It is common, in early approaches to the field of ABA, for questions to arise about what a program of this type actually entails, how it translates into practice, and above all, what is studied. This clarity does not always emerge from reading course titles or academic documents, as many of them do not clearly describe which skills are developed or how they connect with one another.

This article aims to provide clearer guidance on what an ABA program typically includes. In particular, it outlines its foundational principles, how learning is organized, and which core domains are addressed over time, among other relevant aspects.

What Can You Expect To Study In An ABA Program?

An ABA curriculum is designed to help students learn how to understand, evaluate, and influence behavior using evidence and data. So the training goes beyond “knowing about ABA” in an abstract sense but rather to learning how to integrate information, practical experiences, and professional criteria that can be sustained ethically and applied in real-world contexts.

Understanding why a behavior occurs, how to evaluate it, and which strategies can be implemented are among the core purposes and topics that any ABA curriculum allows students to explore in depth.

Beyond this, ABA programs are often offered through related fields such as psychology, education, or human services, and they prepare students to work in environments where behavioral interventions can be observed in a clear, measurable, and sustainable way over time (clinical, school, and community settings, among others).

How is an ABA Program Organized?

To understand how an applied behavior analysis program is structured, it is helpful to know that these programs are often guided by specific academic criteria and curriculum standards that support quality and rigor.

One of the most widely recognized is ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) and its Verified Course Sequence (VCS): which has historically been used to verify whether a program comprehensively covers the domains considered central to training in behavior analysis.

From this perspective, the ABAI framework allows programs to:

• Delimit core areas of knowledge that are necessary for high-quality, rigorous training in ABA.
• Help organize content into progressive domains, from foundational concepts to application.
• Facilitate comparison between programs, beyond course names or delivery formats.

This does not imply that all programs are identical or that they all include exactly the same courses. However, it does make it possible to identify clear patterns regarding what is typically taught and how learning should be structured.

From this approach, the ABA curriculum is usually divided into thematic domains, each with a specific purpose.

The General Domains of an ABA Graduate Program

Although course and subject titles may vary depending on how each university structures its program, most adhere to a set of general domains. These are understood as content blocks or categories that recur throughout the program through coursework and practical experiences, as they represent the essential knowledge a student must acquire to understand, assess, and intervene in behavior in a systematic way.

The most common and expected domains within an ABA program include:

Foundations of behavior analysis  

This area introduces the foundations of behavior analysis as a scientific discipline. It includes the history of the field, its philosophical assumptions, and the behavioral approach to understanding human behavior.

Principles of behavior 

This domain covers the fundamental principles that explain how behavior is acquired, maintained, and modified. These principles form the theoretical core upon which all ABA practice is built. The domain includes concepts such as reinforcement, punishment, generalization, and stimulus control, among others. In turn, this is linked to instruction on classical and operant conditioning.

Measurement and data analysis  

This domain focuses on learning how to design, collect, and interpret data that allow, among other things, the identification of problem behaviors, informed decision-making, and effective, precise intervention.

Behavioral assessment 

Assessment allows practitioners to identify relevant environmental variables and understand the function of behavior. This domain directly connects theory with practical application.

Design and implementation of interventions” 

This area integrates behavioral principles with intervention strategies aimed at producing observable and measurable changes in behavior. These skills are central to creating individualized intervention plans that address the client’s specific needs.

Ethics and professional practice 

Ethical training runs throughout the entire curriculum. It addresses professional responsibility, the boundaries of practice, and ethical decision-making across all contexts in which a professional may intervene. It also aligns with BACB guidelines to ensure responsible professional practice. 

Supervised practice and applied training

In addition to academic content, programs include supervised practical experiences that allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Practical experience combined with individual supervision enables students to develop not only clinical and technical skills but also confidence and precision as behavior analysts. 

Elective courses and areas of specialization

Many programs offer elective courses that allow for deeper study in specific populations or contexts, broadening the scope of training. ABA extends beyond clinical and community settings. Organizations and the workplace are increasingly open to professionals trained in the behavioral sciences. 

Progression of Learning

ABA programs are guided not only by their pedagogical and curricular orientation but also by a specific learning trajectory. In this case, the process moves from conceptual foundations to applied practice.

From Foundations to Application

In the early stages, the focus is typically placed on the foundations of behavior analysis and the basic principles of behavior. These contents support students in developing and training a clear, shared professional language as behavior analysts.

As students progress, more complex and detailed content is incorporated, focused, for example, on measurement, assessment, and data analysis. This allows theoretical concepts to be translated and operationalized into observable and quantifiable elements.

Integration of Assessment and Intervention

At this stage, greater emphasis is placed on behavioral assessment and the design of interventions. Once theory and technical language have been acquired, students learn to identify relevant variables, formulate functional hypotheses, and select evidence-based strategies.

This stage often marks a key transition: moving from “understanding behavior” to designing and implementing interventions in a systematic and responsible manner. 

Role of supervised practice

Supervised practice is integrated as an essential component of exposure and training. Through these experiences, students have the opportunity to connect academic content with real-world situations in a direct, experiential way, under supervision and with ongoing feedback.

This articulation between theory, analysis, and practice is one of the distinctive features of ABA curricula and ensures that learning is not limited to the classroom or textbooks.

What I View As the Most Crucial Part of an ABA Program Curriculum

After more than ten years of actively working in the field of ABA, collaborating with different clinical teams and under the guidelines of the behavioral sciences, I consider that one of the most crucial aspects of an ABA program is openness to feedback during the stages of practicum, training, and supervision. This willingness to be guided and trained is fundamental to becoming a solid and ethically responsible behavior analyst. It is within this process that one learns to set aside personal inferences or prior beliefs and move toward functional analysis, systematic behavioral observation, and data-based decision-making. Supported by experienced supervisors, clinical work becomes a space to test hypotheses with rigor, adjust interventions when the data require it, and develop increasingly refined clinical judgment.