The Munroe-Meyer Approach: Continuous Integration of Didactic Instruction, Research, and Clinical Practice

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology
• Special Education

Background:

• Growing demand for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services necessitates more master's and doctoral-level professionals.
• Shortage of qualified academicians and clinical directors in the ABA field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new PhD program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to address the demand for ABA professionals.
• To outline the unique features of the UNMC PhD program.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging UNMC's academic structure for efficient program development.
• Integrating didactic instruction with hands-on clinical and research training.
• Incorporating structured grant writing training, including NIH-level grant submission.

Main Results:

• The UNMC PhD program offers a unique curriculum combining classroom learning with immediate practical application.
• Students receive training from leading experts in applied behavior analysis.
• The program equips students with essential grant writing skills.

Conclusions:

• The UNMC PhD program is designed to efficiently train doctoral-level professionals to meet the increasing demand for ABA services.
• The program's integrated approach and specialized training prepare graduates for impactful careers in academia and clinical practice.