The Exceptional Student Education MEd, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Track prepares students to become highly skilled professionals in supporting individuals with exceptionalities. Grounded in evidence-based practices, the program emphasizes behavior assessment, intervention design, clinical decision-making skills, and the integration of technology in ABA. Students benefit from mentorship by expert faculty and practical experiences in schools, clinics, and community programs. Graduates are well prepared to pursue Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification and to take on impactful roles in education, healthcare, and human services, improving lives through the application of ABA principles and practices.
Track Prerequisites
Financial Information
Exceptional student education is a critical shortage area, and students may be eligible for funding under the TEACH grant. Additionally, students may be eligible to receive partial or full tuition support through our U.S. Department of Education-funded projects. Current Office of Special Education Funding is available for a limited number of scholars in Project ABA.
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) track in the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program offers scholars research-based instruction, supervised experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This track is unique because it integrates coursework shared across ESE concentrations, providing both breadth and depth in exceptional education while maintaining a specialized, ABAI-aligned pathway toward Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification. Students should complete the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) course within their first year to establish a strong scientific foundation for applied practice.
