MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The master of arts in applied behavior analysis (ABA) program at Penn State Harrisburg has received accreditation by the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), a distinction that places the program among a select group nationwide and affirms the program’s alignment with national standards.
To receive accreditation from ABAI, programs go through a rigorous review process. Penn State Harrisburg is the only accredited program in Pennsylvania, according to the ABAI website.
Jonathan Ivy, associate professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education and professor-in-charge for the ABA program, said the accreditation is a testament to the program’s dedication to students and the discipline.
“Since the program launched over 20 years ago, we have always strived to train the next generation of highly competent and compassionate behavior analysts,” Ivy said. “This recognition affirms the strength of our training model and our commitment to excellence in teaching, supervision, and research. We’re proud to be among the select programs accredited by ABAI and excited for what this means for our students and the communities we serve.”
The mission of the ABAI Accreditation Board is to establish and implement standards for the accreditation of educational programs in behavior analysis. The accreditation process is designed to encourage, support, and recognize exemplary training of behavior scientists and scientist-practitioners in the experimental and theoretical foundations of behavior analysis and in ethical and evidence-based practice, and to promote continuous improvement through voluntary accreditation.
More information on Penn State Harrisburg’s Applied Behavior Analysis program can be found here.