Online MA in ABA

Overview

Online MA in Applied Behavior Analysis

Earn your master’s degree in applied behavior analysis fully online while you keep working in the field. The USF Online MA in ABA is a five-semester, cohort-based program for working behavior technicians and ABA professionals. Students complete all required coursework and 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork before graduation, so they are eligible to sit for the BCBA exam as soon as they graduate.

By the Numbers

86%

first-time BCBA exam pass rate, 2025
51% nationally

3×

growth in applications since 2022

1.75 yrs

median time to degree
every year since 2022

99%

of students keep their current job
and earn fieldwork hours there

Figures from our program data; national pass rate from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

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Program at a Glance

Format
Fully online. Live classes Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 6–8 p.m. ET; practicum seminars and the capstone are asynchronous.

Length
Five consecutive semesters, 42 credits, about 21 months. Cohorts start each fall and spring.

Cost
$25,200 total ($600 per credit). One rate for Florida, out-of-state, and international students.

Fieldwork
1,500 hours of Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, completed during the program at your own ABA agency.

Admission
Bachelor’s degree in any field; no GRE. Deadlines: June 1 (fall) and October 15 (spring).

Outcome
Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis. Graduates are eligible to sit for the BCBA exam immediately.

Our Students

Our students are working behavior technicians and ABA professionals from across the country. They come from psychology, education, nursing, business, and many other majors; no specific degree is required. Nearly all keep their jobs and complete their fieldwork hours at their own agency. Admission is holistic and competitive: the committee weighs your academic record, ABA experience, recommendations, and personal statement together, and no single factor decides.

New to ABA? USF’s 40-hour RBT Training course and undergraduate minor in ABA are common ways to build experience and coursework. Not sure where you stand? Get program information or talk with Tracy-Ann Gilbert Smith at 813-974-3096.

Why USF

  • Proven outcomes. USF graduates pass the BCBA exam at rates well above the national average and above the average for ABAI-accredited programs (see below). Students complete all 1,500 fieldwork hours before graduation, and the final semester includes dedicated BCBA exam preparation.
  • Designed for working professionals. Evening classes, a predictable five-semester sequence, and a fieldwork model that lets 99% of students stay with their current ABA employer.
  • Small cohorts, expert faculty. Courses are developed and taught by doctoral-level behavior analysts and doctoral candidates who teach one course at a time, so you get focused attention.
  • Aligned with 2027 BACB standards. A BCBA Pathway 2 program that meets all upcoming 2027 coursework requirements and is currently under review for accreditation.

First-Time BCBA Exam Pass Rates
USF Online MA in ABA (2025) ABAI-accredited programs (average) All candidates nationally Programs with 100+ candidates

86%

 79% 51% 43%

USF figure: 44 first-time candidates in 2025, as reported by the BACB and in our program data. National figures are from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s report BCBA Examination Pass Rates for University Training Programs, 2025: a 51% overall first-time pass rate, a 79.3% mean for the 25 ABAI-accredited programs, and a 42.9% mean for the 10 programs with more than 100 first-time candidates. USF intentionally admits small cohorts each fall and spring rather than operating as a high-volume program.

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Curriculum and course sequence

Fieldwork requirements and supervisor approval

Program cost and financial aid

Admission requirements and how to apply

Hear From Our Alumni

Hear directly from our graduates about their experiences in the Online MA in ABA program.

View more alumni testimonials 

Deadlines and Questions

Fall entry: apply by June 1. Spring entry: apply by October 15. Applying is simple: no GRE, a one-time $30 fee, no deposit, and you can apply before you have a fieldwork supervisor.

Questions? Contact Tracy-Ann Gilbert Smith, Academic Services Coordinator, at tgsmith@usf.edu or 813-974-3096.

Apply Now
Get Program Information