Elective Course and Specialization Module Descriptions

Individual program pages provide course descriptions for core courses. This page provides descriptions for electives.

Advanced Electives 200-Range

The following courses revisit topics covered in core courses, but at a more advanced level, utilizing amore advanced Masters level textbook. These courses are not geared to nonhuman animals and instead address the topics broadly. These courses are available to student our graduates. 

Behaviorology - 201

This course revisits the topic of behaviorology, but at a more advanced level, utilizing a more advanced Masters level textbook. It addresses the topic of behaviorology as a natural science discipline that studies the functional relations between behavior and environment.

Required Text: General Behaviorology: The Natural Science of Human Behavior by Lawrence E. Fraley, available through .

Prerequisites: All courses from the Dip.ABST, Dip.CBST, Dip.FBST, or Dip.EBST.

Approximate time required: 15 hours

Behavior and Relations - 202

This course revisits the topic of behavior and functional relations between behavior and environment, but at a more advanced level, utilizing a more advanced Masters level textbook.

Required Text: General Behaviorology: The Natural Science of Human Behavior by Lawrence E. Fraley, available through .

Prerequisites: All courses from the Dip.ABST, Dip.CBST, Dip.FBST, or Dip.EBST.

Approximate time required: 15 hours

Explanatory Fictions - 203

This course revisits the topic of explanatory fictions and explores behavior in a natural context by contrast, but at a more advanced level, utilizing a more advanced Masters level textbook.

Required Text: General Behaviorology: The Natural Science of Human Behavior by Lawrence E. Fraley, available through .

Prerequisites: All courses from the Dip.ABST, Dip.CBST, Dip.FBST, or Dip.EBST & 201.

Approximate time required: 15 hours

Concurrent Contingencies and Analytical Fallacies - 204

This course revisits the topic of concurrent contingencies and analytical fallacies, but at a more advanced level, utilizing a more advanced Masters level textbook.

Required Text: General Behaviorology: The Natural Science of Human Behavior by Lawrence E. Fraley, available through .

Prerequisites: All courses from the Dip.ABST, Dip.CBST, Dip.FBST, or Dip.EBST & 201, 202.

Approximate time required: 15 hours

Postcedent Behavior Change Processes - 205

This course revisits the topic of postcedent behavior change processes and theoretical analyses of postcedent behavior change processes, but at a more advanced level, utilizing a more advanced Masters level textbook.

Required Text: General Behaviorology: The Natural Science of Human Behavior by Lawrence E. Fraley, available through .

Prerequisites: All courses from the Dip.ABST, Dip.CBST, Dip.FBST, or Dip.EBST & 201, 202, 203.

Approximate time required: 15 hours

Aggressive Behavior Specialized Track

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• Section 1. Scope of the “Aggressive Behavior Problem” and Risk Factors

  • Perspective

  • Statistics

  • Risk Factors for Dog–Human Aggressive Behavior

  • Risk Factors for Dog–Dog Aggressive Behaviors

  • Section 2. Case Management

  • Roles and Perspectives of Technologists and Clients

  • The Behavior of Guardians of Dogs who Exhibit Aggressive Behaviors

  • Case Management

  • The Consult Sessions

  • Equipment and Supplies

  • Liability Issues

  • Guardian Liability

  • Technologist Liability

• Section 3. Explaining Aggressive Behavior Exhibited by Dogs

  • What is “Aggressive” Behavior? – Review From Previous Coursework to Set the Stage

  • Why Do Dogs Exhibit Aggressive Behavior?

  • Aggressive Behavior Categories

  • Aggressive Behaviors Generalize… and Fast!

  • How to React to Aggressive Behaviors

  • Problematic Human Behaviors

  • What do “Aggressive” Dogs Look Like?

  • Ambivalent “Aggressive”/“Appeasing” Behaviors

  • Ambivalent “Affiliative”/“Aggressive” Behaviors

• Section 4. Practices to Prevent Aggressive Behavior

  • Basic Principles of Prevention

  • Early Recognition and Intervention

  • Bite Inhibition Training

  • Management of Child–Dog Interactions

  • Never Tie Out a Dog

  • Avoid Aversive Stimulation

  • Puppy Kindergarten Classes

  • Training

  • NILIF, Leadership and Dominance? Forget it! Just Train the Dog

  • Possession Sharing

  • Handling Exercises

  • Food Bowl Exercises

• Section 5. Challenge Indicators in Aggressive Behavior Cases

  • Estimating Challenge

  • Goals and Expectations

  • Duration of the Behavior and Schedule of Reinforcement

  • Severity of Bite

  • Predictability

  • Manageability

  • Training

  • Biddability

  • Social Motivating Operations

  • Children, Elderly, Mobility-Impaired, or Behaviorally/Developmentally Impaired Family Members

  • Size of Dog

  • Guardian Resources (Time & Money)

  • Guardian Commitment & Compliance

  • Resident Directed Dog–Dog Aggressive Behavior

  • Technologist Proficiency

• Section 6. Contingency engineering Strategies and tactics For Resolving Problematic Aggressive Behaviors Exhibited by Dogs

  • Strategies for Resolving Aggressive Behavior Problems

• Section 7. Sample Strategies and Protocols for Common Scenarios

  • Aggressive Behaviors Exhibited when the Dog is on Leash

  • Pathophysiologically Based Aggressive Behaviors

  • Aggressive Behaviors Exhibited Toward People Approaching the Home

  • Aggressive Guarding Behaviors

  • Food Bowl Guarding

  • Object Guarding

  • Location Guarding

  • Person Guarding

  • Harmful Predatory Behaviors

  • Dog–Dog Aggressive Behavior

  • Remediation of Social Behaviors

  • Vocal Control Training

  • Social Inexperience

  • “Fearful” Social Behavior

  • Guarding Resources (Reinforcers) from Other Dogs

  • Intrahousehold Dog–Dog Aggressive Behavior

  • Train Each Dog Individually

  • Train in Pairs

  • Train in Groups

• Section 8. Adjunct Measures

  • Rehabilitation for Response Depression and Increasing General Level of Reinforcement

  • Training

  • Play

  • Exercise

  • Exercise and “Mood”

  • Nutritional Support

  • Nutrition and Behavior

  • Psychopharmacological and Nutritional Supplementation Support

  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  • Tricyclic Antidepressants

  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)

  • Clomipramine (Clomicalm)

  • Nutritional Supplements / Pseudomedications

  • L-Tryptophan (ProQuiet)

  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)