MS in Applied Behavior Analysis FAQs

The first step in the process and the best way to get all of your questions answered is to attend an information session.

If you are unable to attend, please contact us at 310.258.2850 to set up an appointment.

For the masters programs in psychology, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology operates on a "rolling admissions" basis. This means we review and accept applications as they are completed. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline. You will receive a decision via mail within three to four weeks after the submission of your completed application.

No. You can send in different parts of your application as they are completed. We will hold any materials that arrive under your name, but will only begin tracking your application and corresponding with you when we receive your online application.

At Pepperdine, we utilize a holistic approach in our thorough review of each and every application. This means that we do not disqualify applicants based on any one part of their application. The average cumulative undergraduate GPA is above 3.0.

Please visit our Admissions Requirements page for a full list.

Please refer to our Admission Requirements webpage.

Please refer to our Admission Requirements webpage.

Please refer to our Admission Requirements webpage.

The on-campus program offered at our West Los Angeles campus has two 15-week terms during Fall and Spring and two 7-week Summer sessions.

The online program has four 11-week terms (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer). To apply for the online program, please see the program's website.

On average, the program is completed in 16 months.

Classes are offered in the late afternoon and evening. Each class meets once per week. Classes are offered Monday-Thursday. During the summer term, classes meet twice per week.

The Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) courses are offered at the West Los Angeles Graduate Campus. For students seeking more flexibility, Pepperdine also offers an online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program, allowing students to complete their degree remotely. Learn more about the online ABA program.

Yes. The best way to learn about opportunities for grants, loans, scholarships, and assistantship positions is to attend one of our Information Sessions, as most meetings include a Financial Aid presentation.

Students currently working in ABA-based settings can begin fieldwork and accrue hours in their first semester in the program. Students who are just entering this field will receive assistance in finding fieldwork placements once they have completed their first semester of foundational course work.

The MSABA and GSEP psychology division stand in solidarity against racial inequities and injustice and other forms of discrimination and oppression. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment that is enriched and strengthened by diversity including but not limited to race, ethnicity and national origin, gender and gender identity, sexuality, class, age, ability status, and religion. GSEP also encourages all community members to engage in critical learning and reflection to strengthen our capacity for being effective, active, and outspoken against all forms of racism and intersectional oppression.

There is a one-time fee of $498 upon the first time enrolling in PSY 620 Practicum in ABA. Book fees are approximately $120.00 per term if renting and up to approximately $235.00 per term if purchasing. There is a wellness fee of $88 per term. 

The MSABA program is a full-time graduate program. The amount of hours you will be able to work while attending the program varies by person. You should expect to reserve 8-10 hours per week of study time for each 3-unit course in which you are enrolled. You may also expect this to be closer to 12 hours per 3-unit course when you first begin the program, as you are developing study and time management skills.