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 a minor or concentration, listed below

Minors:

• Criminal Justice
• English
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Psychology/Human Development
• Science
• Sociology and Anthropology 

Concentrations:

• Aging Studies
• Urban and Policy Studies
• International Management
• Leadership
• Leadership Foundations
• Entrepreneurship 
• Human Resource Management

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

ART 102	Art Appreciation I	2
ART 103	Art Appreciation II	3

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
	or
HIS 203	Survey of U.S. History	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

PSY 101

Introduction to Psychology

5

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.

For more information about this program, visit http://www.nl.edu/academics/socialbehavioralsciencesbachelors/baappliedbehavioralsciences/