Daemen University received approval from the New York State Board of Regents in December 2025 to amend its charter and master plan to offer academic doctorates. Daemen will be offering its first PhD program in Behavioral Science, further elevating the institution’s academic portfolio.
Daemen currently offers 78 baccalaureate degrees, 35 master’s degrees, and four professional and clinical doctorates. While Daemen has offered professional doctorates for over two decades, the Behavioral Science PhD — one of only two programs of its kind offered in New York State — represents the university’s first academic doctorate.
“This is a major step forward for Daemen as an institution because the PhD is considered the highest degree that can be awarded in the United States,” said Daemen President Dr. Gary A. Olson. “Now that Daemen’s charter allows for the conferral of the PhD degree, we hope to develop more PhD programs in other disciplines in the future.”
“The addition of the PhD program in Behavioral Science is a natural expansion of Daemen’s master’s program in Applied Behavior Analysis,” said Dr. Lisa Rafalson, founding dean of the College of Health, Human Sciences, and Business. “The program focuses on developing leaders and social scientists who can apply behavioral science across diverse systems, settings, and populations. In addition to the core classes, the program will have three concentration areas in teaching, behavioral health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
The 50-credit program will be offered in the evening to accommodate working professionals. Qualified applicants for the program must possess a master’s degree in behavioral analysis from an accredited college or university and have a 3.4 GPA or higher.
Daemen is offering a virtual information session about the PhD program on April 21. To learn more about the program or to register for the virtual information session, visit the ABA Virtual Information Sessions web page.
*The PhD programming is pending Middle States approval in June 2026
About Daemen University
Founded in 1947, Daemen University is a premier private institution of higher learning, offering over 65 majors in professional health sciences and the liberal arts. In today’s rapidly changing world, a Daemen education offers lasting value and provides students and alums with a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Connect online at Daemen.edu.
