An ABA master’s degree prepares students for roles focused on behavior analysis, but not for licensure as a psychologist. It does not include training in psychological assessment, diagnosis, or therapy. Students pursuing psychology careers typically follow a degree path in psychology or counseling and continue on to a PhD or PsyD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fieldwork can often be completed at your current place of employment (such as a school setting) if it is an appropriate placement that provides opportunities to work directly with students or clients and meets requirements.
In many cases, yes. Students often use their practicum site for preliminary research and their final thesis.
Students are expected to arrange their own practicum placements, but our program has many local connections with various practicum sites and can support students in the Columbus area seeking a practicum placement.
Students complete a BCBA‑supervised field experience where they apply key ABA skills in a real‑world setting. This includes work in assessment, intervention, data collection, data analysis, and decision‑making with individuals with disabilities, aligned to the student’s area of study (e.g., mild to moderate disabilities, moderate to intensive disabilities, or early childhood).
Field experience takes place at an approved practicum site, where students accrue a minimum of 20 hours per month. Participation in an approved site is required to enroll in ESSPED 8189 – Field Experience in Special Education.
ABA specialization courses may be transferred only from ABAI‑accredited or ABAI‑recognized institutions. Other graduate coursework (such as education foundations) may be transferred from non‑ABAI institutions. All transfer requests must closely align with the Ohio State course being replaced, as demonstrated through official course syllabi.
Students may transfer up to 20% of the total required graduate credit hours, and all transfers must be approved by the program director.
For additional details, see the guide for transferring graduate credit hours.
BCBA exam preparation is integrated directly into coursework through interactive, authentic learning modules that align with BCBA task list content.
Students may be eligible for federal aid and grants, including the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, and military and veteran education benefits (such as the GI Bill® or tuition assistance). Students can access ScholarshipUniverse to find and apply for university and external scholarships. Learn more about financial aid.
Yes, Ohio State’s ABA master’s program is completed entirely online with no campus visits required.
The ABA master’s program is 100% online with mostly asynchronous (self-paced) courses to offer flexibility for busy students. Though the courses are structured and there are deadlines for assignments, you will not be required to be online at specific times for the asynchronous courses. Some courses are taught synchronously (live, online lectures with set meeting times).
No, Ohio State’s Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science can be completed 100% online.
Yes, you can transfer credits from your associate degree into the online HDFS bachelor’s program, based on eligibility. Transfer credit eligibility is determined upon review of official transcripts. Students must complete at least 30 credit hours through the HDFS program.
The HDFS program is 100% online and mostly asynchronous, with the exception of two courses, to offer the most flexibility for busy students. Though the courses are structured and there are deadlines for assignments, you will not be required to be online at specific times for the asynchronous courses.
Some of the learning outcomes of the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science include understanding how family, community, biological, and societal factors influence people across the lifespan; applying research and theory to real-world challenges; designing evidence-based interventions to support individuals and families; and analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative HDFS data.
Ohio State HDFS graduates have gone on to work at organizations such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Girl Scouts of America, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a variety of schools, community agencies, and nonprofits. Explore more HDFS graduate careers here.
We welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds! You’ll need a minimum of 30 post-high-school semester hours (or 45 quarter hours), and we’ll work with you to determine how your previous credits can apply toward your degree. If you’re just getting started with your higher education journey, consider our online Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Development and Education or Associate of Arts in General Studies programs, which can be applied towards your bachelor’s degree.
A human development and family science degree prepares you for a broad range of careers in areas like education, health, human services, and beyond — fields centered on supporting individuals, families, and communities. It’s also a great pathway to graduate studies. Learn more about potential career outcomes.
Yes. The program is 100% online, with most courses offered asynchronously, so you can complete coursework and watch lectures when it fits your schedule. You’ll also have flexible pacing options and supportive faculty who understand the demands of work, school, and life.
Ohio State’s Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science is a 120-credit-hour program. To get started with the online program, you’ll need at least 30 college credits, and you can apply up to 90 previously earned credits, such as those from an associate degree, toward your total. Your time to graduation depends on how many eligible credits you bring in and how many courses you take each semester. Most part-time students take about 6 credit hours per term, while full-time students typically take 12.
Human development and family science is an interdisciplinary field that explores how people grow, learn, and navigate challenges across all stages of life. By integrating psychology, sociology, education, and more, you’ll learn how individuals, families, communities, and environments develop — and how this knowledge can be used to improve lives through work in education, human services, and related fields.