GS001-FPA

GS001: Graduate Program in Psychology and Goals - Examine the Programs of Study in psychology to explore personal and professional interests Written Response Submission Form Your Name: First and last Your E-Mail Address: Your email here Instructions Use this template to write your responses to each item for this competency assessment. Write your responses where it reads “Enter your response here.” Write as much, as needed, to satisfy the requirements indicated for each item. Each item contains the Rubric criteria, which will be used to evaluate your responses. It is okay to use first person in this competency since you are responding to prompts that require a personal response. In later competencies, third person will be more appropriate. Although these are personal responses, use references to support your assertions. Use APA style for your references. Please note, that full APA style might not be possible since you are required to use this template. For example, hanging indent might not be possible for the references. This is ok when using this particular template. Item 1 Based on your review of the Learning Activities for this Assessment, answer the following bullet points (3–4 paragraphs total): * Explain why you chose your particular field of study at Walden and how this aligns with your personal and professional goals. * Explain how this program aligns itself with what you want out of this program for yourself, family, and community. * Describe two challenges/barriers you foresee in completing your degree. Further explain how you might overcome these challenges. Your Response Answer 1 The reason behind my joining the graduate-level certificate course in the domain of behaviour analysis is to update and upgrade my professional skills as a behaviour analyst. For this purpose, this graduate-level certificate course will enable me to transition from the domain of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) to the field of work as an expert BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). My goal behind acquiring this graduate-level certification in behaviour analysis is to develop an opportunity to work independently as a behaviour analyst. Currently, as a BCaBA, I am bound to work under the supervision of a BCBA. The professional goals that drive me to obtain this degree are multiple; this degree will help me improve and enhance my social skills, mainly in the domain of conversation skills, improving my ability to communicate with my clients more professionally. Likewise, this certification helps me hone my professional ability to influence behavioural changes in my clients by collecting data on their behaviour effectively and using statistical analysis to evaluate anomalous behavioural patterns. Subsequently, this certification will help me develop techniques to visualize my clients’ behavioural patterns and develop strategies to reduce and increase negative behaviours. Since a BCBA certificate is the only way to develop these skills, it aligns with my personal and professional goals. Answer 2 The BCBA program offered by Walden University is unique in several aspects; one of them is based on the philosophy of imparting competency-based education. As the name indicates, competency-based education focuses on developing professional and personal skills in learners rather than the methodology or duration of learning (Walden University, 2024). This competency-based certification allows me to learn and upgrade my skills as a behavioural analyst in a flexible timeframe that suits my domestic and professional needs. This certificate's flexible timing helps me address my family and personal responsibilities. Moreover, learning advanced-level BCBA skills through this certification will enable me to develop better relationships with my children, spouse, and other relatives based on effective behavioural analysis at the domestic level. This certification will instil in me the ability to develop better communication skills at the community level. In this way, I will be able to expand my role in my community at various levels. Furthermore, this certification will accredit me to serve my community as an expert behavioural analyst. Answer 3 One of the most significant challenges I may face while undertaking my BCBA certification is managing time among my personal, familial, professional, and academic responsibilities. I must acknowledge that this time management is a daunting and overwhelming task. Another challenge is to develop the ability to remain steady in my learning endeavours, as online study programs often have the debilitating luxury of putting off the work, thereby delaying them forever (Bruey, 2020). Based on my track record of academic endeavours, I have devised effective strategies to overcome these challenges. One of my first strategies to tackle time management is to develop a study plan; I would design this study plan using realistic and achievable goals, as setting unrealistic and ambitious goals given my current responsibilities would result in my dropping out of the certification course. Experts and psychologists have corroborated the importance of setting realistic goals for better and effective time management and academic outcomes (Anonymous, 2014). Therefore, I strongly hope that I will be able to manage my time effectively using this strategy. Another plan I have made to tackle the challenges of putting off online studies is to avoid distractions from my family and professional commit...