Behavioral Specialist Consulting, M.S.

Program Coordinator - Dr. Virginia Gonsman

The goals and objectives of the Behavioral Specialist degree center on preparing students for licensure as a Behavioral Specialist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Graduates of this program will be prepared to seek this licensure and to pursue employment in a variety of social service agencies, including mental health centers, correctional institutions, drug/alcohol treatment centers, health care institutions and other business settings. The curriculum is designed to expose students to research, theory, and applications in most subfields of psychology. Students will have an especially strong foundation in research methodology and knowledge of social, developmental, cognitive, and personality psychology along with specifically designed applied courses that prepare the student for a career as a Behavioral Specialist.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. think and communicate about the theoretical, methodological, and applied aspects of psychology at the graduate level;
2. demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills especially in relation to conducting and evaluating psychological research and its applications;
3. exercise knowledge of quantitative data analysis necessary for psychological research and for the interpretation of research;
4. show how moral and ethical perspectives influence research, theory, and applications in psychology;
5. draw upon a solid knowledge of general psychological theories and research particularly within the areas of cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and theories of personality;
6. use computer applications necessary for a career in psychology including searching professional databases and other appropriate technical skills;
7. demonstrate leadership skills with an orientation toward using psychological knowledge in service to others;
8. exercise the professional skills necessary for career experiences as a behavioral specialist including being able to conduct a functional behavioral assessment and design client specific behavioral interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team; and
9. demonstrate knowledge of the varieties of and appropriate treatments for psychological illness and basic counseling techniques.

Special Admissions Criterion

Incoming students should possess an undergraduate background in statistics and research methods as evaluated by the Program Coordinator.