Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a subset of psychology that uses evidence-based interventions to improve behavior across various settings, promoting skill development and enhancing quality of life. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) was established in 1998, and their recent standards emphasize ethical practice, cultural responsiveness, and data-based supervision, reinforcing ABA’s commitment to effective, accountable, and inclusive interventions. The graduate level ABA program at National University began in 2016 as an add-on sequence under the BACB: Task List (4th edition) standards, offering foundational coursework for certification in behavior analysis and then was modified to meet BACB 5th edition standards and transitioned in 2020 into a full stand-alone Masters Degree program expanded to meet the growing demand for more specialized training in ABA. Since its expansion into a Master’s Degree program, the MSABA has consistently maintained an enrollment of over 1,800 active graduate students, making it one of the largest programs in the nation, and the enrollment is an indication of the strong demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA). The program’s growth highlights its ability to attract and retain students seeking high-quality education and training in ABA.

This research examined the level of student learning and their ability to apply what they learned outside of the classroom between the 4th edition and the 5th edition versions of the program. ANOVA was used to determine whether statistically significant differences existed between the level of learning and ability to apply what learned between the 4th and 5th edition versions of the program and then used Factor-Analysis to identify which student activities, course content items, and instructor actions most highly correlated with learning in the 4th and 5th edition versions of the program. A student end-of-course survey instrument, developed co-jointly by the University’s Faculty Senate and Administration, consisting of eight (8) student activity and course content item questions and twelve (12) course instructor action questions was used to gather the data used in the study and compared data from all of the 4th edition standards courses taught in Academic Year (AY) 2020 to data from all of the 5th edition standards courses taught in AY2024. The results of the study provided valuable information since the MSABA program is at a critical point in the development of an update program based upon the new BCBA 6th edition standards. Ongoing changes are being implemented in response to emerging research, evolving legal standards, and advancements in the field of ABA.

Keywords: Education, Psychology, Assessment.