Developing an Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

At many universities, faculty interested in behavior analysis are spread across disciplines. This makes difficult the development of behavior-analytically oriented programs, and impedes regular contact among colleagues who share common interests. However, this separation by disciplines can be a source of strength if it is used to develop interdisciplinary programs. In this article we describe how a bottom-up strategy was used to develop two complementary interdisciplinary MS programs in applied behavior analysis, and conclude with a description of the benefits-some obvious, some surprising-that can emerge from the development of such programs.-geles (CSULA) reflected a situation common at many colleges and universities: There were few behaviorally oriented faculty members at the school, and we were thinly spread across disciplines. Our scant distribution gave rise to two related problems. First, the lack of faculty permitted only diluted presentations of the subject matter, with only an occasional behaviorally oriented course presented among a deluge of traditional courses. As a result, behavior analysis had little visibility, and it was difficult to demonstrate to students the comprehensive and coherent nature of the behavior-analytic approach. Rather, as Shull (1995) has also noted, the effect of this limited presentation, within the context of a broad variety of cognitively oriented courses covering many aspects of human behavior, was to make behavior analysis seem narrowly applicable: relevant only to the simple behavior of animals. In effect, limited presentations of the material sometimes had a negative effect on students' perceptions, making it difficult to attract students to the field and thereby provide any jus-Reprints may be obtained from Lynda Mitch-ell, Division of Administration and Counseling,