This course will provide students with an introduction to the principles of the science of behavior known as behavior analysis. The philosophical system known as behaviorism that underlies this area of study will be explored, as will the application of behavioral principles to a number of areas of society, including interpersonal relations, parenting, treatments for persons with intellectual and other disabilities, business and management, and more. Students will learn techniques for utilizing the principles of behavior in their own lives, as well as the social benefits that the incorporation of behavioral principles into educational, rehabilitative, organizational, and other settings will afford.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
The ABC’s of applied behavior analysis and what this means for understanding the causes of behavior
The behavioral position on freedom and free will
The basic methodology utilized by the science of behavior
Strategies for increasing and decreasing behavior
Strategies for establishing behavior change in new circumstances
Clinical interventions that are based upon applied behavior analysis
The relationship between applied behavior analysis and evidence-based treatment
The ethics of changing the behavior of others
The application of behavioral principles to individuals with autism or other intellectual disabilities and how behavioral treatment might affect relatives and friends of individuals receiving the treatment
Simple strategies for how behavior analysis can be implemented successfully in the workplace, child-care, and one’s interpersonal relations
Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).