Houston Daily

The University of Houston is expanding its behavioral health education with three new programs in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) starting this fall. The programs, which can be taken online or at the university’s Katy campus, are designed to train students for roles that support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Charlotte Carp, program director and a board-certified behavior analyst, said, “Our goal is to train highly skilled individuals so they come out of our programs and can provide really effective treatment for our diverse community and our learners with autism and developmental disabilities.”

While ABA-related courses have been available since fall 2024, this marks the first time full programs in the discipline are being offered at UH. The options include an undergraduate minor, a Master of Education in Special Populations with an ABA specialization, and a post-baccalaureate certificate for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree.

These new offerings respond to increasing demand for behavior analysts in Texas. In 2024, Texas ranked third nationwide for demand in this field. Data from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board shows that between 2023 and 2024, Texas saw a 62% increase in need for board-certified behavior analysts and a 228% increase for assistant behavior analysts.

Salaries for these positions typically range from $63,000 to $77,000 per year according to Salary.com.

Autism diagnoses have also risen over recent decades. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that one in 36 eight-year-olds were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2020 compared to one in 150 in 2000. Carp said this rise is due to earlier screenings, improved assessments, and changes in how autism is defined.

Carp explained how ABA differs from other therapies: “A lot of other therapies focus on the cognitive aspects and how mental processes really affect behavior,” Carp said. “For ABA, it’s really looking at not necessarily the mental processes but how the environment and behavior interact. If we can change the environment, we can change behavior.”

UH faculty plan to introduce another certificate program by next fall aimed at students who already have a master’s degree.