MILFORD, M.A. (October 2, 2020) – Beacon ABA Services is expanding their partnership with Cambridge College for their recently announced Ph.D. program in Applied Behavior Analysis with a specialization in autism intervention focusing on early education/intervention and severe behavior disorders. This program will give clinicians the expertise and credentials needed to better serve clients in the community and to train future behavior analysts. Advanced training is essential as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 54 children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) demonstrated to be an effective treatment.
This three-year, 48 credit doctoral-level program of study was designed with working professionals in mind and features one week residencies in each of the first two summers with remaining coursework completed through distance learning. Faculty are Doctoral Level Practicing Behavior Analysts at Beacon and affiliated companies. Beacon has previously partnered with Cambridge College and has had a highly successful master’s program with an Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified course sequence, with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) pass rate of 88% over the past 5 years.
“Beacon ABA has partnered with Cambridge College for the past 12 years on the M.Ed. Autism/ABA program, addressing a national shortage of BCBAs. It has been one of the most successful programs in the country, combining coursework with mentored experience in best-practice clinical settings with Beacon ABA Services. We are looking forward to the new Ph.D. program preparing students to be leaders in the field of autism treatment and education,” stated Robert F. Littleton, Jr., Ed.D., President, Beacon ABA Services.
Jeff Fossa, Associate Vice President of Beacon ABA and student in the Ph.D. program at Cambridge College, is excited to be a part of the program and thankful for the opportunity with Beacon ABA. “I would recommend the Ph.D. program at Cambridge College because the faculty have student success in mind.” Fossa says, “Beacon supports me by not only offering financial aid, but support from its upper management. Not only have my supervisors encouraged me to enter the program, but have been accommodating when I needed assistance with topics covered in class. Most importantly, they developed a program that sets one up for success.”
Alicen Cutting, another Associate Vice President of Beacon ABA and student in the program, shares her remarks on the benefits of working for Beacon ABA while pursuing her Ph.D., saying that “Beacon provides the opportunity to apply the skills learned in class to my daily clinical work as well as the ability to participate in applied research, staff training and presentation opportunities at national conferences.”
The curriculum places a combined focus on providing hands-on clinical leadership training which prepares students for leadership roles in human service organizations, along with advanced research & dissemination of applied behavior analysis, and a final dissertation.
About Beacon ABA Services
Beacon ABA Services, Inc. (Beacon) is a private group practice of behavior analysts and behavioral therapists organized to provide intensive behavioral services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The practice specializes in providing evidence-based treatment interventions to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Beacon works extensively with individuals who exhibit a variety of developmental needs and challenging behaviors by building adaptive skills in homes, schools, and community settings. Beacon utilizes evidence-based procedures and treatments based on principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Beacon actively contributes to the field of ABA through training students and professionals, contributing to field based research and establishing collaborative professional partnerships.
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