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.
  • Qualified students may also complete Education Minor which serves as an Advanced Pathway to the M.A.T. degree and teacher licensure in Elementary Education

Required Courses

General Education Requirements

Communications

The following courses are recommended:
ENG 101Beginning English Composition

5

ENG 201Intermediate English

5

ENG 203Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines: academic writing, oral communications, and any course in the area of communications.

 

Humanities and Fine Arts

Choose two courses from the list below:
ART 105Race, Identity and Experience in American Art

5

ART 106Race, Identity and Experience in American Art I

2

ART 107Race, Identity and Experience in American Art II

3

HIS 103History Across the Globe

5

PHI 107Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the following disciplines:  

  • Humanities: foreign language, history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, interdisciplinary humanities and fine arts, interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences
  • Fine Arts: visual arts (including art history, art appreciation, and studio arts, such as drawing, painting, digital art, or film), film and cinema studies, and performing arts (including music appreciation, music theory, and music performance, theatre appreciation and performance, and dance) 

 

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Choose three courses from the list below (one must be math and one must be a natural science):
MTH 101Introduction to Mathematical Concepts

5

MTH 102Statistical Foundations

5

MTH 105Math for Educators I

5

MTH 115Math for Educators II

5

SCI 101Physical Science

5

SCI 102Survey of Biological Science with Lab

5

SCI 225Human Impact on Environment

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines: 

  • Mathematics: college-level and not developmental in nature
  • Natural Sciences: physics, chemistry, earth science, astronomy, geology, physical geography, biology, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, botany and zoology; and interdisciplinary fields such as environmental science, and ecology and conservation
  • Mathematics or Natural Sciences

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Choose two courses from the list below:
ECO 200Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional

5

HIS 102Civics and American Government

5

HIS 212Think Global: Movements in US History and its Impact on Society and School

5

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology

5

SOC 101Foundational Sociology

5

SOC 204Contemporary Chicago

5

SOC 222Culture and Identity

5

SOC 250Cultural and Ethnic Movements in the United States

5

Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, human geography, political science, psychology, sociology, interdisciplinary social/behavioral science, interdisciplinary humanities and social and behavioral science.

 

General Education Electives

This area may be satisfied by two courses in any general education category listed above or other courses consistent with integrated general education competencies.

 

Additional General Education Requirements

GEN 203NLU & You: Tools & Strategies for Student Success

3

Note: Students transferring in less than 90 QH are required to complete GEN 203.

Program Core - 58 QH

ABS 400Methods of Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences

5

ABS 401Independent Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences

2

ABS 305Philosophy of Values and Ethics

5

ABS 300Adult Development and Learning Assessment

5

ABS 340Effective Interpersonal Relationships

5

ABS 309Critical Thinking & Writing

2

ABS 331Dynamics of Group Behavior

5

ABS 406Leadership in a Changing World

5

ABS 407Applied Communication in Society

5

ABS 426Critical Perspectives of Difference

5

ABS 430Economic Models of Behavior

5

ABS 431Organizational Behaviors and Professional Development

5

ABS 435Senior Seminar: Integrating the Applied Behavioral Sciences

2

LIBR 300Library 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.