Social and Behavioral Health, B.S.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Social & Behavioral Health is a multidisciplinary degree. The program provides students with the opportunity to learn foundation skills necessary to succeed in the dynamic health and social services environments. Areas of study include health services, health analytics, complementary & alternative healthcare, cultural & social aspects of health, and behavioral & mental health.

Students will have the opportunity to learn many skills, including but not limited to the following:

how community and social factors contribute to a variety of public health solutions and policies;
how to plan, implement, and administer social service and/or behavioral health programs;
how to design, evaluate, and assess social service and/or behavioral health programs to ensure their quality and effectiveness;
how to work with individuals in community or social services settings;
and how to help people navigate the healthcare system to find the resources they need to be healthy.

Program features include, but are not limited to: flexibility in designing program to fit interests, courses taught by experts in the field, and participating in an internship practicum providing real job experience

Program Learning Outcomes

After completing the BS in Social and Behavioral Health, students will be able to:

Assess social and cultural frameworks of diverse populations of healthcare consumers
Demonstrate understanding of human growth and development as related to social and behavioral health issues
Demonstrate knowledge of complementary, alternative, and integrative approaches to health and wellness
Design and assess social and behavioral programs, research or services aimed at improving health

Program Requirements

Core Areas A, B, C, D, E: 42 Hours

Core Curriculum

Core Area F: 18 Hours

SABH 1101 - Intro to Soc & Behav Health 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introductory Sociology 3 Credit Hours
Choose two courses from the following list (at least one must be lower-level BIOL). Course credit hours must total 6 hours between the two courses:
ANTH 1105 - Introduction to Physical Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
Lower-level (1000 or 2000 level) BIOL courses (does not include labs)

Major Courses: 60 Hours

Area 1: 18 Hours

Choose two courses from each of the following areas:

Area 2: 12 Hours

Choose two courses from each of the following areas:

A. Health Analytics and Methods

ANTH 3188 - Ethnographic Field Methods 4 Credit Hours
ANTH 4176 - Narrative and Storytelling in Ethnography 4 Credit Hours
* NURS 3400 - Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2601 - Introduction to Political Science Inquiry 3 Credit Hours
POLS 3601 - Political Analysis 3 Credit Hours
SABH 4000 - Research Methodology 3 Credit Hours
(or)
SOCI 4000 - Research Methodology 3 Credit Hours
SABH 4003 - Applied Statistics for Sociology 3 Credit Hours
(or)
SOCI 4003 - Applied Statistics for Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4613 - Qualitative Research 3 Credit Hours

B. Health Services

POLS 3201 - Public Policy 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4200 - Principles of Public Administration 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4208 - Health Policy 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4209 - Environmental Policy 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4210 - Public Management 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4215 - Management of Non-Profit Organizations 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4217 - Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4734 - Social Work Skills 3 Credit Hours

Area 3: 3 Hours

SOCI 4386 - Internship 3 Credit Hours

Area 4: Upper Division Electives 6 Hours

Select two (2) courses from the following list OR courses listed in Areas 1 or 2 not already applied to Areas 1 or 2

ANTH 3110 - Human Osteology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 3186 - Anthropology of Gender 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4170 - Myth, Magic and Religion 3 Credit Hours
* CMWL 3100 - Lifespan Development 3 Credit Hours
* PHED 4501 - Contemporary Health Issues 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 3110 - Human Sexuality 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 4140 - Psychology of Gender 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3543 - Sociology of Religion 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3954 - Sociology of Aging 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4445 - Sociology of Youth 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4915 - Violence Against Women 3 Credit Hours

Minor and General Electives 17-21 Hours

To complete the remaining 17-21 credit hours, students will have the option to explore other areas of academic interest through elective courses, a minor course of study, or pursue a certificate program (e.g. Data Analytics, Social Services, etc.). Students are encouraged to create a cluster of elective courses that will enhance their knowledge and skill in a particular area of interest.

Total: 120 Hours

*Courses marked with an asterisk count only if student previously earned credit for the course as a requirement for another major. These courses cannot be chosen as an option to take after declaring Social & Behavioral Health as major.