Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis is designed to provide graduates with integrated theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the personalised, effective, and ethical application of behaviour analysis across a range of workplace and community contexts. The program caters for people seeking to integrate principles and practices in ABA within their existing professional practice, to understand and apply principles and practices in their own lives (e.g., caregivers of children with disabilities), and people who ultimately want to pursue external certification as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA). Accordingly, the program covers the knowledge and skills that comprise the 5th edition Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA) Task List (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2017).

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis will demonstrate discipline specific knowledge about:

• The philosophical underpinnings and principles of applied behaviour analysis (ABA)
• The relevance of ABA principles and practices to upholding the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WHO, 2007) and relevant policies in the Australian context including the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission Positive Behaviour Support Competency Framework (2019)
• Principles of assessment, goal setting, intervention, and evaluation in supporting socially significant behaviour change, including skill development and reducing behaviours that challenge, taking into account all relevant personal, contextual, and environmental factors, consistent with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO, 2001) framework
• The Behavior Analyst Certification Board Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts
• The applicability of ABA principles and practice to a range of health, education, and other workplace settings, including the importance of interdisciplinary practice.

Graduates will demonstrate integration of this discipline specific knowledge within a broader professional framework, which includes (a) knowledge of the importance and inherent value of cultural diversity including understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, (b) understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary practice, and (c) knowledge of how to critically appraise research evidence.

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis comprises two trimesters of part-time study. Students complete four courses (delivered as six-week online intensives) via a combination of learning activities that focus on real world application of knowledge and skills. At the end of the program, students will have developed a deep understanding of the key concepts, principles, and theoretical underpinnings of Applied Behaviour Analysis and have applied them to case scenarios involving assessment, intervention, and adherence to ethical and professional practice issues to support learning and achieve positive and meaningful changes in behaviour.

The program caters for students who want to apply the knowledge and skills to their everyday lives including teachers, allied health professionals, managers, principals, and parents/caregivers. In addition, the program provides a pathway towards external certification as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA). Students wishing to pursue external certification must: refer to the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board website for full information.

Recommended study pattern

This Graduate Certificate program is offered on a part-time basis via online delivery. Students must expect to complete a minimum of 15 hours per week of online work for each week of the six-week intensive courses including participation in weekly two-hour online evening workshops. Workshop attendance, online analytics and task completion will be used to monitor engagement.

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis 
• Assessing and Measuring Behaviour
• Behaviour Change Interventions
• Ethical and Professional Conduct in Applied Behaviour Analysis

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (GCertAppBehAnalysis), you must successfully acquire 40 credit points for the prescribed core courses.

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To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis, consideration will be given to applicants who have: 

• a completed a Bachelor degree in any discipline with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 4.0 (using a 7 point scale)
• OR a health, education or related Diploma or Certificate IV VET/TAFE qualification plus two years relevant work experience
• OR completed a minimum of three years full-time professional experience in related fields and can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study as a result of relevant work experience through provision of curriculum vitae and an employer's reference
• OR can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study as a result of relevant life experience (for example, a parent of a child with disability accessing ABA intervention) through provision of curriculum vitae and statement of relevant life experience.

• a health, education or related Diploma or Certificate IV VET/TAFE qualification plus two years relevant work experience

• completed a minimum of three years full-time professional experience in related fields and can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study as a result of relevant work experience through provision of curriculum vitae and an employer's reference
• OR can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study as a result of relevant life experience (for example, a parent of a child with disability accessing ABA intervention) through provision of curriculum vitae and statement of relevant life experience.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

International students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the following University policy for exceptions to these overall requirements:

• Postgraduate Programs Admission Policy

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including: 

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE. 
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training. 
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.