About the Program

Psychology Department
Buckham Hall A238
(716) 878-6215
psychology.buffalostate.edu/

Exceptional Education Department
Ketchum Hall 204
(716) 878-3038
exceptionaleducation.buffalostate.edu/

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.S. degree in Psychological Science. Twelve (12) credits of designated master’s courses would be incorporated into the B.S. 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 BS/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

General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)

Psychology Major Requirements (42 credit hours)

Required Courses (18 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSY101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY350 STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY450 RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY471 HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY472 SEMINAR ON PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY458 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PSY488 INTERNSHIP | 3 - 15 Credit Hours
OR PSY495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
OR PSY499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 3 - 12 Credit Hours
The prerequisite for all 300-level courses is PSY 101 with a grade of C or better unless otherwise noted.

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.

PSY450 Prerequisite: PSY 350 with a grade of B- or higher.


Content Courses
Students must select one course from each of the following groups.

Biological/Cognitive Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement:

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

Clinical Psychology
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSY393 CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY393 Prerequisite: PSY 101 Grade of C and 3 additional hours of psychology.


Social/Personality Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement:

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

Applied Psychology and Diversity
Select one of the following by advisement:

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

Developmental Psychology
Select one of the following by advisement:

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

Advanced Electives (9 credit hours)
the following course AND TWO 400 LEVEL PSY ELECTIVES @ 3 CREDITS EACH

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

Combined Pathway Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Graduate Courses (12 credit hours)
Students must complete each of the following EXE courses during senior year of Psychological Science BS

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 (33 credit hours)

120 Total Undergraduate Credit Hours

Applied Behavior Analysis MS Requirements (33 credit hours)

Required Courses
Prerequisite: Graduate standing is required for each of the following

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
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.

33 Total Combined Graduate Credit Hours