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EnglishIs the Graduate Program in the KU Department of Applied Behavioral Science Accredited?
Updated
Yes. According to the department's homepage, its master's and doctoral programs are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). The department also describes a 50+-year history of undergraduate and graduate training. Accreditation here applies to the master's and doctoral programs specifically, so if you are considering a different credential — such as the online ABAI-verified course sequence or the graduate certificate in community health and development — check the status that applies to that offering rather than assuming it carries the same accreditation.
What the department says about accreditation
The homepage states directly that the department's master's and doctoral programs are accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. It also notes that the department runs an online ABAI-verified course sequence, which is a separate designation from program accreditation.
| Item | Status per department homepage |
|---|---|
| Master's degree in behavior analysis (online and campus) | Accredited by ABAI |
| Doctoral degree in behavioral psychology | Accredited by ABAI |
| Joint master's in public health + doctorate in behavioral psychology | Covered under the master's and doctoral accreditation statement |
| Online ABAI-verified course sequence | ABAI-verified course sequence (separate from program accreditation) |
| Graduate certificate in community health and development | Not described as accredited on the homepage |
Why the accreditation claim is worth checking against your specific program
Accreditation is granted to programs, not to departments as a whole. The homepage groups the master's and doctoral programs under one accreditation statement, but the joint degree and the certificate are described separately. If your goal is to meet a licensure or certification requirement — for example, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst — the relevant question is whether the specific pathway you enroll in satisfies that requirement, which can differ from general ABAI accreditation.
How to verify before you apply
- Identify the exact program name you are applying to (for example, the online master's in behavior analysis versus the doctoral program in behavioral psychology).
- Check the department's Graduate Student Handbook (Fall 2026 version), linked from the homepage, for degree requirements and relevant policies.
- Confirm accreditation status for that specific program with the department directly, since accreditation can change over time.
- If you have graduate program questions, the homepage lists Dr. Michael Amlung, Director of Graduate Studies, at [email protected].
Department scale and contact
The homepage reports 15 regular faculty members, about 200 undergraduate majors, and roughly 100 graduate students. General department contact: [email protected] or 785-864-4840. The department is located at 4001 Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045.
If accreditation is a deciding factor for you, treat the homepage statement as a starting point and confirm the status of your exact program before applying.