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Mississippi’s First Autism Therapy Degree Program in Full Swing
Students at The University of Southern Mississippi are well on their way to becoming licensed Applied Behavior Analysis therapists. The first cohort of students recently finished their first semester of the new master’s degree program in psychology with an emphasis in ABA therapy.
USM launched the program in the Fall of 2015 as a result of House Bill 885, which Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law. The measure was championed by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and requires insurance plans to provide coverage for autism treatment, including ABA therapy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 1 in 68 children in the United States has Autism Spectrum Disorder.
“Applied Behavior Analysis is the scientific approach to solving social problems such as children who have difficulty communicating,” Director of Training Dr. James Moore said. “In Mississippi we have around 11,000 children with autism and right now we have about 40 qualified professionals to work with these children.”
The 48-hour curriculum focuses on teaching students different techniques by putting them in practical settings, including play based learning and clinical experiences in local schools.
The USM ABA therapy program is the state’s first and only ABA training program that offers a curriculum sequence and practicum experience approved by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Graduates of the program will immediately meet eligibility requirements to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification exam. Once certified, graduates will also become eligible to become a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the State of Mississippi.
“The ABA program at the University of Southern Mississippi is a tremendous learning asset for students and is serving a long overdue need in our State. We want our people to be educated in Mississippi, get jobs here, and stay here. The future of our children depends on it,” says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.
“The University of Southern Mississippi looks forward to continuing our legacy of providing high-quality psychology education and research programs through the master’s program emphasis area in Applied Behavior Analysis,” USM President Rodney D. Bennett said. “As the demand for ABA therapy grows, we will work as hard as we can to train a new generation of students in this critical area of autism treatment.”
For more information on the master’s program in ABA visit www.usm.edu/school-psychology/masters-program-aba.
