Academic Programs - ABA Spotlight
Meeting the moment
Loyola’s new MEd in Applied Behavior Analysis
Addressing a rising national need for educators capable of supporting neurodivergent individuals, including people with autism spectrum disorder, Loyola’s School of Education launched its Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis degree program in 2025.
Online and asynchronous, Loyola’s ABA graduate program engenders a deeper understanding of how people learn and behave. Throughout the program, ABA students, many of whom plan to take the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certification exam, build skills in behavior assessment, intervention planning, consultation, supervision, data analysis, and ethical decision-making. They are also prepared to be collaborative professionals in an educational niche that involves working alongside behavior specialists, psychologists, clinicians, and others in diverse settings, including schools, clinics, hospitals, and community settings. In learning evidence-based strategies to support positive behavior change, ABA students can help neurodivergent individuals increase their independence as well as their presence in their respective communities.
“What you learn in Loyola’s (ABA) program prepares you to use behavioral science to make meaningful change in diverse contexts, from education and health care to business and community programs,” says Samantha Riggleman, School of Education associate professor and ABA graduate program chair.
Meeting the moment
Loyola’s new MEd in Applied Behavior Analysis
Addressing a rising national need for educators capable of supporting neurodivergent individuals, including people with autism spectrum disorder, Loyola’s School of Education launched its Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis degree program in 2025.
Online and asynchronous, Loyola’s ABA graduate program engenders a deeper understanding of how people learn and behave. Throughout the program, ABA students, many of whom plan to take the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certification exam, build skills in behavior assessment, intervention planning, consultation, supervision, data analysis, and ethical decision-making. They are also prepared to be collaborative professionals in an educational niche that involves working alongside behavior specialists, psychologists, clinicians, and others in diverse settings, including schools, clinics, hospitals, and community settings. In learning evidence-based strategies to support positive behavior change, ABA students can help neurodivergent individuals increase their independence as well as their presence in their respective communities.
“What you learn in Loyola’s (ABA) program prepares you to use behavioral science to make meaningful change in diverse contexts, from education and health care to business and community programs,” says Samantha Riggleman, School of Education associate professor and ABA graduate program chair.