Dual International
Masters Program
in Behavior Analysis
Monika Suchowierska, PhD., BCBA, University of
Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
Carl Hughes, PhD., BCBA, Bangor University
Bill Potter PhD., BCBA, California State University,
Stanislaus
Atlantis Grants
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The program, jointly administered and funded by the
U.S. Department of Education and the European
Commission's Directorate General for Education and
Culture, provides grants for four to five years to add a
European Community-United States dimension to
international curriculum development and related
student exchange
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fipseec/index.html
Overview
In June 2006, at the EU-US Summit in Vienna, the
European Union and the United States of America
signed a new agreement on higher education and
vocational training for another eight-year period
(2006-2013).
The new agreement renews and reinforces the long
standing EU-US cooperation program that was
established in 1995.
Overview
The Vienna Summit supports the following
programs:
Transatlantic Degree action providing support to
multilateral partnerships of EU and US institutions for
the purpose of setting up joint study programs and
transatlantic mobility of students and faculty;
Excellence Mobility projects, providing follow-up
financial support for student mobility to joint consortia
that have a proven track record of excellence in
transatlantic cooperation;
Overview
Policy-oriented measures, addressing comparative
higher education and vocational training issues, and
promoting dialogue on recognition of qualifications
and accreditations;
Schuman-Fulbright action providing scholarships to
highly qualified professionals for undertaking studies
or training on the opposite side of the Atlantic, in
areas of specific relevance to the EU/US relations.
The series of actions is grouped under the common
title of "ATLANTIS" (Actions for Transatlantic Links
and Academic Networks for Training and Integrated
Studies).
Partners & Program
Bangor University - Bangor Wales
http://www.bangor.ac.uk
University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland (SWPS)
http://www.swps.pl/english
California State University, Stanislaus – Turlock California
www.csustan.edu
Dual Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis
MA from CSU Stanislaus
Masters from Bangor University
Possible Master’s from University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Funding
Over four years
From the European Union (€408,000)
2000 Euros Moving Expenses to US
1000 Euros per month (for 10 months in the US)
Total 12,000 Euros
Pay tuition at home institution (Bangor or Warsaw) for
length of program
From the US: ($416,000)
2000 dollars moving expenses to Europe 1000 dollars
per month (for 10 months in the Europe – 5 months
Warsaw, 5 months Bangor)
Total 12,000 dollars
Pay tuition at CSU Stanislaus for length of program
Student Exchanges
Each Year of the Grant
Four Students from Poland
Four Students from Wales
Eight Students From CSU Stanislaus
Bangor Students @ Bangor 1 year, 5 months in Poland, 10
months in US
Polish Students @ SWPS 3 years, 5 months Bangor, 10 months
in US.
CSU Stanislaus Students @ CSU 1 year, 5 months in Poland, 5
months in Bangor
Faculty Exchanges
For all Universities, Faculty exchanges are funded (2-4
per year)
Exchanges involve a minimum of 1 week exchange
Activities include:
Lectures
Meetings with Students
Research Meetings
Collaborative libations at local institutions
Travel expenses are paid for out of the grant
The Specifics
Dual versus a Joint Program
Dual easier from institutional and accreditation bodies
Credit Exchanges
One US credit hour = Two ECTS (European credit transfer
system)
Curriculum
Each degree granting institution will allow substitutions for
existing coursework. Bangor and CSU Stanislaus have BCBA
approved coursework.
The Specifics
Recruitment Strategies
Bangor: BA listservs and webpages, announce to classes,
faculty exchanges,
SWPS: announcements, informational meetings, faculty
exchanges, former Atlantis students.
CUS Stanislaus: word of mouth, conferences, faculty
exchanges, existing student applicants to master’s program
Evaluations:
Coursework, time to completion, language assessment,
cultural awareness survey (In progress)
The Specifics
Sustainability:
Establishing the agreements between institutions paves the way,
but other resources probably needed (in progress).
Cultural Considerations
First year US students will mentor incoming European students
European students will mentor US students
Some pre-departure language training
Most exchanges are first-time visits to partner countries
Frequent contact between directors and with faculty exchanges
Students met directors and other faculty prior to visit
Skype, other internet tools to lessen culture shock
The Specifics
Challenges
Bangor University
New to Atlantis
Fit into existing, university system
Administrative red tape
CSU Stanislaus
New to Atlantis
Student exchange equality
WASC oversight
CSU antiquated tuition and admission systems
Health Insurance
Budget Crisis (International Office)
SWPS
No Bachelor Degree in Psychology
Don’t have BCBA approved sequence
(BA not popular in Poland)(Yet!)
Year of
Study
Year 1
Semester 1 study
Semester 2 study
CSUSTAN
CSUSTAN
4720: The Experimental Analysis of
Behavior* (3)
5940: Lab studies (1)
5010: Advanced Methods for
Psychological Research (2)
Semester
3
None
5020: Advanced Analysis of
Psychological Data (3)
5150: Seminar and solution
5640: Behavior Analysis of Systems / focused therapy (3)
conceptual issues (3)
5990: Thesis (2)
5920: Research Apprenticeship (1)
9 units (ECTS 18)
5990: Thesis (1)
10 units (ECTS 20)
Year 2
SWPS
Essay under individual instruction
(Behavioral Psychology) (ECTS 9)
Developmental Psychology (5)
Autism and developmental
disabilities (3)
Polish (4)
Cultural adaptation workshop (3)
24 ECTS
Bangor University
Bangor
PLP4003: Behaviour Change (PRP4002
Research
Procedures (ECTS 7.5)
Thesis)
PLP4004: Person Centred
(30
behavioural Procedures (7.5)
ECTS)
PRP4008: Advanced research
and Proposal II (7.5)
PLP4008: Clinical
Behavioural Interventions
First Exchanges….
Starting
University
Year of
Study
Semester 1
study @
Semester 2
study @
Bangor
University
Year 1
(2011-12)
Bangor
SWPS
Year 2
(2012-13)
CSUSTAN
CSUSTAN
Year 1
(2011-12)
Bangor*
SWPS
Year 2
(2012-13)
CSUSTAN
CSUSTAN
Year 1
(2012-13)
CSUSTAN
CSUSTAN
Year 2
(2013-14)
SWPS
Bangor
SWPS
CSUSTAN
Semester 3 @
Thesis
completion
Thesis
completion
Thesis
completion