Applied Behavioral Sciences, B.A.
The Applied Behavioral Sciences program is designed for working adults who wish to complete undergraduate degrees for professional advancement or personal accomplishment. As a degree-completion program, it is intended for adults with significant life experience who have completed previous college coursework.
Students will learn about effective communication, group dynamics and human behavior for nonprofit, governmental, corporate and educational settings where employers need to maximize their human capital and serve clients.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Students will demonstrate appropriate critical thinking and decision-making skills.
PLO2. Students will demonstrate the ability to develop and demonstrate effective communication competencies.
PLO3. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and apply effective methods of problem solving and conflict resolution across diverse contexts.
PLO4. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of adult development and learning to understand human and organizational behavior.
PLO5. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze how difference is constructed and its relationship to personal and professional values.
PLO6. Students will be able to demonstrate research skills employed in the social and psychological sciences to examine and explain human behavior.
PLO7. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to create a portfolio that showcases transferable skills and transformative learning.
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH, including 60 QH of General Education, for completion
- Requires a minimum of 90 QH of previous college credit to be admitted
- Up to 60 QH of technical credit may be transferred
- Credit for Prior Learning is accepted for general education, elective credit and as determined appropriate by the faculty, toward program major requirements
- The program core must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- Students may complete any minor or concentration that is not in the same area of study as their program major. Students must consult with their Academic Advisor to select a minor or concentration that best fits their career and personal goals.
Required Courses
Communications
One written communications course and one oral communications course
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Humanities
| PHI 107 | Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in humanities.
Fine Arts
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in fine arts.
Quantitative Reasoning
| MTH 101 | Introduction to Mathematical Concepts | 5 |
| or | |
| MTH 102 | Statistical Foundations | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any college level mathematics, statistics, or quantitative research methods course.
Physical and Life Sciences
| SCI 101 | Physical Science | 5 |
| or | |
| SCI 102 | Survey of Biological Science with Lab | 5 |
| or | |
| SCI 225 | Human Impact on Environment | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in physical and life sciences.
Social Sciences
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in social sciences.
Behavioral Science
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any general education course in behavioral sciences.
Additional General Education
Choose additional coursework in any general education area or other courses consistent with the integrated general education competencies of information and technology literacy, analytical skills, and ethics, values, and respect for human diversity (including Student Success courses) to bring total general education courses to 60 quarter hours.
Program Core - 58 QH
| ABS 400 | Methods of Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences | 5 |
| ABS 401 | Independent Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences | 2 |
| ABS 305 | Philosophy of Values and Ethics | 5 |
| ABS 300 | Adult Development and Learning Assessment | 5 |
| ABS 340 | Effective Interpersonal Relationships | 5 |
| ABS 309 | Critical Thinking & Writing | 2 |
| ABS 331 | Dynamics of Group Behavior | 5 |
| ABS 406 | Leadership in a Changing World | 5 |
| ABS 407 | Applied Communication in Society | 5 |
| ABS 426 | Critical Perspectives of Difference | 5 |
| ABS 430 | Economic Models of Behavior | 5 |
| ABS 431 | Organizational Behaviors and Professional Development | 5 |
| ABS 435 | Senior Seminar: Integrating the Applied Behavioral Sciences | 2 |
| LIBR 300 | Library Research for the Social Sciences | 2 |
Electives - 62 QH
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be used to complete the major, minors and concentrations listed above.