St. Cloud State University

Behavior Analysis Welcome Packet

Department Overview

Dept. of Educational Leadership and Community Psychology

Thank you for your interest and welcome to the M.S. in Behavior Analysis program at St. Cloud State University. The graduate program in Behavior Analysis is designed to provide students with advanced academic and professional training in the application of behavior analysis principles in applied and research settings.

Who are the faculty and what are their areas of interest?

Faculty in the Behavior Analysis program have expertise in autism, behavior therapy, developmental disabilities, community integration strategies for persons with challenging behavior,  functional analysis, behavioral applications with children and adults,  social skills programming, program evaluation and organizational development, staff training and development, and other areas of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Chaturi Edrishinha, Ph.D. 2006, University of Texas – Austin; applied behavior analysis, functional analysis, challenging behavior, self-injurious behavior, motivating operations, social adaptive skills and competencies, autism and developmental disabilities.

Email: cdedrisinha@stcloudstate.edu

John T. Rapp , Ph.D. 2003, University of Florida ; applied behavior analysis, functional analysis, automatic reinforcement, stereotypy, self-injurious behavior, habit disorders, generalization training, experimental design, special education.

Email: jtrapp@stcloudstate.edu

Eric Rudrud, Ph.D. 1978, Utah State University; applied behavior analysis, educational/school psychology, supported employment, community integration for individuals with developmental disabilities, distance based learning.

Email: ehrudrud@stcloudstate.edu

Kimberly Schulze, Ph.D. 1990, Utah State University; applied behavior analysis, special education, social skills training, technology, fetal alcohol syndrome, autism, distance based learning.

Email: kaschulze@stcloudstate.edu

Distance Based Learning Opportunities

The M.S. program in Behavior Analysis is offered on-campus for full-time students and is available as a Distance Based program for students who are unable to enroll full-time and/or attend on-campus. The distance based program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and those students who are interested in behavior analysis but can not attend at St. Cloud State. The coursework is the same for the distance based program. However, students will need to make arrangements for approved Practicum and Internship sites in their home community.

What career opportunities are available?

The Behavior Analysis program provides students with a sound academic and professional background in Applied Behavior Analysis. Students are prepared for employment in a variety of community, state, and private agencies and for further training in doctoral programs. Graduates of the program have continued their academic training in fields such as Experimental or Applied Analysis of Behavior, Professional Scientific Psychology, Educational Psychology, School Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Special Education.

Graduates of the program have been employed in a variety of settings including:

• Behavior Analyst III/supervisor at regional treatment centers in Minnesota
• Behavior Therapist in clinical settings.
• Residential and vocational programs serving persons with developmental disabilities and persons with mental illness.
• Behavior Support Specialists in educational settings.
• Intensive Behavior Therapy programs for children with Autism.
• Human Resource Development and other business settings.

What type of internship/practicum experiences will I receive?

All students are required to complete a 750 -hour clinical internship in an applied setting agreed upon by the student and faculty advisor. Internship activities are under the direction of a faculty supervisor and an on-site supervisor. Students are required to secure their appropriate on-site supervision by a doctoral level supervisor and/or a BCAB certified behavior analyst. Students are required to obtain malpractice insurance during their internship. Information regarding malpractice insurance can be obtained from the American Psychological Association or American Counseling Association.

Students have completed internships in a wide variety of settings including: Lovass Institute Midwest, Rum River Special Education Cooperative, Behavioral Dimensions, St. Cloud Independent School District 742, Opportunity Manor, St. Amant Centre (MB), Minnesota Neurorehabilitation Hospita, Minnesota Veterans Home, and various community based residential and vocational training programs.