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If you are interested in studying psychology, anthropology or social work, consider getting a behavioral science degree. Behavioral science degrees are offered at the undergraduate, masters and doctorate level at many accredited educational institutions around the United States and train students how to explain behavioral problems and learn about the different effects of human interactions. People who hold a behavioral science degree can explore career opportunities in a variety of fields, including counseling, business and social work.
What is a Behavioral Science Degree?
Behavioral science degree programs encourage students to study the effects of human culture and behavior, and learn how certain behaviors impact our day-to-day lives. Students learn how to analyze data, review historical document and facts, develop hypotheses and study human decision-making and communication processes. Some degree programs focus on a specific field, such as anthropology, ethology, business management and psychology. Others are more general and include courses in a wide range of fields.
Some of the key areas of study include:
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Social communication styles
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Neural-decision science
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Biology and decision making
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Social interaction
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Interpersonal relationships
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Historical events that shape culture
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Cultural norms and behaviors
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Causes of social diseases
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Corporate cultures
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Analyzing statistics
Getting a Degree in Behavioral Science
Degrees are available both online and offline from several colleges and universities around the United States. The behavioral science degree program is a four-year program and students may choose to extend their educational track by specializing in a certain area. If you are interested in getting this degree, you will need to apply for an undergraduate program at your college of choice and declare a behavioral science major.
If you are interested in counseling or teaching in the field, you may need to pursue an advanced degree. A masters degree provides comprehensive training to prepare students for a career in teaching or research. A masters degree or doctorate degree is typically required for those who want to pursue counseling, behavioral science theory and lifelong research programs.
Types of Behavioral Science Courses
Most colleges and universities that offer a degree in behavioral science require students to complete the following courses:
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Social Anthropology
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Cultural Anthropology
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Physical Anthropology
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Personality and Social Theory
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Research in Behavioral Sciences
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Statistics in Behavioral Science
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General Sociology
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Counseling
Some programs include a clinical component or an internship where students must fulfill a certain number of training hours with a certified or professional counselor, therapist or employee training specialist. This type of training helps students get some hands-on training in the field and helps them work with different types of people in various environments.
Career Options for Graduates
Individuals with a degree in behavioral science can explore a number of different types of careers after graduation. Popular career choices include:
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Social Work
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Anthropology
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Employee Training
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Corporate Training
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Social or Cultural Research
Many people pursue a career in the field of counseling or jobs as an employee training specialist. Demand for employee trainings specialist remains steady as more companies focus on improving employee productivity and want to enforce positive company cultural values. The field of substance abuse counseling and mental health counseling is also growing at a steady rate, and demand for these types of counselors and therapists will continue to be steady through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for mental health counselors was $41,710 in May 2009. The median annual wages of public and medical health social workers were $46,650 in May 2008. The field of social work is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2018.
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