Sep 19, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Dual Degree: Psychology BS and MS in Applied Behavior Analysis


A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a Bachelor of Science, followed by 42 credits for the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis.

 

Mount St. Mary’s University 5-year dual degree program provides a five-year pathway to earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis preparing you to create socially significant improvement in individuals’ lives. Further, through coursework, supervised fieldwork, and a capstone research project, graduates are prepared for numerous professional paths including direct clinical care, school-based intervention, and/or doctoral studies.

 

There are two phases to the Dual Degree program:

Phase I:  Students pursing the dual degree pathway will enroll at the MSMU Emmitsburg (main) campus to pursue their BS degree in psychology.  Completion of the BS degree requires a minimum of 120 credits and fulfilling the requirements of the both the core curriculum and majorStudents may seek acceptance into the dual degree program starting freshman year until end of Junior year Fall semester. Students begin phase II by transitioning into the MS program during year four.

Phase II During year four, students will complete major requirements for the BS and begin course work in the Master’s program.  Students on the main campus attend graduate classes, held on our Frederick campus, in person, however accommodations are possible if attending class in person is a barrier to attendence.   Full-time graduate course work begins in the summer between years four and five with all graduate course work offered either in person at our Frederick campus or via web conferencing.

 

Click for more ABA Program information.

 

Application Process:

Students interested in pursuing the 5-year dual degree will indicate their interest to their academic advisor and contact the chair of the Psychology Department - slezak@msmary.edu. 

Eligible students will generally have a 3.0 or higher overall GPA and C+ or higher in Research Methods and Statistics, Introduction to ABA and Experimental Learning. Students should apply to graduate school by the end of their Junior year, at the latest, but may begin applying as soon as they have completed PSYCH 220.

To apply, visit https://msmary.edu/graduate-applications.html

Sample Five Year Sequence


Freshman Year

Fall Semester

FSYM 101 The First Year Symposium (3)   

World Languages I (3)

PSYCH 100 Foundations of Psychology (3)  

General Elective (3)

15 Credits

Spring Semester

PHIL 103 Foundations of Philosophy (3)   

WCIV 102 Origins of the West (3)  

World Languages II (3)

PSYCH ___ Psychology Major Course (3)

General Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

PHIL 203 Philosophy in the Modern Age (3)  

WCIV 201 Atlantic Encounters: 1450-1850 (3)  

PSYCH 200 Research Methods and Statistics (3)  

BIOL 110 Introduction to Biology I (4)  

PSYCH ___ Psychology Major Course (3)

16 Credits

Spring Semester

AMER 202 America in the World (3)  

THEOL 220 Foundations of Theology (3)  

MATH 211 Mathematical Thinking (3)   

PSYCH ___ Psychology Major Course (3)

PSYCH 220 Experimental Learning Lab Course (4)

16 Credits

 Junior Year

Fall Semester

THEOL 320 Made In God’s Image (3)  

Modernity in the Arts (ENMO, ARMO, THMO, or MUMO)

PSYCH 303 Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis (3)  

PSYCH/NEURO ___ Lab Course (4)

Elective (3)

16 Credits

Spring Semester

PSYGE 325 Cross-Cultural Psychology (3)  

Ethics and the Human Good (PHIL 300 or THEOL 300)

PSYCH 480 Internship (1-12)  

PSYCH 390 Research Preparation (3)  

Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

Senior Year

Fall Semester

PSYCH 498 Senior Methods Seminar (0-3)  

MSABA 600/PSYCH 600 (3)

MSABA 601/PSYCH 601 (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

15 Credits

Spring Semester

MSABA 602/ PSYCH 602 (3)

MSABA 603/PSYCH 603 (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Graduate Field Work/Independent Study (3)

15 Credits

 

Summer Semester

MSABA 606 (3)

MSABA 609 (3)

MSABA 614 (3)

9 credits 

 

Year 5

Fall 1

MASABA 605 (3)

Fall 2

MSABA 604 (3)

6 credits 

 

Spring 1

MSABA 607 (3)

 Spring 2

MSABA 608 (3)

6 credits 

 

Summer 1

MSABA 610 (3)

3 credit