If you want to work in the growing and highly specialized field of applied behaviour analysis, the Behavioural Science program is where you want to be. For over four decades, the Behavioural Science program has trained students to work front-line with a wide range of client populations in a variety of areas within the human services field. Students are taught how to develop and implement behavioural interventions to teach skills to clients and/or reduce challenging behaviours.
Students interested in this program should have a strong desire to work with populations who present with complex behavioural, cognitive, emotional and/or psychological issues. They should also be comfortable to work with any population that presents with disruptive behaviours and/or intellectual challenges. Students coming to the program need to be prepared to complete practicum placements working with any of the client populations listed below under career opportunities. Our program trains students in specific treatment options that can be applied to work with any individual who presents with challenges rather than preparing students to work with only one or a specific client population.
It's important to note that this program is not a generalist counselling/psychology program. Students completing this program should be interested in the learning about the field of applied behaviour analysis.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Our students learn how to:
Teach children to manage their behaviour and learn adaptive skills;
Assist people with intellectual disabilities to access community resources, learn new skills, and live more independently;
Teach youth at risk to improve social skills, manage interfering behaviours, and meet treatment goals;
Support persons with mental health challenges to reduce their stress, build self-management skills and organize daily activities;
Assist clients with acquired brain injuries to learn functional skills and develop life skills;
Work with offenders in correctional facilities to build positive skills and behaviours;
Recognize what an addiction is and understand various ways to prevent addiction and manage recovery.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates are employed in a variety of positions in the following fields: Addictions, Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Child, Adolescent and Adult Mental Health, Education, Corrections/Forensics, Brain Injury, Long Term Care/Geriatrics.
Common positions include:
- behaviour therapist
- educational assistant
- rehabilitation counsellor
- adolescent care worker
- instructor therapist
- crisis worker
- residential counsellor
- mental health worker