Behavioral Sciences
The major in Behavioral Sciences is an interdisciplinary program encompassing the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, and sociology. It is designed as a general preparation for a career in human services such as social work, counseling, criminology, or prevention/treatment programs in mental health.
The idea for combining the three fields is based on the belief that it is important for an individual who plans to work with people to understand human beings as individuals (psychologically) who function in groups (social psychologically) within a social context (sociologically) which varies across cultures (anthropologically).
It is also critical to have some exposure to the methods employed by behavioral scientists and some actual experience in the working world of the human services.
The Behavioral Sciences major requires the student to take three introductory-level behavioral sciences courses: Anthropology 101 or 202, Psychology 101, and Sociology 200. A minimum of 32 upper-division (300 and above) credits in the Behavioral Sciences, including at least two courses in psychology, two in sociology, and two in anthropology, is required.
The Behavioral Sciences major encourages specific vocational tracks shaped to the student’s career goals. Faculty members in Behavioral Sciences are available to advise the student on careers and appropriate course selection.
In addition to the major requirements, students must complete all CASL Degree Requirements.
Prerequisites to the Major
The major requires the student to take three introductory courses, one in each of the primary disciplines:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 101 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
or ANTH 202 | World Cultures | |
PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 170 or PSYC 171 prior to Fall 2014) | 3 |
SOC 200 | Understanding Society | 3 |
Total Credit Hours | 9 |
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
The major also requires a minimum of 32 upper- level (300/400; 3000/4000 level) credits in the Behavioral Sciences as outlined below, including at least two courses in psychology (PSYC), two in sociology (SOC), and two in anthropology (ANTH). | ||
Research Methods: Select one course from: | 4 | |
Doing Anthropology: Ethnographic Methods and Applied Practice | ||
Lab in Developmental Psych | ||
Lab in Social Psychology | ||
Personality Assessment Lab | ||
Research Methods in Beh Med | ||
Quantitative Research and Statistics | ||
Qualitative Research | ||
Health/Development: Select one course from: | 3-4 | |
Anth of Health and Environment | ||
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease | ||
Nutrition and Health | ||
Medical Anthropology | ||
Human Genetics | ||
Intro to Health Policy | ||
Perspectives in Women's Health | ||
Life-Span Developmental Psych | ||
Psych of Infant Development | ||
Psych of Child Development | ||
Personality Development | ||
Psychology of Aging | ||
Abnormal Psychology | ||
Child Psychopathology | ||
Human Sexual Behavior | ||
Health Psychology | ||
Race/Ethnic Health | ||
Medical Sociology | ||
Gender: Select one course from: | 3-4 | |
Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies | ||
Men and Masculinities | ||
Gender and Globalization | ||
LGBTQ+ Criminology | ||
Gender Roles | ||
Sexualities, Genders, & Bodies | ||
LGBTQ Religious Experience | ||
Feminist Theories and Practices | ||
Immigrant Cultures and Gender | ||
Race/Ethnicity: Select one course from: | 3-4 | |
Biological Anthropology and Human Evolution | ||
Beyond Race: Understanding Human Variation | ||
Indians of North America | ||
African Exper in the Americas | ||
Anthropology of Middle East | ||
Civil Rights Movement in Amer | ||
Psychology of Prejudice | ||
Diversity and the Workplace | ||
Race, Ethnicity and Immigration | ||
Race/Ethnic Health | ||
Race, Ethnicity and Family | ||
Immigrant Cultures and Gender | ||
Race, Crime and Justice | ||
Groups/Relationships: Select one course from: | 3-4 | |
Kinship and Marriage | ||
Family Diversity & Power | ||
Social Psychology | ||
Psyc of Interpersonal Relation | ||
Applied Social Psychology | ||
The Family | ||
Marriage and Family Problems | ||
Family Violence | ||
Race, Ethnicity and Family | ||
Immigrant Cultures and Gender | ||
Social Issues: Select one course from: | 3-4 | |
Power & Privilege in Southeast Michigan | ||
Education and Culture | ||
Immigrant Cultures and Gender | ||
Moral and Political Dilemmas | ||
Police and the Community | ||
Social Psychology | ||
Psychology of Prejudice | ||
Diversity and the Workplace | ||
Psychology of Adolescence | ||
Psychology of Aging | ||
Applied Social Psychology | ||
Human Sexual Behavior | ||
Poverty and Inequality | ||
Urban Sociology | ||
Religion in Society | ||
Addiction, Crime and Society | ||
Youth, Crime and Justice | ||
Race, Crime and Justice | ||
Social Construction of Mental Illness | ||
Social Welfare | ||
Internship: Select one from: | 3-4 | |
Criminal Justice Internship | ||
Psychology Internship | ||
Electives | ||
Select 4-11 credits of additional upper level courses in ANTH, PSYC, SOC to reach the minimum 32 total credits: | 4-11 | |
Total credits required minimum | 32 |
Notes:
- PSYC 485 or CRJ 478 must be elected at UM-Dearborn.
- At least 24 of the 32 upper level hours in ANTH, PSYC, and SOC for the Behavioral Science major must be elected at UM-Dearborn.
- Many courses are cross listed between the ANTH, PSYC and SOC disciplines. Be sure to consult the Schedule of Classes for cross listed classes.
- Any one course may be used to satisfy only one requirement within the major.
- A maximum of 48 credit hours in any one discipline (ANTH, PSYC, SOC) is allowed toward degree.
Honors Program in Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Science students are eligible for the Honors Program which provides special opportunities for outstanding students, including a research training seminar, followed by independent research conducted in collaboration with faculty members. Students are accepted into the Honors Program early in their junior year. Prospective students should plan on completing the statistics and methods requirements by their junior year. Requirements for entrance are 1) GPA of 3.2 or higher in behavioral science courses and overall UM-Dearborn courses, and 2) informal evidence of being a superior student, such as high motivation and ability to work independently. Requirements for graduation with honors in behavioral science are the successful completion of the following:
- Fulfillment of all requirements for Behavioral Sciences major
- PSYC 381 Principles of Statistics and Experimental Design
- PSYC 481 Computers in Psychology, normally taken Fall term, senior year
- PSYC 498 (Honors Seminars) normally taken Winter Term, junior year
- PSYC 499 (Honors Research) normally completed during senior year
- Research Proposal meeting, normally completed early in senior year
- Final Oral Defense, completed at least one month prior to graduation
Learning Goals
1. Develop a knowledge base of human behavior
- Be able to view and understand human behavior from multiple perspectives
- Be able to use the language of the disciplines that comprise the major
2. Develop critical thinking skills
- Use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems related to human behavior, from the three perspectives of psychology, study of the individual; sociology, study of groups; anthropology, study of culture
3. Foster integrative thinking across the three disciplines of psychology, sociology, and anthropology
- Think holistically and comparatively to understand human behavior from multiple perspectives
4. Apply research methods and skills to problems in the study of human behavior
- Understand and apply basic research methods and communication, writing, and research skills
- Understand research design, data analysis, and interpretation in psychology, sociology, and anthropology
5. Value cultural and economic diversity
- Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural, economic, and international diversity as well as variation across space and time
6. Personal Development
- Adhere to ethical standards of practice
- Develop insight into own and others’ behavior
- Apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement
7. Application
- Understand and apply the principles of psychology, sociology, and anthropology to social and organizational issues
- Emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement the knowledge, skills, and values of the study of the behavioral sciences in occupational pursuits
- Strengthen interpersonal helping and communication skills such as attending, listening, empathizing, and supporting