Admission Requirements - Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis

• A graduate application (obtained online or from the Center for Adult and Graduate Studies)
• Official copies of undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts from any college(s) or universities previously attended.
• A 2.75 overall grade point average or equivalent in a bachelor’s program. If you do not meet this requirement, you are welcome to discuss your options for admission with your graduate advisor.
• The names and contact information (email address and phone number) for two academic or professional references as well as one personal (non-family member) reference.
• Personal Statement that addresses reasons for interest in pursuing graduate work in this area of study.

Your personal statement should be typewritten, double-spaced narrative of 3-5 pages and reflect standards of graduate-level writing. It should describe your motivation and aspiration for becoming a behavior analyst working with individuals with autism. The following questions may be used as your guide:

1. Why are you seeking a career in ABA with individuals with autism?
2. What does it mean to demonstrate exemplary values and ethics as a behavior analyst? How are your personal values and the values of a professional ABA therapist alike and different? How will you deal with these similarities and differences while in the AU ABA program and after graduation?
3. Describe a situation/s in which you had to deal with differences in age, race, disability, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation. Based on your experience, how do you plan to work with diverse and vulnerable people?
4. What does it mean to have an urgency to promote social justice? How are behavioral analysts called upon to promote social justice?
5. Describe the ways that your personal values, beliefs, and interests are congruent with the vision and mission of Aurora University.
6. If your GPA is below 2.75, were there extenuating circumstances that affected your past academic performance? If so, have you resolved those issues/factors?

• If English is your second language, you must submit official score results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The required minimum acceptable TOEFL score is: 79 Internet-based (213 computer based or 550 paper-based) or minimum IELTS score: 6.5.

• Background Check: Once admitted into the program, a national background check is required. Please note that a criminal background (including, but not limited to, convictions concerning child abuse, child neglect, or violence) may render you ineligible for a practicum experience, which is a requirement for the Aurora University ABA Master’s degree program and national ABA certification.

• There is an expectation that you will be able to manipulate and analyze data. It would be helpful if you have completed a basic statistic course within your previous degree work
  • Completion of a basic statistics course within the past five years with a grade of "C" or better is highly recommended
• Maintain personal characteristics indicative of the capacity for professional practice as evidenced by personal maturity, a high level of personal integrity, readiness to identify with the high standards, professional behavior, and ethical principles of the behavior analyst’s profession and promote the general welfare of society through the application of the principles of behavior.

Admission Interviews

In reviewing applications, we evaluate all transcripts, the “Statement of Purpose” and reference information. Admission interviews are conducted on a selected basis. If an interview is conducted, your admission materials are reviewed and questions regarding the ABA Master's program are answered.

Send application materials to:

Graduate Admissions
Aurora University
347 S. Gladstone Avenue
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4892