Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Behavioral Sciences, B.S.

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The Behavioral Sciences Major offers a multidisciplinary exploration of human behavior and the social forces that shape it. Students gain a deep understanding of individual and group behavior, social structures, and the cultural and systemic influences that drive change. This program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and cultural competence—skills essential for addressing real-world challenges and advancing social justice in diverse communities.

Students can tailor their major by choosing electives that allow them to develop expertise in areas aligned with their career goals, including:

Human Services: Courses focusing on counseling, mental health, and case management prepare students to work directly with individuals and families in need.
Social and Community Services: Emphasis on community development, social policy, and advocacy equips students for roles in organizations that address social problems at the community level.
Not-for-Profit Management: Students interested in leadership roles in non-profit organizations can focus on courses in organizational management, fundraising, and program development.

This major is ideal for students who are passionate about understanding human behavior, committed to social change, and eager to make a positive impact in their communities.

Behavioral Sciences, B.S. Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses or students have the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing 6 credits of the same foreign language:

ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 100 Exploring Global Literature 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours

Social and Behavioral Sciences course:

PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Natural and Physical Sciences courses:

BIO 204 Exploring Biology 3 credit hours
CHM 240 Perspectives on the Molecular World 3 credit hours
CHM 241 Perspectives on the Molecular World Lab 0 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 252 Science and Sustainability 3 credit hours

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.

See Generation Next General Education Requirements for more information.

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

BEH 220 Career Exploration and Development 3 credit hours
BEH 490 Behavioral Sciences Seminar 3 credit hours
BEH 495 Experiential Learning in Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours each semester
ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
HSV 240 Social Welfare Policy 3 credit hours
HSV 250 Lifecourse Development 3 credit hours
HSV 355 Program Design and Evaluation 3 credit hours
PHL 342 Professional Ethics 3 credit hours
PSY 230 Understanding Psychological Diagnosis and Recovery 3 credit hours
PSY 243 Social Psychology 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
SOC 220 American Social Problems 3 credit hours
SOC 225 Family Diversity and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 260 Gender and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 315 Race, Ethnicity, and Society 3 credit hours

Major Electives

Students must complete 12 credits of the following:

BUS 350 Management of Not-for-Profit Operations 3 credit hours
HSV 100 Introduction to Human Services 3 credit hours
HSV 200 Applied Youth Development 3 credit hours
HSV 345 Helping Techniques 3 credit hours
HSV 370 Case Management Principles 3 credit hours
HSV 415 Grant Writing for Non-profit Agencies 3 credit hours
HSV 440 Trauma-Informed Care and Healing Centered Engagement 3 credit hours
MGT 150 Principles of Management 3 credit hours
MGT 380 Leadership and Change in Organizations 3 credit hours
PSY 250 Multicultural Awareness 3 credit hours
PSY 376 Community Psychology 3 credit hours
SOC 210 Drugs and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 301 Environmental Justice 3 credit hours
SOC 302 Sociology of Health and Illness 3 credit hours

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 21 credits of free elective courses.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year (30 credits)

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
BEH 220 Career Exploration and Development 3 credit hours
HSV 250 Lifecourse Development 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Humanities 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Arts 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year (30 credits)

BEH 260 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
HSV 240 Social Welfare Policy 3 credit hours
PSY 230 Understanding Psychological Diagnosis and Recovery 3 credit hours
SOC 220 American Social Problems 3 credit hours
SOC 225 Family Diversity and Society 3 credit hours
Foundations - Advanced Communication course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Natural and Physical Sciences 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (30 credits)

HSV 355 Program Design and Evaluation 3 credit hours
PSY 243 Social Psychology 3 credit hours
SOC 260 Gender and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 315 Race, Ethnicity, and Society 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours

Senior Year

BEH 490 Behavioral Sciences Seminar 3 credit hours
BEH 495 Experiential Learning in Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours each semester
PHL 342 Professional Ethics 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours
General Elective course 3 credit hours