Autism and Behavioural Science FAQ

Program Requirements
Full-time and Part-time Delivery
Field Placements
Course Exemptions

FAQ: Program Requirements

  1. How many courses will I have to take in order to complete this program?

    Students are required to complete 11 courses, including two Field Placements, in order to complete this program. A list of the required courses can be found at the bottom of the ABS webpage.

  2. Can all of the courses be completed online?

    Students are able to complete all of the required course assignments online. Most exams will be completed online however students may be required to complete exams in-person at a proctored location in their area for some of the courses. Field placement courses (FAM0025 and FAM0026) require students to complete a predetermined number of field placement experience hours on-site at an approved Field Placement agency in their community. Students are able to complete all of the required assignments and supervision tasks for these courses online.

  3. Will I be required to come to the Algonquin campus in order to complete this program?

    No, students are able to complete all of the requirements for this program without coming to the Algonquin College campus.

  4. What type of coursework is required throughout this program?

    Throughout this program, students complete a wide variety of learning tasks including discussion posts, quizzes, essays, group work and exams.

  5. Do any of the courses have exams? If so, how do I complete them?

    You will be required to complete exams throughout the program. Some exams are completed online and some exams are completed in-person at a proctored location in your area (you will not be required to come to the Algonquin College campus). The course facilitator for each course will provide you with more information about the exam requirements at the beginning of the term. If an exam is required, you will be given a window of time in which you can complete the exam.

  6. Will I be required to log-on at specific times in order to complete this program?

    No, students are able to complete the course requirements on their own schedule as long as they meet weekly course deadlines.

  7. Will I be able to study and work full-time at the same time?

    Balancing full-time work and studies can be challenging so we often don’t recommend trying to do both, especially if you are working in a highly demanding environment. We recognize that every student is different and some students are able to work and study full-time, so if you feel that you are up for the challenge then you are more than welcome to apply for the full-time program.

  8. I’m not sure if this is the right program for me – are there any courses that I can complete without registering for the entire program?

    Yes, students are able to register and complete the following ABS courses without applying to or being accepted in to the entire program: FAM0015 – Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis, FAM0016 – Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and FAM0018 – Working with Families and Teams. If, after completing one or more of these courses, you decide to complete the entire program, you will be required to apply for the program. If you are accepted in to the program, you will receive the course credits for the course(s) that you have already completed.

FAQ: Full-time and Part-time Delivery

  1. How many courses do full-time students complete each term?

    Full-time students complete five theory courses during the first term (level 1), three theory courses and one field placement course during the second term (level 2) and one theory course and one field placement course during the third term (level 3).

  2. How many courses do part-time students complete each term?

    Part-time students must complete the 11 required courses within six years of beginning the program. Part-time students can register for a varying number of courses each term: students can choose not to take any courses for a semester, to take all of the available courses for a semester, or any number in between.

  3. What is the financial difference between completing the program as a full-time student versus a part-time student?

    Full-time students pay a flat-rate tuition fee per term while part-time students register and pay for each course individually.

  4. How much is the tuition fee for full-time students?

    Full-time tuition fees are listed on the full-time ABS program page.

  5. How much does each course cost for part-time students?

    If registration is currently open for the upcoming term, individual course costs can be found by clicking on the title of each course from the list at the bottom of the part-time ABS program page. If registration is not currently open for the upcoming term, please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information (613-727-0002).

FAQ: Field Placements

  1. I am currently working full-time during the day. How will this impact my field placement courses?

    Field placements are expected to be completed on a full-time schedule during weekday business hours (i.e. Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:00) during the assigned weeks (four weeks for FAM0025 and six weeks for FAM0026). Students are responsible for ensuring that they are available during this time in order to complete the field placement courses. This will likely require re-arranging your work schedule, or taking time off of work during these weeks.

  2. Can the field placements be completed in the evenings and on the weekends?

    Field placements are completed during the business hours of the ABA service providers (typically Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:00). ABA service providers are not typically open during evenings and weekend.

  3. Can I complete my field placement courses outside of Ottawa?

    Yes, students are able to complete their field placements at an agency in their community as long as the agency has been approved by the Online Learning Field Placement Officer.

  4. Will I be responsible for organizing my own placements?

    No, the Online Learning Field Placement Officer is responsible for organizing the field placements for students who have met the placement eligibility requirements.

  5. When will I need to complete all of the field placement eligibility requirements?

    Students are required to begin planning for their field placements one term in advance. Students will receive detailed information about the field placement eligibility requirements and deadlines upon admission to the program.

FAQ: Course Exemptions

  1. I have experience working in the field of ABA – can I be exempt from some of the courses?

    Students are encouraged to complete all of the ABS courses however some students may be eligible to apply for an exemption through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Please note: FAM0026 is not eligible for exemption. Please contact the Student Advisor for more information about course exemptions.

  2. I have already completed similar courses in my Ontario College Diploma program – can I be exempt from some of the ABS courses?

    Courses that have been completed in an Ontario College Diploma level program (i.e. ECE, DSW, CYW) will not lead to exemptions in an Ontario College Graduate Certificate level program (i.e. ABS).

  3. I have already completed some of the courses through another Ontario college – can I be exempt from some of the courses?

    Yes, if you have previously completed one or more of the courses through an Autism and Behavioural Science program at another Ontario College you will be able to apply for an academic exemption.