McNeese State University’s online program for a Master of Arts in psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis (ABA) in the Department of Psychology and Counseling has joined the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence (BHCOE) as an “Academic Program Partner.”
Supervised experiential learning is an important part of the ABA program and the collaboration will expand the access for online students who live more than 50 miles from the McNeese campus, according to Dr. Joanna B. Thompson, McNeese ABA program director.
“The placements for the experiential learning will be in BHCOE-accredited clinics near the students’ homes,” said Thompson. “This ensures students get the best learning opportunities.”
In-person students who reside within 50 miles of the university will continue to receive a site placement at the McNeese Autism Program located on the campus.
“By becoming a BHCOE Academic Program Partner, we’re fostering an environment of success for every student in our graduate program and advocating for these future behavior analysts,” explained Thompson. “These students will engage in strong experiential learning at BHCOE-accredited clinical sites, and as a result, we are helping to create a stronger behavioral health workforce.”
The BHCOE is an international accrediting body that provides agencies meeting specific rigorous standards of quality with a certification. Through this new partnership, McNeese and BHCOE will work together to ensure that students’ supervised fieldwork aligns with academic learning and national standards for quality.
For more information about the Master of Arts in psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis program, visit www.mcneese.edu/academics/graduate/applied-behavior-analysis.
For more details about the innovative BHCOE Academic Program Partnerships and ongoing collaborations in the ABA community, visit: www.bhcoe.org/applied-behavioral-analysis-training-academic-partners.
