of Instruction Jesse DePaolo, PhD Elected to Board of ABAI Special Interest Group

She will serve in the Health, Sport, and Fitness Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavior Analysis International

ABA Assistant Professor of Instruction to Serve on Editorial Board for the Journal of Educators Online

The journal is a triennial publication that highlights research in the broad area of computer mediated learning, which includes distance, online, electronic, virtual, distributed, blended, and mobile learning.

ABA Students Share Results of Field Work Projects at 2022 Poster Expo

On April 27, 2022 ABA masters student shared their practicum case studies during the first face to face Community Applications of Behavior Analysis (CABA) event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABA Hosts Round Table Discussion with Community Partners

Following this year’s annual CABA Poster Expo, faculty provided an update to upcoming program changes, discussed challenges faced by community partners, and solicited feedback on how the program can be improved and further support community partners. 

ABA Master’s Student Kayla Coogle Receives 2022 BCOTB Fellowship

The fellowship provides a two-semester stipend for a student who can work 20 hours per week at BCOTB as their practicum placement, and then is willing to work at BCOTB after graduating from USF.

ABA Doctoral Student Daniel Kwak ABAI 2022 Paper Winner

Kwak has been invited to present his research at the 2022 ABAI conference in Boston, MA.

ABA Doctoral Student Arturo Garcia Receives Josie Torralba Romero Scholarship

The scholarship is through the National Latino Behavioral Health Association, an organization dedicated to bringing attention to the great disparities that exist in Latino behavioral health access and utilization of services, research and behavioral health workforce development. 

USF ABA Program Presents at the 2021 Association for Behavior Analysis International Virtual Conference

The ABAI annual convention is the largest gathering of behavior analysts in the world--whether in a convention hall or online. Attendees represent more than 50 countries. 25 USF ABA students were among the presenting authors.

ABA Students Share Research During Virtual CABA Event

Celebrating the different applications of behavior analysis in our community, the ABA Master's Program held a Community Applications of Behavior Analysis (CABA) Virtual Poster Expo on April 7th for students to share results of their practicum or self-management projects.

CFS Faculty Author Five Chapters in Book Focused on Supports for Students with Problem Behavior

A second edition of Individualized Supports for Students with Problem Behaviors: Designing Positive Behavior Plans will be released April 15, 2021, and out of the 14 chapters, 5 of them are co-authored by CFS faculty.

New Registered Behavior Technician® (RBT®) 40-Hour Training Provider Pass-Rate Report Ranks USF Program Third in the Nation

USF ranks third in the nation among 24 RBT training programs that trained 50 or more RBT® examination candidates in 2020.

ABA Program Director Dr. Ray Miltenberger Named New AAAS Fellow

AAAS Fellows are recognized for their achievements across disciplines.

Hot off the Press: CFS Impact Report

The Impact Report provides a general overview and highlights accomplishments of our academic programs, research, and technical assistance initiatives.

1st-year students in the ABA Master’s Program present case study projects December 2

The posters profiled their case study projects completed for the course MHS6601 Functional Assessment.

TWO CBCS FACULTY NAMED NEW AAAS FELLOWS

Congratulations to ABA Program Director Dr. Ray Miltenberger, and Dr. Howard Goldstein, CSD for earning one of academia's highest honors.

Professor Ray Miltenberger Contributes to Work on Changing Behaviors During COVID 19

His research in ABA focuses on teaching safety skills to children and individuals with disabilities, ABA approaches in health, fitness, and sports, analysis and treatment of repetitive behavior disorders, and functional assessment and treatment of problem behaviors. Recently, he has utilized his expertise to help educate people about changing their behavior during the COVID 19 Pandemic.

Summer CABA Student Poster Session Held July 21

ABA masters students shared their practicum case studies or self-management projects during the second virtual CABA event.

2020 CABA Student Poster Session Revamped into Online Format

Up until this year, the Community Applications of Behavior Analysis (CABA) Poster Session meant an opportunity for ABA Master’s students to gather and display their practicum case studies in a professional presentation setting. This year, the Covid-19 Crisis required the annual poster session to be revamped into an online format.

ABA Doctoral Students Record 50 Lectures in One Week for Remote Instruction

As USF prepared to meet the continuing educational needs of students during the COVID 19 Crisis by transitioning to remote instruction for the duration of 2019 spring semester, ABA Doctoral Students Marlesha Bell and Anthony Concepcion, who both began the ABA doctoral program in 2017, provided much needed support to the ABA program.

ABA Student Theresa Barhold Receives 2019 BCOTB Fellowship

The fellowship, offered through BCOTB in Tampa, provides a two semester stipend for a student who is able to work 20 hours per week at BCOTB as their practicum placement, and then willing to work at BCOTB after graduating from USF.

Proceeds from Tampa Interbay Rotary’s 10th Annual Cycling for Autism Event Support USF's CARD and ABA Programs

Both programs support individuals with autism and related disabilities and their families. The Tampa Interbay Rotary Club has supported the programs for the past ten years through the cycling event held each spring.

ABA Training: USF ABA Program offers training discounts to Students and Practicum Sites

Training programs include Registered Behavior Technician Training, Supervisor Training, and Continuing Education sponsored by Dr. Ray Miltenberger, approved continuing education (ACE) provider of Type 2 continuing education hours for BCBA and BCaBA certificants.

Online MA in Applied Behavior Analysis Earns No. 1 Ranking by BestColleges

In a recent roundup by BestColleges, USF’s online master’s in applied behavior analysis was named the best online behavioral psychology program in the U.S. This new accolade comes on the heels of a top-five program ranking by Online Psychology Degrees.

ABA Faculty Among Journal Authors with Top Downloads for Wiley Publications

Wiley's online scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, books, and other digital content build on a 200-year heritage of quality publishing.

USF ABA Faculty and Students Present at ABAI in Chicago

The event gathers over 5,000 behavior analysts from all over the world; typically, more than 50 countries are represented.

USF ABA Program Faculty and Students Present at Inaugural Pan African Congress on Autism in Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Kwang-Sun Blair and advisees Ashley Knochel and Rachel Sofarelli presented two papers on evidence-based interventions in ABA and the importance of cultural adaptations during the inaugural conference held in Nairobi, Kenya from April 27- 29.

2019 SUMMER INSTITUTE: Technologies for Children with Disabilities
May 14 – 15, 2019

The Summer Institute, facilitated by professionals who have utilized individualized assessment strategies to address and support the needs of children with disabilities, is part of Project EBAS, a training grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

10th Annual Cycling For Autism Supports USF ABA Program

The 10th Annual Cycling For Autism event is being planned for May 4th, 2019! In the last 9 years the Tampa Interbay Rotary Club has raised nearly $200,000 with their annual Cycling for Autism event to support individuals in our community who have an autism spectrum disorder. Proceeds this year will benefit the Applied Behavior Analysis Program (ABA) and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida. Please support these programs as a rider or a sponsor.

Dr. Sarah Bloom Presents Invited Keynote at Conferences in Israel and Turkey

Dr. Bloom, Associate Professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program in USF's Department of Child and Family Studies has recently returned from Israel and Turkey, where she served as invited keynote speaker at two conferences focused on the field of applied behavior analysis.

Dr. Kwang-Sun Blair Delivers Invited Workshops, Seminar, and Colloquium in South Korea

Dr. Blair delivered two workshops at the Korean School Psychology Association meeting, a seminar at Seoul Dawon School for children with developmental disabilities, and a colloquium at Kongju National University, during June 7 – 11 in South Korea.

Online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Prepares Students for BCBA Certification

For recent graduates and professionals interested in becoming behavior analysts, USF’s online master’s program provides a convenient path to BCBA certification and career advancement.

2017 Cohort of ABA Doctoral Students Gain Valuable Teaching Experience

The newest PhD cohort are all teaching classes in the ABA minor and are doing a fantastic job.

ABA M.A. Online Program Ranks #5 by Online Psychology Degrees

The website says "USF packs quite a lot into the eight-week courses that comprise its affordable online master's degree in applied behavior analysis. Not only does the program meet all BCBA requirements (including the supervised experience), but it also includes an independent research project."

9th Annual Cycling For Autism Supports USF ABA Program

The 9th Annual Cycling For Autism event is being planned for April 7, 2018! In the last 8 years the Tampa Interbay Rotary Club has raised nearly $195,000 with their annual Cycling for Autism event to support individuals in our community who have an autism spectrum disorder. Proceeds this year will benefit the Applied Behavior Analysis Program and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Ray Miltenberger Receives CBCS Outstanding Graduate Faculty Mentor Award

This award recognizes faculty who demonstrate the highest level of quality in the mentoring of graduate students in teaching, research, and service. Dr. Miltenberger has mentored 50 master's students to graduation since the inception of the ABA master's program in 2006.

Fourth Year ABA Doctoral Students have Long List of Research Accomplishments!

How productive are our PhD students? Just take a look at our fourth year ABA doctoral student research accomplishments! Great work Bryon Miller, Lindsey Slattery, Leslie Singer, Mallory Quinn, Sindy Sanchez and Diego Valbuena!

Tampa Interbay Rotary Club Provides Scholarship Fund through Annual Cycling for Autism Event

Since 2010, the Tampa Interbay Rotary Club Cycling for Autism Fundraising event has raised over $165,000 to support programs in the Tampa Bay community focused on helping individuals with autism and their families. They have supported CARD-USF's many efforts in the community, as well as a scholarship fund for students in the Applied Behavior Analysis Program at USF.

USF's ABA Master's Program Receives Reaccreditation by the Behavior Analysis Accreditation Board

The Behavior Analysis Accreditation Board (BAAB) is the governance body responsible for the accreditation of training programs in behavior analysis at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. The BAAB operates as a board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and carries out its responsibilities in a manner consistent with the ABAI bylaws and articles of incorporation.

ABA Master's Students Publish in Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Four of our ABA master's students have recently been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis! Congratulations and great job Tricia Jeffries, Heather Kelley, Haley Krantz and Carolyn Mancuso!

ABA Master's Student Kelsey O'Neill Receives $16,000 Fellowship Grant from Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay

As part of the fellowship, Kelsey will complete one year of a paid practicum at BCOTB to help her gain a variety of experiences that will prepare her to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Professor Ray Miltenberger's Research Profiled in Article about Keeping Kids Away from Unsecured Guns

Miltenberger says there's a big difference between a child being able to talk about safety measures and actually being able to perform them.

21 Students from USF's ABA Program have their Research Presented at ABAI Convention

Many of the students also attended the convention in Chicago, which gathers over 4,500 behavior analysts from all over the world.

New! USF Online M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Study online and continue to work – from anywhere! USF's online M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis can help you infuse new skills into your practice with a rigorous curriculum that leads to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification.

Dr. Ray Miltenberger Receives Prestigious Outstanding Scientific Contributions Award from FABA

The award was presented during the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) Conference and Awards Ceremony on October 1st.

ABA Welcomes Third Cohort of ABA Doctoral Students

Each year brings increasing numbers of highly qualified applicants. This year's cohort includes a prestigious McKnight Doctoral Fellow and a University Graduate Fellowship.

Congratulations ABA Summer Masters Graduates!

All graduates of Summer 2015 are already employed and/or continuing education for a doctoral degree.

Professor Raymond Miltenberger Featured on Dateline NBC Regarding Gun Safety

Dr. Raymond Miltenberger, professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, and the Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis programs at USF, was featured on the NBC Dateline segment June 21 featuring kids and gun safety.

CFS Students in the Applied Behavior Analysis Program Greatly Exceed Pass Rate Average for BCaBA/BCBA Examinations

The majority of CFS students in both the master's and undergraduate minor programs in Applied Behavior Analysis who took BCBA and BCaBA examinations in 2014 passed on their first try.

USF ABA Program Presents at the ABAI Convention

Faculty and students of the Applied Behavior Analysis program at USF presented at the annual Association for Behavior Analysis International conference in San Antonio, Texas held May 22-26.

Dr. Ray Miltenberger Listed among Noteworthy Research Contributors to the Field of Applied Behavior Analysis

USF and USF Professor Ray Miltenberger were highlighted in a recent report published in the Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP) journal, which evaluated research productivity of several graduate programs that provide Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)-approved course sequences in behavior analysis.

Just Out! Sixth Edition of Dr. Raymond Miltenberger's Text: Behavior Modification: Principles And Procedures

The new text has been updated with expanded topics and reflects the latest research in behavior modification.

Teaching Gun Safety Skills to Young Children

Ray Miltenberger, of the Department of Child and Family Studies, has created a gun injury prevention program that uses behavioral skills training and in situ training. The intervention helps children to demonstrate the desired safety skills in role-playing assessments and in situ assessments.

ABA Program Awarded 5-Year $1.06 million Grant

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, students accepted into the "Project ABA": Preparing Related Services Personnel in Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autism program will become school-based behavior analysts working with children with autism.

USF ABA Provides 33 Presentations at 2014 Florida Association of Behavioral Analysis Conference

All ABA faculty members, 5 doctoral students, and 18 master's students presented.

USF Announces New Online Graduate Certificate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis

The University of South Florida now offers a new, comprehensive online Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis to prepare professionals to work with individuals with special learning and behavior needs. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) can help create treatment plans and supportive environments for children and adults living with a disability, mental illness, or behavioral disorders such as autism, ADHD or addiction.

ABA Student Assistance Fund Yields Excellent Results

As we prepare for our Fall 2014 students in the ABA Masters program, we are proud to profile the productive efforts of our Fall/Spring 2013 and Spring 2014 awardees of the Applied Behavior Analysis Student Assistance Fund.

5th Annual Cycling Out Autism Raises over $34,000 for Community Organizations

USF's Center for Autism & Related Disabilities and Applied Behavior Analysis Program were among local organizations supported by the event held April 5th.

CFS Faculty Ray Miltenberger Comments on Children and Firearms

Liberty Voice: Philadelphia Toddler Accidentally Kills Sister With Loaded Gun

Student Profiles: Applied Behavior Analysis Doctoral Program

In the fall of 2013, the University of South Florida accepted six PhD students in the new Applied Behavior Analysis doctoral program in the College of Behavior and Community Sciences. The program prepares students to be expert practitioners, effective teachers, and accomplished researchers.

Dr. Ray Miltenberger's Behavior Modification Text Now in Spanish

The fifth edition of Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures, a text used to teach the procedures of behavior modification, has been translated into Spanish.

CFS Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2013 Semester

To keep up with the growing number of students in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program, CFS welcomed two new faculty members this week: Drs. Sarah Bloom and Andrew Samaha.

Student Profile: Inaugural Class of ABA Minor Program

Within one year, the first 15 students will complete their minor requirements in ABA.