Applied Behaviour Analysis - Structured

Students are assisted to design research that will make valuable contributions to the analysis. They conduct research that further advances an integrated, scientific understanding of the complexities of human behaviour. Students are encouraged and assisted to present their research at conferences and publish their research findings in peer-reviewed international journals.



Find a Supervisor / PhD Project

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Year 1 (90 Credits)

Optional PS6123: Advanced Behaviour Systems - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS6121: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS6122: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS590: Applied Behaviour Analysis Dissertation Research - 60 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS518: Advanced Research Methods and Design - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional SPA417: Funding Applications: Personal Funding - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS6120: Behaviour Assessment and Intervention - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS512: Principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM060: Research Component - 60 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM065: Research Component - 65 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM070: Research Component - 70 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM075: Research Component - 75 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM080: Research Component - 80 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM085: Research Component - 85 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS501: Seminar Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS502: Journal Club Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS508: Formulating a Research Project Proposal - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS509: Participation in Workshops/Courses - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional RM055: Research Component - 55 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS526: Oral/poster communications (year 1 - 3) - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS5104: Intensive Writing Workshop - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Optional GS507: Statistical Methods for Research - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS514: Applied Project 3 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS509: Applied Project II - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PS511: Behaviour Change Procedures - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional PS516: Clinical Behavioural Interventions & Person Centred Behavioural Procedures - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional PS519: Developmental Disorders - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional SPA401: Conference Attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional SPA402: International Conference attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional SPA403: Conference Presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional SPA404: International Conference presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional SPA405: Conference Organization - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional PS513: Research Methods & Design - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional PS508: Applied Project I - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional GS5103: Conference Organisation - 5 Credits - Semester 2



Year 2 (90 Credits)

Optional PS6123: Advanced Behaviour Systems - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS6121: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS6122: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS518: Advanced Research Methods and Design - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional SPA417: Funding Applications: Personal Funding - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS6120: Behaviour Assessment and Intervention - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS590: Applied Behaviour Analysis Dissertation Research - 60 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM060: Research Component - 60 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM065: Research Component - 65 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM070: Research Component - 70 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM075: Research Component - 75 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM080: Research Component - 80 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM085: Research Component - 85 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM055: Research Component - 55 Credits - Semester 3

Optional RM090: Research Component - 90 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS501: Seminar Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS502: Journal Club Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS509: Participation in Workshops/Courses - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS526: Oral/poster communications (year 1 - 3) - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS5104: Intensive Writing Workshop - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Optional GS507: Statistical Methods for Research - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS548: Clinical Practice I - Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS509: Applied Project II - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Optional PS516: Clinical Behavioural Interventions & Person Centred Behavioural Procedures - 10 Credits - Semester 4

Optional PS519: Developmental Disorders - 10 Credits - Semester 4

Optional SPA401: Conference Attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional SPA402: International Conference attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional SPA403: Conference Presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional SPA404: International Conference presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional SPA405: Conference Organization - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Optional PS511: Behaviour Change Procedures - 10 Credits - Semester 4

Optional PS508: Applied Project I - 10 Credits - Semester 4

Optional GS5103: Conference Organisation - 5 Credits - Semester 4



Year 3 (90 Credits)

Optional SPA417: Funding Applications: Personal Funding - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS6120: Behaviour Assessment and Intervention - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS6123: Advanced Behaviour Systems - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS6121: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS6122: Ethics, Professional Conduct and Clinical Practice 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS518: Advanced Research Methods and Design - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM090: Research Component - 90 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM085: Research Component - 85 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM080: Research Component - 80 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM075: Research Component - 75 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM070: Research Component - 70 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM065: Research Component - 65 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS501: Seminar Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS502: Journal Club Programme - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS509: Participation in Workshops/Courses - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS526: Oral/poster communications (year 1 - 3) - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional RM060: Research Component - 60 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS5104: Intensive Writing Workshop - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Optional GS507: Statistical Methods for Research - 5 Credits - Semester 5

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS509: Applied Project II - 10 Credits - Semester 5

Optional PS511: Behaviour Change Procedures - 10 Credits - Semester 6

Optional SPA404: International Conference presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional SPA405: Conference Organization - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional SPA401: Conference Attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional SPA402: International Conference attendance (2 conferences only) - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional SPA403: Conference Presentation - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Optional PS519: Developmental Disorders - 10 Credits - Semester 6

Optional GS5103: Conference Organisation - 5 Credits - Semester 6



Year 4 (90 Credits)

Optional RM085: Research Component - 85 Credits - Semester 7

Optional RM090: Research Component - 90 Credits - Semester 7

Optional RM080: Research Component - 80 Credits - Semester 7

Optional GS5104: Intensive Writing Workshop - 5 Credits - Semester 7

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 7



Year 5 (0 Credits)

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 9



Year 6 (0 Credits)

Required PS650: Psychology - Credits - Semester 11

Applications are invited from candidates who hold an upper Second Class Honours (Grade 1) standard or higher in their primary degree (or equivalent). Evidence of motivation and proposed research will be taken into account in offering places on the programme.

Apply by mid-July for September entry

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

PhD (full-time, four years); part-time PhD (six years).



Course Code: Structured PhD, full-time 1PHB1; part-time 1PBA2

PhD (full-time, four years); part-time PhD (six years).

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Areas of interest

The research undertaken as part of the research thesis will be in areas related to contemporary theory and practice in Applied Behaviour Analysis.