Why Pursue a Behavior Analysis Master's Degree
Program graduates acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in scholarly inquiry; to deliver accountable, research-based services; and to understand how to use behavior analysis as a force for positive change. The Department of Educational Psychology has been successful in developing effective partnerships with local clinics and community agencies, which gives graduate students an advantage when securing paid fieldwork opportunities. Faculty members are also involved in high-impact research projects and participate in local and national professional organizations. Behavior Analysis program faculty provide supervision opportunities through our university-supported clinic (on-site at Downtown Campus) and multiple dynamic research labs.
Behavior Analysis Concentrations
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UT San Antonio Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UT San Antonio by the appropriate application deadline.
| Behavior Analysis (MS) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | Completed adequate credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from FCSA or any NACES-approved credential evaluation agency. | |
| English Language Proficiency | 79 TOEFL iBT / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.0. |
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| Purpose Statement | Required (approximately 500 words) outline the your reasons for pursuing the MS in Behavior Analysis, the concentration you are most interested in (i.e., Comprehensive or Focused), the experiences relevant to said concentration and your career plans. | |
| Resume | Required | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Behavior Analysis (MS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications are reviewed after the application deadline. Admission decisions are released following review committee meetings in mid-April and mid-December. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2027 | October 1 | October 1 | |
| Summer 2027 | February 1 | February 1 | |
| Fall 2027 | February 1 | February 1 | |
| Spring 2028 | October 1 | October 1 | |
| Summer 2028 | October 1 | October 1 | |
Funding Opportunities
Resources
Program Accreditation
Student Outcome Data
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Number of Completed Applications Received | 97 | 77 |
| Number of Students Admitted During the Reporting Year | 26 | 22 |
| Median Undergraduate GPA for Applicants Admitted (Report on a 4-point Scale) | 3.65 | 3.57 |
| Number of first-time candidates sitting for their Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. | 13 | 11 |
| Percentage of first time candidates passing the BCBA certification examination. | 85% | 64% |
| Annual Cost Estimate | Approximately $9,906 per year for in-state residents | Approximately $9,906 per year for in-state residents |
- Most graduate courses are offered in the evening from 5:30- 8:15 p.m.
- All behavior analysis courses are offered at the Downtown Campus
- Students should expect to work at an approved fieldwork site 25-40 hrs/week during regular work hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Master of Science in Behavior Analysis is a graduate program that prepares you to be a scientist‑practitioner who uses behavior analysis to create positive change across many settings. You’ll gain strong grounding in the basic principles of learning and applied behavior analysis, with emphasis on serving children, youth and adults in community, clinic, hospital and educational settings.
The program offers two concentrations:
- Comprehensive concentration – provides students with a variety of experiences providing ABA in different contexts under the supervision of UT San Antonio faculty and includes all required coursework plus 2,000 embedded supervised experience hours toward Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Texas Licensed Behavior Analyst credentials.
- Focused concentration – includes all required coursework but allows you to work full time at a single clinic.
All behavior analysis courses are offered in the evening at our Downtown Campus, and the program is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board and meets the BACB’s Pathway 1 requirements.
The MS in Behavior Analysis is a good fit if you:
- Want to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and/or Licensed Behavior Analyst in Texas.
- Are interested in working in clinical, home, community, hospital, or school settings with people of all ages, especially individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.
- Value research-informed practice and want training as a “scientist‑practitioner,” including opportunities in university-supported clinics and research labs at our Downtown Campus.
The MS in Behavior Analysis curriculum is built around the following:
- Core behavior-analytic content – Basic principles of learning and behavioral theory, behavior assessment and intervention design.
- Applied practice and professional issues – Coursework and field-based experiences focused on delivering accountable, research-based services in clinical, home, community, hospital and school/consultation settings with emphasis on developmental disabilities (e.g., autism spectrum disorder).
- Research training – Preparation to engage in scholarly inquiry and participate in high-impact research projects and labs.
- Supervised fieldwork – Structured experiences aligned with Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board and Association for Behavior Analysis International Accreditation Board requirements, including up to 2,000 supervised hours (depending on concentration).
For the most precise list of courses and credit hours, visit the Graduate Catalog or contact the Graduate Advisor of Record listed below.
The program is designed for full-time students and is completed in a median of 1.75 years (3 classes in the Fall and Spring semester for two years). Timing can vary based your chosen concentration and the semester you apply. Starting in the Spring gives you extra time to complete the fieldwork hours and research, but adds another semester to the course sequence. Specifically, Fall start students complete the program in 1.75 years while Spring start students complete the program in 2.4 years. Please click on the “Behavior Analysis Student Handbook” for degree sequences for both Fall and Spring start.
Graduates of our MS in Behavior Analysis are prepared for roles where they design, implement and evaluate behavior‑analytic interventions across many settings. The degree prepares you to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) exam and pursue state licensure as a Licensed Behavior Analyst, which can lead to work as an independent practitioner or as a contracted employee.
Behavior analysts with this degree commonly work in settings such as clinics, public and private schools, hospitals and community or home‑based programs, often serving individuals with developmental or other disabilities (for example: autism, emotional disturbance, conduct disorder, obsessive‑compulsive disorder, phobias) as well as people without disabilities who need structured support to build prosocial skills. For details about BCBA employment demand, please view the annual BACB employment report.
Yes, there are several types of financial support you can explore as a MS in Behavior Analysis student; however, most are available upon admission to the program. For international students, there are competitive student scholarships that may qualify you for in-state tuition in which students will be made aware of these when available.
Many students receive help through assistantships, awards and fellowships listed on the Graduate School’s Assistantships & Fellowships page. In addition, the Behavior Analysis faculty have a variety of ongoing grants with possible Graduate Research Assistantships.
Because availability can change year to year, the best next step is to visit the ABA at UTSA page.
