Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies

09/22/2026

https://www.uml.edu/news/department-news/2026/psychology-s-master-s-program.aspx

We have some exciting news to share from UMass Lowell Psychology!

Our Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies (ABAAS) program has earned accreditation from the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)!

This milestone recognizes the strength of the ABAAS program and the high-quality education and training it provides to students.

Through coursework, research and hands-on experience, students build the knowledge and skills they need to pursue careers in behavior analysis and make a difference in the communities they serve.

This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our faculty, students, alumni and community partners who have helped the program grow and thrive.

Congratulations to the entire ABAAS community on this well-deserved accomplishment! 👏🎓

09/22/2026

We welcomed our 2026 cohort a few weeks ago!

🎉 A warm welcome to our Fall 2026 ABAAS cohort!

We were excited to welcome our newest M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies students to the UMass Lowell Department of Psychology during orientation! 💙🎓

We’re so glad to have you as part of the UML Psychology community and can’t wait to see what you accomplish. Here’s to a great start to the semester!

Learn more about the M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies:
https://www.uml.edu/fahss/psychology/programs/graduate/autism-studies.aspx

09/22/2026

We are recruiting for Fall 2027! Please share with your networks.

🎓 Thinking about graduate school?

Join us for the UMass Lowell Virtual Graduate Open House on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m.–Noon ET!

Interested in Psychology? 🧠 The UMass Lowell Department of Psychology will be there to answer your questions and introduce you to our two graduate programs:

🔹 M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
🔹 Ph.D. in Psychology

Connect with our faculty, explore research and educational opportunities, and learn how graduate study in Psychology at UMass Lowell can help you take the next step toward your academic and professional goals.

📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 10 a.m.–Noon ET
💻 Virtual

To register go to https://www.uml.edu/grad/events/open-house.aspx

Learn more about our programs:
https://www.uml.edu/fahss/psychology/programs/graduate/autism-studies.aspx
https://www.uml.edu/fahss/psychology/programs/graduate/phd-psychology/

We hope to see you there! 💙

05/16/2026

A special note of congratulations to ABAAS alumn, Joe Veneziano, on earning his PhD in Psychology!

05/16/2026

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026! Dr. Anita Li got your smiles on the Jumbotron right before you crossed the stage :)

05/13/2026

Proud of our students who presented at the UMass Lowell Department of Psychology Research Symposium this year!

Dishan Bagayao: Culturally Adapting Interventions for Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders from Diverse Communities: A Systematic Review

Yesenia Dominiguez: The Impact of Language Instruction on Acquisition of One-Step Directions in Emergent Bilingual Learners with Autism

Quinn McClernan: The Effect of Home Language Versus English Instruction on Discrete Trial Response Accuracy for a Bilingual Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Samantha Mitchell: Behavior Skills Training to Teach Coping Skill Treatment Package Implementation

Angelica Mordan Percel: Parent Training with Culturally Diverse Families on Decreasing Challenging Behaviors: A Systematic Review

Jasmine Nguyen: Listener Responding Skills in Linguistically Diverse Children with Autism

Ana O’Neil: Impact of Language of Instruction on Functional Play in Bilingual Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tien Pham: Precision Teaching and Frequency-Building in Higher Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Wendy Salazar — The Effects of DRA-Based Schedule Thinning on Challenging Behavior in Denied/Delay Tolerance Training

Cecilia Spinella — An Extended Systematic Literature Review of ABA Collaboration Across Disciplines: Including Families, Educators, and Culturally Responsive Practices

05/13/2026

Outstanding Graduate Student Award in ABAAS: Tien Pham

Tien has excelled in academic, research, and clinical work throughout his time in the program. He has presented at multiple national and regional conferences in the field, is the second author on a peer-reviewed publication with Dr. Anita Li, and was selected for a prestigious scholarship that allowed him to attend an intensive summer training program at Morningside Academy in Seattle last summer. In addition to these accomplishments, Tien served as the student representative for the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and mentored a high school student through the Pathways program for underrepresented students in Psychology, led by Dr. Li, during this past academic year. Tien's intellectual curiosity, dedication to research, and exceptional clinical skills exemplify the spirit of the Outstanding Student Award.

05/13/2026

Graduate Student Research Excellence Award in ABAAS: Joy Gomes

Joy is a Cape Cod native who earned her Associate’s degree in Biology from Cape Cod Community College and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UML before joining the ABAAS program in 2023. Her thesis research focuses on camouflaging and romantic relationship experiences among autistic women. Her broader academic interests include mental health, feminist perspectives, and disability advocacy. After graduation, she hopes to travel, with Brazil at the top of her bucket list so she can finally see capybaras in person, before pursuing advanced studies in Clinical Psychology in the Fall. Outside of academics, she enjoys nature photography, spending time outdoors, and supporting animal rescue.

05/13/2026

Graduate Student Clinical Excellence Award in ABAAS: Samantha Mitchell

The purpose of the ABAAS program is to train scientifically-focused practitioners in behavior analysis to help clients meet their individual needs and goals. The work Samantha has done over the last two years embodies that purpose. Her dedication to her clients and their families is exemplified by her ability to develop and implement behavior change programs that integrate science with compassion, the client as an individual with the client as a member of a family and community. Additionally, Samantha has excelled in a position of leadership at her agency. She has been a valuable resource for the staff and families she works with. Furthermore, Samantha's capstone project focused on developing and evaluating a staff training protocol to teach staff how to support clients more effectively in times of emotional distress. Her project highlighted the importance for practitioners to understand the needs of their staff as an integral part of quality services. Samantha has already made important contributions to her agency and clients, and we know she will continue to contribute to our field as she moves on to the next chapter in her life.