Application Requirements

BEHAVIORANALYSIS@SIMMONS

In order to enroll in BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons, applicants must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The following materials must be submitted in order to apply for the program:

  • Completed online application form
  • Current résumé
  • One essay explaining your reasons for pursuing a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis, including a discussion of the intellectual and professional goals you hope to achieve
  • Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended, regardless of whether a degree was earned
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
  • Nonrefundable application fee of $75
    (Fee is reduced to $45 if application is submitted on or before the priority deadline)
  • GRE scores are not required for admission, but will be accepted if the applicant chooses to submit them

Application fee waivers are available for applicants affiliated with non-profit organizations such as: City Year, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Teach for America, and military personnel, veterans, and their spouses. Please contact your admission counselor to request instructions for obtaining the fee waiver.

In the event that the Admission Committee needs more information to review an application, an applicant may be required to participate in an interview with the committee.

Online Application Form

Résumé

Your résumé should include the following:

  • Educational background, including all institutions attended, degree(s) awarded or in progress, and dates or anticipated dates of degree(s) awarded
  • Relevant employment history, including job titles, job descriptions, relevant duties performed, and dates of employment for each position
  • Community service or volunteer experience
  • Awards, publications, presentations, and memberships
  • Evidence of leadership and career progression

Essay

In 500 words, please cover:

  • Goals in Behavior Analysis: Describe your professional and intellectual goals and the relationship of the degree program to these goals.
  • Educational Background and Preparation: Describe your understanding of the field of Behavior Analysis, your interest in the field, and how your academic background has prepared you for this program. If your cumulative undergraduate GPA was below 3.0 or you struggled in any academic coursework resulting in lower grades, please reflect upon your academic experience in your essay.
  • Relevant Experiences: Address any gaps in employment and describe any relevant volunteer, full-time, or part-time work experience that you have.

Transcripts

Sealed, official academic transcripts must be received by mail from all postsecondary institutions you have attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. This includes community colleges, institutions you may have attended as a non-degree student, or schools where you enrolled but withdrew from classes. If you have any questions when determining if you need to submit a transcript as part of your application, please reach out to your admission counselor. Failure to submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions can result in dismissal from the program

Please request official transcripts be mailed to:

Simmons University
Application Processing Center
BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons
PO Box 30096 [015-003]
College Station, TX 77842

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

Many schools issue transcripts electronically, either through their own web services or through vendors. If this option is available, applicants should specify that their transcript(s) be sent to Application Services or select Simmons University – BehaviorAnalysis@Simmons if listed as an option through the vendor. This will expedite the delivery of the transcript(s) and the completion of the application.

All coursework from institutions outside of the United States must be reviewed by an evaluation service such as World Education ServicesInternational Education Research FoundationEducation Credential Evaluation, or AACRAO International Education Services. Evaluations for study abroad coursework are not required if all course titles and grades are reflected on a US transcript. Please allow for additional time in the application process to have all transcripts evaluated by these organizations. Please note that course-by-course evaluations are required.

Letters of Recommendation

Your application must include at least two professional or academic letters of recommendation that have been written within one year of the application submission date. Your recommenders must be able to speak to your verbal and written communication skills, intellectual ability, capacity for critical analysis, and personal initiative. When you add recommenders via the online application, an email notification is sent to your recommenders. They can complete the recommendation online.

Letters must be from professional (e.g., a supervisor or manager) or academic (such as faculty, advisors, or a department head) sources. Recommendations will not be accepted from friends, family members, personal counselors or therapists, co-workers, or your clergy.

TOEFL or IELTS Scores

If English is not your first language, you are required to submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report, demonstrating satisfactory English language proficiency.

Please note that the TOEFL or IELTS is not required from applicants who have earned either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary institution or from a postsecondary institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in an English-speaking country.

Upcoming Application Deadline

May 2025

Early Action Application Deadline:
January 17, 2025

Priority Application Deadline:
February 14, 2025

Final Application Deadline:
March 25, 2025

Classes Begin:
May 12, 2025

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