Applied Behavior Analysis M.A. - Graduation Requirements

When a student is admitted to a graduate program, he or she is designated as either “classified” or “conditionally classified”. Due to the competitive admissions process in the Psychology department, conditionally classified students generally are not admitted to the Psychology Master’s degree programs; all entering psychology graduate students have admittance to graduate standing. Classified graduate standing gives a student permission to work toward qualifying for candidacy for the particular program to which he or she has been accepted.

Advancement to candidacy gives a student permission to proceed toward qualifying for the degree and provides the student with a program of study that has been officially reviewed and approved by both the student’s faculty and by the Graduate Dean. This important step confers on the student the status of candidate for the degree. It represents a commitment both on the part of the student and the degree program to complete the degree within a specified time limit according to the requirements published in a specific university catalog year.

For the ABA MA Program, eligibility requirements for advancement to candidacy include:
• Classified graduate standing
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on all graduate coursework beginning from the date of embarking on the first course of the Master’s degree
• Completion of PSYCH 244 (Measurement and Statistics in Psychology), PSYCH 222 (Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in Behavior Analysis), and PSYCH 245 (Research Methods in Behavior Analysis), with a grade of B or higher.

• Required courses must have been completed within the 5-year time limit for completion of all Master’s degree requirements*
• Passing score on the Psychology department graduate writing examination. If a student fails this exam, they have a 2nd and 3rd chance to pass it in the upcoming Spring and Summer semesters. If a student still does not pass the writing exam on the 3rd opportunity, they will be disqualified from the program.
*Students must complete their Master’s degree within five years from the semester they are granted classified graduate standing by the Department of Psychology. Students who do not graduate within the mandated time period will need to repeat program requirements completed earlier in the program so that all program requirements are completed within the five-year limit. This can only be done with specific permission and must not exceed 2 additional years. Students failing to make progress toward graduation after this point may be removed from the program by consensus from the program coordinator and the department’s graduate committee.

FORMALLY ADVANCING TO CANDIDACY

Campus policy requires a student to complete a Petition of Advancement to Candidacy as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. For the ABA Program, this should be done in the Fall semester of the second year, providing all requirements have been met. Official filing of the paperwork required for Advancement to candidacy must be attained no later than the semester preceding the semester in which the student applies for graduation. All forms relevant to graduate requirements can be found on the Division of Graduate Studies website (http://fresnostate.edu/academics/gradstudies/ ).
Changes to proposed classwork. Once a student has been officially advanced to candidacy, the Petition of Advancement to Candidacy may be changed only on the written request of the student and his or her department via a Program Adjustment Request form.

Across the California State University, Fresno system, graduate students must complete a comprehensive examination, a project, or a thesis in order to obtain a master’s degree. The Master’s degree in ABA requires the completion of an empirical thesis consistent with research practices in the field of behavior analysis and the publication standards of the American Psychological Association. A thesis is the written product of the systematic study of a significant problem. It clearly identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. The finished product must evidence originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, clarity of purpose, and accurate and thorough documentation. Critical and independent thinking should characterize every project. Mere description, cataloging, compilation, and other superficial procedures are not adequate.

PROCESS FOR COMPLETING THE MASTER’S THESIS

Identify a topic in cooperation with your faculty advisor.

During the fall semester of the first year,students should begin to consider topics of interest to them that may serve as the basis for their thesis topic. Attendance at research meetings, discussions with faculty and students, and good old-fashioned observation can provide inspiration for a further literature search.

Topics selected for the thesis should reflect a solid understanding of the research literature and a potential to make a contribution to the field of psychology. Students are strongly encouraged to assist in the implementation of another research study during their first year.

 

Write a thesis proposal.

During the spring semester of the first year, students continue to work toward the development of a thesis proposal. The student will work with his/her faculty mentor to develop an appropriate experimental method to address the question raised and any other tasks relevant to the content of the thesis proposal.

The thesis proposal provides a comprehensive rationale and plan for the thesis research. It should include a literature review (comprised of a clearly organized description of the literature related to the proposed study), a method section (comprised of a technological description of the plan for conducting the study), a brief description of how data will be analyzed, and a discussion of what the possible outcomes might mean for the area of study (in a specific and general sense). Although different faculty members may have different styles of supervising this process, all students should expect to maintain regular contact with their faculty advisor while writing, and to submit several drafts and revisions of the proposal.

 

Form a thesis committee.

The thesis committee should be formed by the faculty and student, and when the thesis proposal is nearly completed. The committee consists of three members; the chair (thesis advisor) and two other committee members. At least two of the three committee members must be graduate faculty and appointed members of the department of the student’s degree program. With requisite expertise, an individual who is not an appointed member of the department faculty in the student’s program may serve as a third, “outside” committee member, with approval of the chair.

 

Present the thesis proposal.

Once the faculty mentor has approved the final draft of the thesis proposal, a thesis proposal meeting must be scheduled. Students are responsible for contacting all committee members to arrange a meeting time and to reserve an appropriate location for the meeting (e.g., the Psychology Department conference room). Students should deliver a hard copy and an electronic copy of the proposal to each committee member at least two weeks prior to the proposal date. They should also inform the Psychology Department staff of the title of the proposal, names of committee members, and the time, date, and location of the defense. They should ask their thesis chair for guidance in terms of the procedure and expectations for the proposal meeting. Often, students present a brief (15- 20 min) overview of the proposal, then answer questions posed by committee members. Generally, proposal meetings last approximately one hour. Based on student’s responses to questions and the quality of the written document, the committee may choose to approve, modify, or disapprove the proposal. When modifications are agreed, committee members may request to see a revised document, or even request a second proposal meeting, prior to granting formal approval.

 

Obtain formal approval of the proposal by the committee.

When the committee accepts the student’s proposal, the student and committee members will sign a Thesis Committee Assignment Form indicating the thesis title and committee members. (The Master’s Thesis Committee Assignment form can be found at the Division of Graduate Studies website https://academics.fresnostate.edu/dgs/forms/index.html). This form should be initiated by the student. Once signed electronically by all committee members, it should be submitted to the Department of Psychology so it may be placed in the student’s file and forwarded to graduate studies. By signing the form, the student agrees to conduct the thesis as proposed. Should substantial changes be made to the original plan of the study, approval by the committee must be obtained in writing and placed in the student’s file.

 

Obtain appropriate ethical approval (IRB).

All research involving the use of human or non-human animal participants must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This may be at the department level or the university level, depending on the nature of the study, its procedures, and the population of participants. Any research involving the use of non-human animal subjects requires approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Research conducted in collaboration with other organizations may also have to be approved by their ethical review board. The faculty advisor should be listed as the principal investigator, and the student should work closely with their advisor to complete the relevant forms and submit them to the appropriate committee/board. The IRB and IACUC require documentation of completion of federally approved training modules on the protection of research subjects by both students and their faculty mentors. Collection of any data on human or non-human animal subjects prior to obtaining the appropriate approvals is an ethical violation and can result in dismissal from the program. (See the university Committee for Human Subjects or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee websites for application procedures and forms for departmental and university review).

 

Register for thesis units (PSYCH 299).

Upon final approval by the thesis committee and human subjects committee(s), students should obtain a course permission number for thesis units from the Psychology Department office. Students must be advanced to candidacy prior to registering for thesis units.
Conduct the research and write the final manuscript.
During all steps of conducting the thesis research, students should communicate frequently with their faculty mentor. Once the data have been collected and analyzed, a final thesis manuscript can be written. This manuscript will include five main chapters: 1) an introduction chapter (comprised of an overview of the purpose and rationale for the study and a clear statement of the research question); 2) a literature review chapter (comprised of a clearly organized description of the relevant literature related to the proposed study); 3) a method chapter (comprised of a technological description of all procedures used in the study); 4) a results chapter (comprised of a description of all outcomes, including relevant figures and tables); and 5) a discussion chapter (comprised of a critical analysis of the research findings and identification of particular strengths and weaknesses of the study). Similar to the proposal writing process, students should expect to submit several drafts and revisions prior to obtaining approval from the faculty mentor to schedule a final defense meeting.

 

Defend the final thesis.

Once the thesis chair has approved the final draft of the thesis manuscript, a thesis defense meeting may be scheduled. Students are responsible for contacting all committee members to arrange a meeting time and to reserve an appropriate location for the meeting (e.g., the Psychology Department conference room). They should also inform the Psychology Department staff of the title of the proposal, names of committee members, and the time, date, and location of the defense.
Students should deliver an electronic copy of the document to each committee member at least two weeks prior to the defense date. Once again, actual procedures for defending the thesis will differ by faculty chair. Often, students present a brief (20 minutes) overview of the thesis, then answer questions posed by committee members. Generally, final defenses require approximately one hour. Based on students’ responses to questions and the quality of the written document, the committee may choose to approve or disapprove the thesis. Approved theses may require revisions, and committee members may reserve the right to see the revised document, or have a second defense meeting, prior to granting formal approval.

 

Obtain final committee approval.

Once the committee has approved the final version of the thesis manuscript, all committee members should sign the electronic thesis approval form. The Division of Graduate Studies sends this out once you have registered your intent to submit your thesis that semester (see DGS website: https://fresnostate.app.box.com/s/w4l61v4w7csi0ts5druszieps68bblo7). Students should make sure that the format of the document is consistent with the APA Publication Manual and university standards (i.e., the thesis template). The Division of Graduate Studies Thesis Office offers thesis consultants to assist students with final manuscript preparation. The final approval form and formatting templates can be found on the Division of Graduate Studies website.
Submit a copy of the final draft to the Division of Graduate Studies for review.

The Office of Graduate Studies reviews all thesis documents for consistency with formatting guidelines. The final thesis draft should be submitted to the Division of Graduate Studiesfollowing the directions provided (a link to instructions on how to electronically upload the thesis document will be sent once all committee members have completed the electronic approval form). If there are problems with the manuscript format, the Division of Graduate Studies Thesis Office will request changes and assign a deadline for completion.

NOTE: The due date for submission of the final draft to the Division of Graduate Studies is well in advance of the end of the semester. Students should visit the Division of Graduate Studies website forspecific deadlines.

 

Submit a Master’s Degree Clearance form.

The deadline for this will be listed on the Division of Graduate Studies website. It must be initiated by the student and then signed by the thesis advisor, program coordinator, and all relevant administrators. The student may not turn in the final form (this will be done by the department).

Students must have a graduation application on file in the Division of Graduate Studies in order to graduate. Degrees are not granted automatically. Students must have a previously approved Petition of Advancement to Candidacy on file in the Division of Graduate Studies, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and permission from the graduate coordinator to apply for graduation.

Students need to file a Master’s Degree Application form, pay a $35.00 non-refundable application fee, file a Master’s Degree Clearance form, and submit a final draft of the committee-approved thesis. For the Master’s Degree Application form, the deadline is the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters, or the first three weeks of the first summer session. For the final draft of the thesis, the deadline is approximately the 9th week of instruction.
For the Master’s Degree Clearance form, the deadline is the last day of the semester or the final summer term. Semester-specific deadlines can be found on the Division of Graduate Studies Website (https://academics.fresnostate.edu/dgs/forms/index.html).