St. Cloud State University

Behavior Analysis Welcome Packet

Helpful Hints and Suggestions

The M.S. in Behavior Analysis is a rigorous academic pursuit. It is important for prospective students to understand the commitment needed to be successful. Graduate school is not for everyone. It is necessary to have the academic background, time commitment, and self-management skills to succeed. If you do not have the ability to work independently or necessary time commitment, graduate school may not be for you. The M.S. in Behavior Analysis was designed to be completed within 6 semesters by taking 2 courses per semester. If you can not complete 2 courses per semester, then you will not be able to complete within 6. You are the only person who can answer the questions regarding time commitment and self-management. Please consider all factors before enrolling in the program.

1. Do not procrastinate. When assignments are due, they are due. There are no extensions. There is no extra credit. Each semester has a start and end date, and drop dates. In order to complete the program in 6 semesters, you need to stay on schedule. If you do not follow the schedule, you will not finish within 6 semesters.
2. If you fall behind, i.e., not complete the course in time, you will not be allowed to register for the next course.
3. Complete study guides and practice quizzes. Each course provides a variety of study materials to help students master the material.
4. Make sure you access your email through HuskyNet.
5. Check your D2L for news and contact.
6. You may contact faculty through email and phone. It is important to remember that there are times when faculty members are off campus and so the rule of procrastination comes to play. If the test is tomorrow and you wait to email the night before, the faculty member may not respond to your 2:30 am email.
7. High Speed Internet Access. Course material will be downloaded and the faster the connection the better. Cable modem, satellite connections, local ISP providers, local libraries, others provide high speed access. Using a 28K telephone modem is very slow and may be aggravating to use.
8. Technology goes down. Do not wait (rule of Procrastination). There are power outages, viruses, floods, server problems, etc. that may affect your ability to access materials. Do not wait until the last minute.
9. Look at the course syllabus and manage your time. You need to complete the class within a time frame. You can complete the course earlier but not later. Pace yourself and be prepared.
10. At the beginning of the course, read the ENTIRE syllabus. You are responsible for all information contained therein. As you review the syllabus, mark due-dates on your calendar and create a study schedule for yourself. Treat your online course as if you were required to attend class in person - set aside a specified time each day where you will study and complete the readings. Do not deviate from this schedule, it will help you stay on track.
11. HELP/Resources
    1. Technology Resources http://www.stcloudstate.edu/help/
       Downloads and Computer Trouble
    2. Registration Problems the Center for Continuing Studies
    3. Desire2Learn
       1. Email: d2l@stcloudstate.edu
       2. Phone: (320) 308-2077
    4. Writing Resources http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/
    5. Library Resources http://lrts.stcloudstate.edu/
12. Studying Behavior
    1. Most graduate students study together to review articles, answer questions, discuss topics, etc. As a distance based student we encourage you to do the same, however the process may be different. To facilitate discussion the following are suggested.
       1. If you have cohorts in your area it is possible to form study groups and meet on a regularly scheduled time.
       2. E-mail. E-mail addresses of students who are participating in the course will be distributed to all students in the class. We encourage students to email each other.
       3. Postings to Discussion. If you have a question, post it to discussion and you and other students can discuss the question. This function is dependent upon students checking and responding, if no one posts a question, no one will respond. It is for your use.
       4. E-mail your question to the professor. We actually respond to e-mails, however, it may not be an immediate response. Professors are in class, have meetings, provide community service, travel to conferences, etc. Do not wait until the last minute to ask a question and then be frustrated because a response was not sent within 5 minutes.