Department of Behavioral Sciences

The Behavioral Sciences Department provides exciting opportunities to study human behavior and to apply these studies in fulfilling everyday human needs. Our behavioral sciences degrees are designed to prepare you for a variety of careers within the social and behavioral sciences, as well as for graduate study. We encourage you to extend learning beyond the classroom and support you in identifying opportunities for internships, participation in faculty research and volunteer projects. We offer majors in Criminal Justice, Human Services, Psychology and Sociology and minors in Anthropology, Applied Youth Development, Criminal Justice, Criminalistics, Gerontology, Human Services, Psychology and Sociology.

In our Criminal Justice major, you will gain a broad-based critical understanding of local, state and federal law enforcement, court, and correctional systems. Our program emphasizes the theoretical and practical underpinnings of the criminal justice system and the helping nature of the field’s many professions. Criminal Justice majors often pursue careers working in law enforcement, probation and parole, juvenile justice, victim services, or attend graduate school.

The Human Services major is a career-oriented degree in which students develop the skills and knowledge needed to help facilitate positive change for individuals, families and communities. The major requirements prepare students to work in settings such as hospitals, group homes, schools, court systems, retirement communities, employment agencies, rehabilitation centers, and correctional facilities. The Human Services major also prepares students to enter into graduate programs such as Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling and Gerontology.

Psychology is the study of human behavior and thought processes. Students in our Psychology major study concepts including perception, cognition, emotion, personality and relationships, and learn to apply what they learn to issues related to family life, education, work, mental health problems and more.

Sociology is the study of human behavior and group life. As a science, it examines how human experience is shaped by social forces. Sociologists use both quantitative and qualitative methods of social research in an effort to understand, generalize, and predict human behavior within society. Our Sociology major is designed to provide you with preparation for pursuing graduate study and/or entry into vocations where sociological training is desirable.