PhD in ABA

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency (international applicants) as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

  • Master’s degree in behavior analysis or related field with strong behavior analysis content
  • Minimum 3.50 GPA in a master’s major
  • Research experiences and expertise
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Campus visit and interview with ABA faculty members
  • Personal statement describing experience and accomplishments in ABA, future goals, and reasons for pursuing doctoral studies
  • Curriculum Vita (CV)

Students entering the doctoral major with their master’s degree are expected to have completed at least the following requirements:

  • 18 credit hours of didactic coursework in behavior analysis in the following areas:
    • Basic behavioral principles (3 credits)
    • Research methods (3 credits)
    • Conceptual foundations (3 credits)
    • Applied behavior analysis (6 credits)
    • Ethics (3 credits)
  • An accepted master’s thesis or equivalent experience

Admitted students lacking in any of these prerequisites will be required to take classes in the doctoral major to cover the missing prerequisites.

*The GRE is not required for admission to the PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis program.

For more information on requirements, courses and admission information, visit the 2024-2025 USF Academic Catalog.

To apply to the ABA doctoral program

If you have difficulty accessing this page directly, please follow the steps below

  • Visit the USF Admissions Page
  • Click on "Apply" on left side
  • Click on "Apply" on the right side next to "Graduate Admissions"
  • Create an account
  • Start your application and choose Applied Behavior Analysis PhD from the drop down menu

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