Behavioural Interventions

Overview

As a Behavioural Interventionist, you assess, design, implement, modify and evaluate behavioural interventions to address learning, behavioural and emotional growth for a variety of populations of differing ages and abilities.

Upon graduation, you are expected to:

• Demonstrate respectful, person-centered behavioural interventions
• Teach behavioural strategies to facilitate growth within social, emotional, cognitive and mental health areas
• Apply assessment protocols to identify behaviours and support the development of new skills
• Collect and graph data to document, analyze and evaluate program progress
• Design modifications for specialized populations, including trauma-informed care, dementia care, traumatic brain injury care and care of neurodevelopmental challenges
• Design and apply positive behavioural supports in a three-tiered model from universal Tier 1 to individualized Tier 3 interventions

Work experience

• Work placements are mandatory credit courses offered throughout the duration of your program. They provide you with the opportunity to integrate theory with practice and understand the everyday challenges of working within a team environment.
  • You participate in three supervised work placements in selected settings throughout the province.
  • Placements sites are selected in collaboration with your faculty and are typically unpaid.
  • Placements may require you to work weekdays, evenings, weekends and/or holiday shifts.
  • Transportation, living accommodations and other costs related to clinical placements are the responsibility of the student.
• For more information visit Work Experience Opportunities.

Choose NSCC

• Learn from faculty with experience, expertise and knowledge of the field.
• Project-based learning and work placements provide you with the practice you need to develop your skills and gain the experience employers look for on a resume.
• Small class size enables you to be fully engaged with your learning in a safe, supportive environment.

2023-24 programs

Program delivery may be subject to change based on Public Health guidelines.

September 2023

Campus	Location	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Annapolis Valley Campus/Online	Middleton	Full time	Blended Delivered through a combination of in-person and scheduled online classes.	Seats available
Strait Area Campus/Online	Port Hawkesbury	Full time	Blended Delivered through a combination of in-person and scheduled online classes.	Seats available

Admission requirements

• Undergraduate degree in one of the following areas: behavioural science, child studies, education, human kinetics, psychology, social work or sociology; or
• Diploma in one of the following areas: disability support services, human services, social services, early childhood education, child and youth care or therapeutic recreation.
  • International students – Submit your official post-secondary documents for assessment. View English language requirements by country

Program requirements

• A current, official criminal record check and vulnerable sector check are required to complete work placements in many programs. A conviction may impact your ability to complete program requirements.
• All programs in Health and Human Services require First Aid/CPR as a graduation requirement. For specific program requirements, view additional Health and Human Services program requirements
• Many Health and Human Services programs have additional requirements, including immunizations. You must submit proof that you've completed these requirements by the date provided to you at the beginning of your program. View additional Health and Human Services program requirements
  • Receiving immunizations may take up to 10 months to complete.
  • Failure to complete immunizations can result in a delayed work placement, which will impact your ability to complete program and graduation requirements.
• Portfolio development – As part of your studies at NSCC, you develop a portfolio of your work; the portfolio captures your achievements and profiles your skills to employers.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2022-23 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional. 2023-24 tuition will be announced in the late Spring.

Tuition, fees and program costs

In addition to annual tuition, there are program costs (books, tools, etc.) and student fees for college services, health and dental plans, your student association and parking.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Behavioural Interventions

Career options

There is an increasing demand for graduates skilled in applying behavioural strategies to support learning or improve quality of life across the lifespan.

Graduates of this program are finding careers as:

• Behavioural interventionists within residential facilities, vocational workshops, small option homes and continuing care
• Behavioural specialists within licensed daycare facilities
• Behavioural interventionists within health centre teams (First Nations)
• Autism skills workers and program implementers with early intensive behavioural intervention teams with the IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Authority
• Developmental interventionists within Nova Scotia early childhood development and intervention programs
• Various roles within provincial educational centres and school outreach programs

Courses may include

These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.

SAFE 1001 - Introduction to NS OH&S Act
This course offers students an introduction to the Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Act of Nova Scotia, which is required by any person employed in a Nova Scotia workplace. This is a generic, introductory course that provides basic knowledge of the Act for students and is considered to be the basis from which more specific training can be given.

SAFE 1050 - Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (12 Hours)
This course is designed to provide high quality, meaningful training in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behaviour. This 12-hour course includes both theory on crisis development and personal safety techniques.