Autism and Behavioural Science Program (Postgraduate) (C405)
Program Description
Leadership Claims
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
Program Overview
Autism and Behavioural Science is a postgraduate program that focuses on autism spectrum disorders and therapies, mainly Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), with a primary application for children and adolescents. You will gain practical experience working with treatment teams.
Full Description
The Autism and Behavioural Science program was developed in response to the growing public concern about services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
It was designed to deepen the expertise in the field of autism and behavioural sciences for application within the children’s sector, and simultaneously create a pool of qualified individuals to meet the needs of service agencies that provide autism or children’s services.
The program enables graduates with university degrees and graduates of Early Childhood Education, Social Service Worker, Child and Youth Care, Developmental Service Worker and similar programs to acquire the specialized skills and expertise they need to work with individuals with a diagnosis of autism.
Students learn about:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- intervention methods including Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI)
- Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) theory (e.g., operant conditioning)
- working with families and treatment teams
- relevant legislation
Note: Field education may require travel due to the number of opportunities for appropriate placements within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Students may be required to travel to locations as far east as Oshawa, as far west as Burlington, and as far north as Vaughan.
SKILLS AND APTITUDES
Consider this career path if these terms describe you:
- caring
- tenacious
- analytic
- detail-oriented
UNIQUE PROGRAM FEATURES
- Full-time and part-time faculty who have extensive experience in ABA, IBI and ASD.
- Well-established relationships with agencies providing services for individuals with a diagnosis of autism.
ABAI VERIFIED COURSE SEQUENCE
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. View ABAI approved course sequence.
Your Field Education Options
Field experience plays an important role in preparing students for the real work ahead. Each opportunity is designed to reinforce classroom theory within an actual setting where students could ultimately find work.
In semester 1, the field placement experience lasts for three weeks. During that time, students will visit an agency partner (e.g., ABA centre, school, residential home, daycare settings, etc.) to observe an individual with autism.
During semester 2, field placement is seven weeks long. Students will go to an agency partner where they will not only observe an individual with autism, but will be required to identify a target behaviour and develop a treatment plan accordingly.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| BST 1101 | Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis |
| BST 1102 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| BST 1104 | Working with Families and Teams |
| BST 1105 | Ethics & Professionalism |
| BST 1106 | Field Placement I |
| BST 1108 | Field Seminar I |
| BST 1121 | Behavioural Skill Building |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| BST 1103 | Treating Challenging Behaviour |
| BST 1122 | Parent and Staff Training |
| BST 1123 | Specialized Instructional Strategies |
| BST 1124 | Transition Planning and Implementation |
| BST 1125 | Field Placement II |
| BST 1126 | Field Work Seminar II |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Assess and analyze the characteristics, skills and behaviour of individuals with ASD to effectively implement evidence-based behavioural interventions.
- Design and implement effective behavioural intervention plans under appropriate supervision and based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
- Evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural intervention plans based on the principles of ABA.
- Work collaboratively with families, teams, service providers and the broader community to respond to the learning and behavioural needs of individuals with ASD.
- Design, implement and evaluate as part of a team ABA-based transition plans for individuals with ASD.
- Comply with established ethical principles and professional guidelines.
- Provide leadership in the promotion and provision of services to meet the needs of individuals with ASD and their families.
- Evaluate empirical evidence in order to select appropriate interventions for individuals with ASD.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2021. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
** Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2022. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2023 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of a three-year or four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (no specific major, though a major in psychology, or related discipline, is highly recommended*).
- Or a two-year or three-year diploma in a human services discipline (a major in psychology is recommended*).
- It is recommended that related degrees/diplomas include at least one or more psychology course(s).
* Please note: This program has a strong focus on behaviour change and behavioural sciences, so some previous psychology-related education is highly recommended in order to be successful in the program.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the college level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for admission.
Find out more about English proficiency requirements.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Additional Mandatory Requirements
Students must meet the requirements of the George Brown College pre-placement student health passport before attending a field placement.
Pre-placement Health Form
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet all the mandatory pre-placement health requirements for the program. It may take up to four months to complete all the requirements.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- For further details and to download the mandatory pre-placement health form, go to the Pre-placement website.
Police Vulnerable Sector Check
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a police vulnerable sector check completed, and this check must be renewed annually before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The police vulnerable sector check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the police vulnerable sector check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their police vulnerable sector check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” police vulnerable sector check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment.
- The fees for the police record check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Pre-placement website.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
For more information, email Yan Sang at yansang.feng@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Autism and Behavioural Science Program (Postgraduate) (C405)
Apply Now:
Domestic StudentsProgram Description
Leadership Claims
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
Program Overview
The Autism and Behavioural Science program focuses on autism spectrum disorders and therapies, mainly Applied Behaviour Analysis, with a primary application for children and adolescents. You will gain practical experience working with treatment teams.
Full Description
The Autism and Behavioural Science program was developed in response to the growing public concern about services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
It was designed to deepen the expertise in the field of autism and behavioural sciences for application within the children’s sector, and simultaneously create a pool of qualified individuals to meet the needs of service agencies that provide autism or children’s services.
The program enables graduates with university degrees and graduates of Early Childhood Education, Social Service Worker, Child and Youth Care, Developmental Service Worker and similar programs to acquire the specialized skills and expertise they need to work with individuals with a diagnosis of autism.
Students learn about:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- intervention methods including Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI)
- Applied Behaviour Analysis theory (e.g. operant conditioning)
- working with families and treatment teams
- relevant legislation
Note: Field education may require travel due to the number of opportunities for appropriate placements within the Greater Toronto Area. Students may be required to travel to locations as far east as Oshawa, as far west as Burlington, and as far north as Vaughan.
SKILLS AND APTITUDES
Consider this career path if these terms describe you:
- caring
- tenacious
- analytic
- detail-oriented
UNIQUE PROGRAM FEATURES
- Full-time and part-time faculty who have extensive experience in ABA, IBI and ASD.
- Well-established relationships with agencies providing services for individuals with a diagnosis of autism.
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.
Your Field Education Options
Field experience plays an important role in preparing students for the real work ahead. Each opportunity is designed to reinforce classroom theory within an actual setting where students could ultimately find work.
In Semester 1, the field placement experience lasts for three weeks. During that time, students will visit an agency partner (e.g. ABA centre, school, residential home, daycare settings, etc.) to observe an individual with autism.
During Semester 2, field placement is seven weeks long. Students will go to an agency partner where they will not only observe an individual with autism, but will be required to identify a target behaviour and develop a treatment plan accordingly.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of the program will be prepared for employment as instructor-therapists with agencies offering ABA for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as in schools and private family settings.
Graduating from the program may lead to opportunities for advancement into supervisory or consultant roles.
Previous education at the diploma or degree level may also lead to other career opportunities, such as:
- resource teacher
- educational assistant
- program supervisor
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| BST 1101 | Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis |
| BST 1102 | Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| BST 1104 | Working with Families and Teams |
| BST 1105 | Ethics & Professionalism |
| BST 1106 | Field Placement I |
| BST 1108 | Field Seminar I |
| BST 1121 | Behavioural Skill Building |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| BST 1103 | Treating Challenging Behaviour |
| BST 1107 | Crisis Prevention and Intervention (2-day module) |
| BST 1122 | Parent and Staff Training |
| BST 1123 | Specialized Instructional Strategies |
| BST 1124 | Transition Planning and Implementation |
| BST 1125 | Field Placement II |
| BST 1126 | Field Work Seminar II |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Assess and analyze the characteristics, skills and behaviour of individuals with ASD to effectively implement evidence-based behavioural interventions.
- Design and implement effective behavioural intervention plans under appropriate supervision and based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
- Evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural intervention plans based on the principles of ABA.
- Work collaboratively with families, teams, service providers and the broader community to respond to the learning and behavioural needs of individuals with ASD.
- Design, implement and evaluate as part of a team ABA-based transition plans for individuals with ASD.
- Comply with established ethical principles and professional guidelines.
- Provide leadership in the promotion and provision of services to meet the needs of individuals with ASD and their families.
- Evaluate empirical evidence in order to select appropriate interventions for individuals with ASD.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2020. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2021 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of a 3-year or 4-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (no specific major, though a major in Psychology, or related discipline, is highly recommended*).
- Or a 2-year or 3-year diploma in a human services discipline (a major in Psychology is recommended*)
- It is recommended that related degrees/diplomas include at least one or more psychology course(s)
* Please note: This program has a strong focus on behaviour change and behavioural sciences, so some previous psychology-related education is highly recommended in order to be successful in the program.
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the College level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for admission.
Find out more about English proficiency requirements.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Additional Mandatory Requirements
Students must meet the requirements of the George Brown College pre-placement student health passport before attending a field placement.
Pre-placement Health Form
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet all the mandatory pre-placement health requirements for the program. It may take up to four months to complete all the requirements.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- For further details and to download the mandatory pre-placement health form, go to the pre-placement website
Police Vulnerable Sector Check
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a police vulnerable sector check completed, and this check must be renewed annually before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The police vulnerable sector check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the police vulnerable sector check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their police vulnerable sector check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” police vulnerable sector check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment.
- The fees for the police record check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the pre-placement website
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
To book an information session, call the School of Health and Wellness at 416-415-5000, ext. 4542 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., or email Kristina.Autio@georgebrown.ca.
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
