Department of Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy in Behavior Analysis

Mission

The doctor of philosophy program in behavior analysis in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University prepares students for roles as professors and researchers in college and university settings, researchers in government or business settings, or systems-oriented applied positions in the human services. 

Program details

 Credit requirements to degree:

  • 79 total credit hours for the degree
  • 12 dissertation credit hours
  • A minimum grade of B is required for all coursework in the program

*These credit hours are in addition to the 37 credits counted towards the master's degree. 

Department of Psychology
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5439 USA
(269) 387-4500

Prerequisites overview

  • A minimum of 79 semester hours completed, with a minimum grade of B in each course.
  • All M.A. requirements completed, including the M.A. project, thesis, or thesis-equivalent before additional academic credits can count towards the Ph.D.
  • A minimum of 30 hours of coursework and 12 dissertation credit hours are required following 37 credits counted towards the master's degree.

Program overview

  • Incorporates all of the requirements of the M.A. program plus additional advanced behavior-analytic coursework, research, and practical and field work training.
  • Prepares students for three roles: teaching/research in a college or university setting, systems-oriented applied positions in the human services and professional positions in industrial/organizational settings.
  • Students spend much of their time engaged in research with faculty members.
  • Although the doctoral program is not APA accredited, students may improve their chances of obtaining future state licensure as a doctoral psychologist by taking APA-recommended coursework as part of their program of study and completing an APA-approved predoctoral internship for course credit (PSY 6950).
    • Students wishing to pursue this option should consult with their major professor about coursework and internship options.
    • To apply for an internship, students must pass their comprehensive exam and successfully defend their dissertation prospectus by Nov. 1 of the application year.

Goals and objectives

  1. Students will develop a strong knowledge base of conceptual, theoretical, and applied issues in behavior analysis.
  2. Students will develop knowledge of scientifically supported behavioral applications relevant to a variety of applied problems.
  3. Students will develop knowledge of research methods, which includes at the Ph.D. level, statistical analysis.
  1. Students will understand and commit to the APA, ABAI, and relevant BACB ethical codes.
  2. Across professional contexts students’ appearance, language, and conduct will be marked by integrity, accountability, and ethicality.
  1. Students will pursue professional development via participation in regional, national, or international organizations as members.
  2. Students will pursue professional development by attending and participating in conferences, workshops, colloquium, and professional trainings.
  1. Students will acquire knowledge of individual differences and cultural diversity.
  2. Students will demonstrate a respect for and ability to work with diverse individual.
  3. Students in applied areas will be aware of the impact of their clients.
  1. Students will be nested in an active research community with an identified mentor.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of and behave in accord with human subjects and animal subject protections.
  3. Students will seek individualized experiences in research methods and experimental design issues relevant to their research interests.
  4. Students will demonstrate an ability to comprehensively evaluate a substantive area of the research literature.
  5. Students will demonstrate an ability to review the strengths and weaknesses of the scientific literature in a targeted domain, link that review to an applicable research question, and develop a research design to provide information relevant to answering that question.
  6. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze and integrate  the research findings into the broader scientific literature in a relevant domain.
  1. Students seeking BACB certification will take courses in the VCS to acquire the applied and professional skills designated by the BACB task list.
  2. Students seeking BACB certification will learn the skills necessary to function effectively in a specialized service setting during external practicum.
  1. Applied students will be able to orally present case materials in a concise, organized, and comprehensive way.
  2. Students will be able to orally present research in a concise, organized, and comprehensive way.
  3. Interested students will be afforded the opportunity to serve as a course instructor demonstrating their capacity to serve as an educator in psychology.

Program requirements

I. Core courses

A course cannot satisfy more than one requirement in Areas 1 through 6.

Area 1: Principles of behavior analysis (3 credit hours)

This area should include two of the following:

  • PSY 6100 – Conditioning and Learning

Area 2: Conceptual and theoretical issues in behavior analysis (6 credit hours)

  • PSY 6760 – Skinner’s Behaviorism

And one of the following

  • PSY 6580 - Cognitive Processes
  • PSY 6710 - Complex Behavioral Processes and Their Applications
  • PSY 6740 - Verbal Behavior

Area 3: Professional ethics (3 credit hours)

  • PSY 6050 - Professional and Research Ethics

Area 4: Applied behavior analysis (10 - 13 credit hours; three classes)

  • PSY 6090 – Advanced Seminar in Applied Behavior Analysis
  • PSY 6260 – Behavioral Assessment
  • PSY 6650 – Behavioral Approaches to Treatment (4 credits)

For students seeking BCBA Certification:

  • PSY 6270 – Supervision in ABA

Area 5: Research methods (6 credit hours)

  • PSY 6080 - Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis

And one of the following

  • STAT 5670 - Statistical Design & Analysis of Experiments
  • EMR 6450 - Data Analytics I: Design Studies

Area 6: EAB (6 credits)

  • PSY 6110 – Experimental Analysis of Behavior

And one of the following:

  • PSY 6130 – Behavioral Pharmacology
  • PSY 6150 – Special Topics in EAB

II. Research, professional experience, and electives

Area 7: Master's thesis or project (6 credit hours)

  • PSY 7000 - Master's Thesis
  • PSY 7050 – Master’s Project
  • PSY 7350 - Graduate Research

Area 8: Professional experience (6 - 12 credit hours)

  • PSY 5470 - Practicum: Organizational Performance Improvement
  • PSY 5980 - Special Projects in Psychology
  • PSY 5990 - Practicum in Psychology 
  • PSY 6910 - College Teaching Practicum
  • PSY 6950 - Doctoral Internship in Behavior Analysis
  • PSY 7100 - Independent Research
  • PSY 7120 - Professional Field Experience
  • PSY 7350 - Graduate Research

Area 9: Electives (15 - 21 credit hours)

  • Any other 5000 or greater graduate level course offered at WMU, after approval from advisor.

Area 10: Doctoral dissertation (12 credit hours)

  • PSY 7300 - Doctoral Dissertation

Research tools

Students must complete two research tools. Both of the listed options in the row must be completed for one research tool. Grouped tools indicate possible combinations. Other research tools may be petitioned. No class may count in more than one research tool. See handbook for research tool options.

Professional and scholarly activity

The student will complete a six-hour examination prepared by his or her doctoral committee. The area of study is defined by the student in consultation with his or her advisor and dissertation committee. As an alternative, a student can publish a first-authored article or prepare and submit a grant proposal. These activities will be approved by appropriate faculty members.

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