Congratulations ABA Graduates!
Fran Echeverria, MA
Thesis: Reducing Rapid Eating in Adults with an Intellectual Disability
CFS Faculty Advisor: Ray Miltenberger, PhD
Laura Hanratty, MA
Thesis: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Teaching Package Utilizing Behavioral Skills Training and In Situ Training to Teach Gun Safety Skills in a Preschool Classroom
CFS Faculty Advisor: Ray Miltenberger, PhD
Errity Jones, MA
Thesis: Utilizing Probabilistic Reinforcement to Enhance Participation in Parent Training
CFS Faculty Advisor: Kim Crosland, PhD
Jenny Rodriguez, MA
Thesis: Evaluating the Use of Task Clarification, Self- Monitoring and Performance Feedback
CFS Faculty Advisor: Lise Fox, PhD
Congratulations to the spring graduates in the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Master’s program: Laura Hanratty, Fran Echeverria, Errity Jones, and Jenny Rodriguez. They have completed their practicum and thesis work, proudly added "MA" to the end of their names, and will no doubt soon find employment. (Students from the ABA program at USF have a 100% success rate for employment soon after graduation.)
The ABA master's degree is designed to meet the growing need in Florida and nationally for practitioners who can work effectively within systems to improve the quality of services in the fields of developmental disabilities, education, child protective services, rehabilitation, mental health, and business and technology.
As part of their practicum, students work 10-25 hours per week with community partners under the direct supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). A poster fair, held each spring, highlights the work of the students and shares research conducted for their practicum and/or thesis work.
"The ABA program is very well structured, giving students ample experience both in and outside of the classroom," said Fran Echeverria. "Our professors went above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met, and it is truly unlike any other collegiate experience I've encountered."
"It is the rigor with which we were trained in this program that makes me feel like a competent behavior analyst," said Jenny Rodriguez, who is currently focusing her job hunt around Organizational Behavior Management. Jenny added that a piece of advice given to her as an incoming student was to learn how to multi-task. "I took this advice and it really worked for out for me. You would be surprised when and where you will find the unexpected time to study, so always have work with you!"
The course sequence and practicum are both approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). Visit http://aba.cbcs.usf.edu for more information.