About the Program

Enrollment in this combined pathway allows highly qualified, currently-enrolled SUNY Buffalo State students to begin work on a M.S. degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) while completing a B.A. degree in Applied Psychology. Twelve (12) credits of designated master’s courses would be incorporated into the B.A. program and count toward both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission into the combined pathway is highly selective. Matriculated undergraduate students may apply to the BA/MS pathway in their junior year and will complete all of the application requirements for the program. The admission application process includes a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in Psychology, a statement of intent, and names of 3 references.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:
1. Critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of psychology.
2. Generate a scientific hypothesis in a given area of psychology.
3. Demonstrate understanding of basic research designs used in psychology and related mental health fields,
4. Utilize appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
5. Apply valid conclusions based on topic area, hypothesis, review of literature, and study outcomes.

Program Requirements

Psychology Major Requirements (36 credit hours)

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSY101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY350 STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY360 EVALUATING PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY468 PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
Note: PSY 350, PSY 360 and PSY 468 must be taken in sequence.

PSY350 Prerequisite: At least sophomore status; Completion of the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement – only a MAT course at MAT 114 or higher.


Content Courses (15 credit hours)
Students must select one course from each of the following groups. The prerequisite for all 300-level courses is PSY 101 with a grade of C or better, unless otherwise noted.

Biological and Cognitive Psychology Content Courses
Select one of the following:

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY304 LEARNING: THEORY AND RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY308 SENSATION AND PERCEPTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY321 COMPARATIVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY330 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL POWER OF LANGUAGE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY333 BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY340 COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours

Social/Personality Psychology Content Courses
Select one of the following:

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY311 PERSONALITY: THEORY AND RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY325 SOCIAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours

Developmental Psychology Content Courses
Select one of the following:

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY301 PERSPECTIVES ON CHILD ABUSE AND ADVOCACY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY355 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY356 CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY357 ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours

Clinical Psychology Content Courses
Select on of the following:

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY393 CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY393 Prerequisite: PSY 101 with a Grade of C or higher and 3 additional hours of psychology.

Applied Psychology and Diversity Content Courses
Select one from the following:

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:
PSY365 PSYCHOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY367 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY370 ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY375 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY376 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY379 PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY381 PSYCHOLOGY OF CULTURE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY382 PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CONSUMER | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY383 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY387 PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY388 PSYCHOLOGY OF DEATH AND DYING | 3 - Credit Hours

Advanced and Electives Selected by Advisement (9 credit hours)
PSY310 and Two 400 level PSY electives (3 credits each)

Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSY310 BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION | 3 - Credit Hours

Service Learning/Internship
As part of the Required Course Content or Advanced and Elective courses, students must complete one PSY service-learning, PSY 488 Internship or PSY 495 Special Project course.

Required Graduate Courses (12 credit hours)
Students must complete each of the following EXE courses during senior year of Applied Psychology BA

Complete ALL of the following Courses:
EXE522 BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT, INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTION | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE544 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE634 APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE681 CLINICAL RECORDS AND ETHICAL PRACTICES FOR BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE634 Prerequisite: EXE 500 or EXE 100 or instructor permission.


All College Electives (39 credit hours)
Completion requirement

120 Total Undergraduate Credit Hours
Completion requirement

Applied Behavior Analysis MS Requirements (33 credit hours)
Completion requirement

Required Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
EXE522 BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT, INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTION | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE544 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE634 APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE681 CLINICAL RECORDS AND ETHICAL PRACTICES FOR BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE644 ADVANCED APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE645 EFFECTIVE PRACTICES FOR SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE646 CULTURE, DIVERSITY, DISABILITY, AND EDUCATION | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE673 PERSONNEL SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE683 PERSONNEL SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT | 6 - Credit Hours
EXE684 PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH IN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE690 MASTER’S PROJECT IN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION | 3 - Credit Hours
EXE634 Prerequisite: EXE 500 or EXE 100 or instructor permission.

EXE644 Prerequisite: EXE 634.

EXE673 Prerequisite: EXE 644.

EXE683 Prerequisite: EXE 673.

EXE684 Prerequisite: Completion of all core courses except the research requirement and a minimum of 9 hours of coursework from the specialized program.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing is required for each of the following


33 Total Graduate Credit Hours