<p>I want to become a behavioralist for people with autism and other disabilities</p>
<p>I really want to major (undergrad) in applied behavior analysis or behavior therapy, but I can't seem to find any colleges that offer these as undergrad majors... Help!</p>
<p>If you are female and willing to consider an all-female college, look at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. It has an ABA program for children, and Meredith students can take a Autism Practicum course. The course is within the Psychology department; ABA is not a separate major.</p>
<p>[Meredith</a> College : Autism Program](<a href=“http://www.meredith.edu/autism/students.htm]Meredith”>http://www.meredith.edu/autism/students.htm)</p>
<p>There are other Raleigh colleges that allow students to enroll in the Meredith program for credit: NC State University, St. Augustine’s College, Shaw University, and William Peace University. If North Carolina colleges are too far from home for you to consider attending, you might at least want to contact Meredith to ask whether there are any similar programs at colleges closer to you.</p>
<p>TEACCH, an internationally known center for training and support for people with autism, their families, and schools, has its main office in Chapel Hill, NC. It is under the UNC School of Medicine, but UNC graduate students in psychology do internships with TEACCH. It has a “structured teaching” method of helping people with autism, which is different from ABA. I don’t know whether UNC undergraduates have opportunities to get involved with TEACCH. It would be worth a check if you’re willing to consider other teaching options besides ABA.</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the TEACCH Autism Program — TEACCH - UNC School of Medicine](<a href=“http://teacch.com/]Welcome”>http://teacch.com/)</p>
<p>You will not find many undergrad programs in behavior analysis. You can major in psychology at a school that offers a program in the area, however. It is very likely that some of the faculty who teach in the graduate ABA program will also teach some undergrad courses in the area. You can find a directory of graduate programs on the association for Behavior Analysis website. [ABAI</a> - Portal](<a href=“Welcome - Association for Behavior Analysis International”>ABAI - Portal)</p>
<p>You also should check out Kansas (Dept. of Applied Behavioral Sciences [Applied</a> Behavioral Science - KU](<a href=“http://www.absc.ku.edu/]Applied”>http://www.absc.ku.edu/)), Western Michigan U (Dept. of Psychology [Undergraduate</a> Programs | Psychology | Western Michigan University](<a href=“Western Michigan University | Pursue your purpose”>Western Michigan University | Pursue your purpose)), U North Texas (Dept. of Behavior Analysis <a href=“Welcome to Behavior Analysis | College of Health and Public Service”>Welcome to Behavior Analysis | College of Health and Public Service), Suny-Binghamton (Psychology Dept. [Binghamton</a> University - Applied Bahavior Analysis](<a href=“http://www2.binghamton.edu/psychology/undergraduate/applied-behavior-analysis.html]Binghamton”>http://www2.binghamton.edu/psychology/undergraduate/applied-behavior-analysis.html)), all of which have a very strong reputation in ABA. Some others: U Florida, U Pacific, Drake, Nevada-Reno</p>
<p>You also can complete a certificate in ABA at some schools. For example, Minnesota offers one which you can take as an education or psychology major
([Applied</a> behavior analysis certificate - College of Education and Human Development](<a href=“http://www.cehd.umn.edu/edpsych/programs/specialed/certificate/ABA.html]Applied”>http://www.cehd.umn.edu/edpsych/programs/specialed/certificate/ABA.html))
(This is not to be confused with professional certification offered by the national Behavior Analysis Certification Board).</p>
<p>As an alternative to a pychology major, consider a major in special ed or communication disorders. You are more likely to find autism programs and ABA certificate in special ed depts. To work professionally in speech pathology, you’ll need to get a masters, but it’s a great combination with ABA. For special ed, check out U Washington, U Oregon, Minnesota, Vanderbilt (Peabody College), Utah State.</p>