Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities Concentration
Acquire the knowledge and practical skills you need to successfully empower children with disabilities in classroom, clinical, and applied settings.
College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
Broaden your toolkit to better support your future students and clients.
Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities Concentration
Acquire an applied perspective of behavior analysis, a grounding in psychology fundamentals, and a thorough understanding of developmental disabilities. Course options let you tailor the concentration toward your career goals.
Meet the Faculty
Develop your skills in behavior analysis under the guidance of skilled professors who are active researchers in touch with the latest developments in the field.
Outside the Classroom
Expand your understanding of behavior analysis and developmental disabilities through hands-on experiences in the field and lab.
Internship
Students majoring in psychology are encouraged to complete an internship. Drake has partnered with two care providers with board-certified behavior analysts who supervise and direct your implementation of behavioral programs. You can work with children and adults with autism at Child Serve or Balance Autism.
Research
Build skills in scientific inquiry by collaborating with faculty who pursue research in diverse areas, including psychotropic medications in children with developmental disabilities, experience of medical care, learning processes, and social justice in education.
Careers & Skills
The Behavior Analysis of Developmental Disabilities Concentration positions you to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Those earning degrees in education have the background to successfully support children with special needs in K-12 environments and after-school programs. Those pursuing a degree in psychology or a similar discipline are prepared to assist these individuals in a number of applied and clinical settings.
Opportunities
- Behavior intervention specialist
- Case manager
- Developmental interventionist
- Educational consultant
- Graduate studies in psychology
- Special education teacher
Skills
- Analyze behavioral data
- Analyze research to inform practice
- Conduct behavioral assessments
- Consult and collaborate with other support professionals
- Develop evidence-based behavioral intervention plans
- Possess robust knowledge of developmental disabilities
Salary & Growth Outlook
Mean average salary for Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) is $45-$65K, with entry-level professionals typically earning $39,000. (ZipRecruiter). Although the national median salary for master’s-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts is not reported, the range can be between $45,000 to $65,000.
Take the Next Step
Prepare to skillfully promote the growth and independence of children with developmental disabilities using the tools of behavior analysis through Drake’s interdisciplinary concentration.
