Course Descriptions

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Introduction to Behaviorology – 101

This course introduces the student to behaviorology as a comprehensive natural science of behavior. It examines the philosophical foundations of the discipline, including radical behaviorism and the assumptions of natural science, and situates behaviorology in relation to psychology, behavior analysis, ethology, and the medical model. Emphasis is placed on modes of causation, selection by consequences, and the evolution of repertoires across biological, ontogenetic, and cultural levels. The course establishes the conceptual foundation for all subsequent coursework. Core topics include:

 

• Definition and history of behaviorology

• Philosophy of natural science

• Radical behaviorism

• Modes of causation

• Selection by consequences (biological, repertoire, cultural)

• Psychology and behavior analysis

• Ethology

• Medical model approach

• Verbal behavior of scientists

• Behaviorology as a comprehensive discipline

 

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Foundations of Professional Practice – 102

This course addresses the practitioner’s role in applied settings, with emphasis on health, safety, professional boundaries, and first-response decision-making. It clarifies the distinction between behavioral intervention and medical treatment, and examines how pain, illness, injury, and acute stress alter stimulus control and behavioral capacity. The course prepares students to manage risk responsibly, operate within scope, and coordinate effectively with veterinary professionals. Core topics include:

 

• Professional scope and boundaries

• Risk assessment in applied contexts

• Behavior under pain and illness

• Stress and behavioral capacity

• Limits of conditioning during physiological compromise

• Safe handling principles

• First-response procedures

• Referral and collaboration with veterinarians

• Professional communication during emergencies

 

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Behavior, Health, and Husbandry – 104

This course examines the interaction between biological variables and behavioral organization. Students analyze how nutrition, illness, environmental deprivation, medication, and daily management practices alter reinforcement effectiveness, motivating operations, and stimulus control. The course strengthens the practitioner’s ability to interpret behavioral change within physiological and husbandry contexts. Core topics include:

 

• Health variables and behavioral capacity

• Pain and stimulus control

• Nutrition and reinforcement effectiveness

• Stress physiology and behavioral organization

• Environmental enrichment and deprivation

• Medication effects on behavior

• Husbandry practices and conditioning

• Referral boundaries

 

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Development and Behavioral Capacity – 107

This course examines ontogenetic development and its impact on behavioral repertoires. Students analyze early conditioning histories, critical periods, socialization processes, and deprivation effects that influence later behavioral organization. Emphasis is placed on how developmental variables alter stimulus control, reinforcement sensitivity, and response variability across the lifespan. Core topics include:

 

• Ontogeny and repertoire formation

• Critical and sensitive periods

• Early socialization variables

• Deprivation and restricted environments

• Developmental effects on stimulus control

• Behavioral readiness and capacity

• Prevention strategies

• Early contingency engineering

 

 

Environment–Behavior Functional Relations I – 105

This course introduces the foundational analysis of how environmental variables influence behavior. Students examine the structure of operant contingencies and develop fluency in identifying antecedent stimuli, response classes, and reinforcing consequences. Emphasis is placed on stimulus control, motivating operations, and functional relations as the basis for all applied work. Core topics include:

 

• Three-term contingency structure

• Antecedent stimuli and evocative stimuli

• Response classes and functional definitions

• Reinforcement relations

• Motivating operations

• Discriminative control

• Stimulus generalization and discrimination

• Basic contingency notation

 

 

Environment–Behavior Functional Relations II – 106

This course builds on the foundational analysis of operant relations by expanding into complex stimulus control and interaction effects among multiple environmental variables. Students examine compound antecedent conditions, function-altering stimuli, and concurrent contingencies that influence response allocation. The course deepens analytic precision prior to advanced conditioning procedures. Core topics include:

 

• Compound and conditional stimulus control

• Function-altering stimuli

• Concurrent contingencies

• Response allocation

• Competing reinforcement systems

• Contextual control of behavior

• Shifts in reinforcement effectiveness

• Advanced contingency analysis

 

 

Introduction to Operant Conditioning I – 108

This course introduces the basic principles of operant conditioning, including reinforcement, extinction, and response strengthening processes. Students develop fluency in distinguishing between reinforcement and punishment, identifying contingency arrangements, and predicting changes in rate, duration, and relative frequency of responding. Core topics include:

 

• Positive reinforcement

• Negative reinforcement

• Extinction

• Basic reinforcement effects on behavior

• Strengthening and weakening processes

• Functional definitions of behavior

• Measurement of behavioral dimensions

• Introduction to applied conditioning procedures

 

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Introduction to Operant Conditioning II – 109

This course extends foundational operant principles to more complex applications. Students examine competing contingencies, response hierarchies, reinforcement density, and practical contingency arrangement in training contexts. Emphasis is placed on engineering behavior change systematically rather than relying on ad hoc techniques. Core topics include:

 

• Competing response classes

• Reinforcement density and magnitude

• Response hierarchy formation

• Extinction dynamics

• Conditioned reinforcement

• Stimulus control transfer

• Error patterns in contingency application

• Applied contingency design

 

 

Schedules of Reinforcement – 115

This course provides a detailed analysis of reinforcement schedules and their effects on response patterns. Students examine how temporal and ratio-based arrangements influence rate, persistence, and resistance to extinction. Applied implications for training durability and behavioral stability are emphasized. Core topics include:

 

• Continuous reinforcement

• Fixed and variable ratio schedules

• Fixed and variable interval schedules

• Rate and pattern effects

• Resistance to extinction

• Reinforcement thinning

• Schedule-induced behavior

• Applied schedule design

 

 

Differential Reinforcement – 116

This course develops systematic procedures for strengthening desirable behavior while reducing competing responses. Students examine differential reinforcement of alternative, incompatible, and other behaviors, along with the precise engineering of contingency shifts. Core topics include:

 

• Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA)

• Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI)

• Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)

• Response class replacement

• Competing contingencies

• Reinforcement allocation

• Applied intervention design

 

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Aversive Stimulation and Its Problems – 117

This course examines aversive stimulation from a behavioral and ethical perspective. Students analyze punishment, coercion, escape-maintained behavior, and the structural side effects of aversive control. Emphasis is placed on long-term instability, aggression, avoidance, and countercontrol. Core topics include:

 

• Positive punishment

• Negative punishment

• Escape and avoidance behavior

• Coercive control systems

• Side effects of punishment

• Aggression and countercontrol

• Behavioral suppression vs. replacement

• Ethical implications of aversive procedures

 

 

Errorless Training Strategy – 121

This course focuses on minimizing errors during skill acquisition. Students examine stimulus control transfer procedures, prompt fading, and systematic shaping of correct responding. The goal is to reduce frustration, prevent competing response histories, and accelerate acquisition. Core topics include:

 

• Prompting procedures

• Prompt fading

• Prompt delay

• Stimulus control transfer

• Errorless learning procedures

• Response shaping

• Preventing competing histories

• Applied training design

 

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Non-Coercive Contingency Engineering – 189

This course synthesizes reinforcement-based intervention strategies that avoid coercive control. Students examine constructional approaches, environmental arrangement, and reinforcement reallocation as alternatives to suppression-based procedures. Core topics include:

 

• Constructional contingency engineering

• Reinforcement reallocation

• Response class replacement

• General Level of Reinforcement (GLR)

• Non-coercive environmental design

• Long-term maintenance planning

• Ethical engineering of behavior change

 

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Animal Training Technology I – 122

This course translates conditioning principles into applied training systems. Students develop fluency in reinforcement timing, marker systems, shaping procedures, and applied stimulus control within structured training environments. Core topics include:

 

• Marker-based training

• Timing and precision

• Reinforcement delivery systems

• Shaping basic behaviors

• Cue establishment

• Stimulus control development

• Training session structure

• Applied skill acquisition

 

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Animal Training Technology II – 123

This course builds on foundational training skills and expands into complex skill acquisition, distraction management, and durable performance under variable conditions. Core topics include:

 

• Advanced shaping

• Distraction training

• Stimulus generalization

• Performance reliability

• Reinforcement thinning

• Competing contingencies

• Field application strategies

• Durable performance design

 

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Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Shaping) – 140

This course provides an in-depth technical treatment of shaping as a systematic response-building procedure. Students analyze successive approximation, criterion setting, and precision reinforcement. Core topics include:

 

• Successive approximation

• Criteria adjustment

• Micro-shaping techniques

• Response topography refinement

• Rate and latency analysis

• Shaping plateaus

• Avoiding inadvertent reinforcement

• Complex behavior construction

 

 

Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Chaining and Sequencing) – 141

This course examines behavioral chaining and sequence construction. Students learn to engineer forward, backward, and total-task chains while maintaining stimulus control and reinforcement clarity. Core topics include:

 

• Forward chaining

• Backward chaining

• Total-task presentation

• Stimulus control within sequences

• Reinforcement placement in chains

• Response fluency

• Error correction in chaining

• Applied performance sequencing

 

 

Basic Training Skills Workshop* – 103

This applied workshop provides structured practice in foundational training procedures. Students demonstrate reinforcement timing, cue delivery, shaping fundamentals, and stimulus control under supervision. Emphasis is placed on procedural fluency and precision. Core topics include:

 

• Reinforcement timing practice

• Marker system application

• Cue clarity and consistency

• Response acquisition drills

• Stimulus control refinement

• Error prevention strategies

• Session organization

• Performance feedback

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Shaping Workshop* – 160

This workshop provides intensive applied experience in shaping complex behaviors. Students design shaping plans, adjust criteria dynamically, and demonstrate precision in reinforcing successive approximations. Core topics include:

 

• Shaping plan development

• Criterion adjustment

• Micro-approximation strategies

• Reinforcement density management

• Plateau resolution

• Response topography refinement

• Applied shaping analysis

 

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Chaining Workshop* – 161

This workshop focuses on applied construction of behavioral sequences. Students practice forward and backward chaining while maintaining stimulus clarity and reinforcement precision. Core topics include:

 

• Forward chaining application

• Backward chaining application

• Chain fluency

• Reinforcement placement within sequences

• Error management in chaining

• Applied sequencing practice

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Training Humans – 124

This course applies behaviorological principles to human performance, supervision, and organizational contexts. Students design reinforcement systems for skill acquisition, professional behavior, and procedural fidelity. Core topics include:

 

• Human operant conditioning

• Performance management

• Feedback systems

• Precision instruction

• Shaping professional repertoires

• Motivating condition management

• Ethical boundaries in human training

 

 

Case Management – 190

This course addresses the coordination of assessment, intervention, documentation, communication, and ethical decision-making across applied cases. Core topics include:

 

• Case intake procedures

• Functional assessment integration

• Risk management

• Client communication

• Scope boundaries

• Documentation systems

• Outcome evaluation

 

 

Professional Ethics – 191

This course examines ethical practice in applied behaviorology, emphasizing scope discipline, welfare protection, and scientific integrity. Core topics include:

 

• Professional scope of practice

• Non-coercive intervention standards

• Welfare safeguards

• Informed consent principles

• Referral criteria

• Documentation integrity

• Ethical decision-making models

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Species-Specific Courses

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Training Dogs I – 150

This course introduces applied dog training through a behaviorological framework. Students implement foundational operant procedures while maintaining precision in timing, reinforcement arrangement, and stimulus control. Core topics include:

 

• Marker systems and reinforcement timing

• Stationing and orientation behaviors

• Loose leash foundations

• Recall foundations

• Impulse control training

• Reinforcement density management

• Error prevention in early skill acquisition

 

 

Training Dogs II – 151

This course advances applied training procedures with emphasis on stimulus control, discrimination training, and increased environmental complexity. Core topics include:

 

• Stimulus discrimination

• Proofing and generalization

• Distraction management

• Reinforcement thinning

• Duration, distance, and distraction variables

• Compound cue training

• Response precision and fluency

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Dog Behavior I – 192

This course examines normal canine behavioral organization from a functional perspective. Students analyze species-typical repertoires without anthropomorphic interpretation. Core topics include:

 

• Species-typical response classes

• Social behavior organization

• Play and predatory sequences

• Resource-related behavior

• Territorial and spatial patterns

• Arousal regulation

• Stimulus control in natural environments

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Dog Behavior II – 193

This course extends functional analysis of canine behavior to complex and context-dependent response patterns. Core topics include:

 

• Aggression response classes

• Fear and avoidance repertoires

• Attachment-related behavior

• Reinforcement competition

• Environmental stress variables

• Multi-dog household dynamics

• Behavioral flexibility and rigidity

 

 

Training Puppies – 153

This course focuses on early developmental periods and conditioning during high behavioral plasticity phases. Core topics include:

 

• Critical developmental windows

• Early social conditioning

• Bite inhibition conditioning

• Habituation versus conditioning

• Reinforcement history establishment

• Early stimulus exposure gradients

• Prevention-oriented contingency design​​