Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Behavior & Health

The Behavior & Health program at Boston University offers students a comprehensive education in the social and behavioral sciences, preparing them for a wide range of career paths in healthcare and related fields. Upon graduation, students are well-equipped to work in hospitals, schools, non-profits, community settings, social and human service organizations, research labs, consulting, and more.

Program Description

The program provides undergraduate students with a strong foundation in the behavioral and health sciences, as well as flexibility to explore specialized interests with tailored learning opportunities. Students engage in a rigorous, personalized program with small classes and a close-knit student cohort, receiving individual attention from nationally recognized interdisciplinary faculty.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Integrate and apply concepts from psychology, counseling, occupational therapy, and other health-related fields to understand health and well-being promotion.
• Demonstrate cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills that support effective and sensitive interaction with clients, community members, and other health professionals in a variety of cultures, populations, and contexts.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and ethically use evidence to make informed decisions.
• Be proficient in all forms of communication (oral, visual, electronic, and media) with diverse audiences.
• Understand key biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors of health and well-being.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities.

Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 128 units is required for graduation.
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained.
• Students must successfully complete (minimum grade of D) all of the required courses listed below. If a grade of F or W is received, students may repeat the course only once to meet the requirement.
• No more than 16 units of D grade will be counted toward graduation.
• For external transfer units, a minimum grade of C is required.

Curriculum

• One Sargent first-year experience seminar: SAR HP 150
• Three courses in biological sciences: CAS BI 105, BI 210, BI 211
• Eight Sargent courses: SAR HP 151, HP 250, HP 252, HP 306, HP 321, HP 353, HP 412, HP 500
• 24 units in behavioral sciences: CAS PS 101, SO 100, and four electives (16 units) in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and/or neuroscience.
• One course in statistics: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213
• One course in ethics: CAS PH 150 or CAS PH 251
• One 4-unit practicum/internship and seminar: SAR HP 405 (this course is for seniors only)
• 20 units in specialty area (courses will be identified with the advisor during junior year)
• 32 additional units distributed among BU Hub areas and your other interests. Electives can be used to complete a minor and/or explore related areas.
• Behavior & Health program offers one general elective: SAR HP 220 Occupation and Health

Sample Curriculum

First Year

• Fall:
  • CAS BI 105 Biology I
  • CAS PS 101 General Psychology
  • CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing
  • SAR HP 150 First-Year Sargent Seminar
  • Hub elective
• Spring:
  • CAS BI 210 Human Anatomy
  • CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213 Statistics
  • CAS SO 100 Principles of Sociology
  • CAS WR 151, 152, or 153, Writing, Research & Inquiry
  • SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions (2 units)

Sophomore Year

• Fall:
  • CAS BI 211 Human Physiology (pre-med students may take BI 315 Systems Physiology)
  • CAS PH 150 Introduction to Ethics or CAS PH 251 Medical Ethics
  • SAR HP 412 Psychopathology and Rehabilitation
  • Behavioral science elective (anything in PS/SO/AN/NE)
• Spring:
  • SAR HP 250 Critical Inquiry
  • SAR HP 252 Health & Disability Across the Lifespan
  • Behavioral science elective
  • Hub elective

Junior Year

• Fall:
  • SAR HP 306 Foundations of Health Promotion
  • SAR HP 353 Organization & Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
  • Behavioral science elective
  • Specialty elective
• Spring:
  • SAR HP 321 Health Conditions Across the Life Course (2 units)
  • Behavioral science elective(s) and/or
  • Specialty elective(s) and/or
  • Hub elective(s)

Senior Year

• SAR HP 405 Practicum and Senior Seminar
• SAR HP 500 Helping Skills
• Behavioral science elective(s) and/or
• Specialty elective(s) and/or
• Hub elective(s)

Specialty Area

By the end of junior year, each student will identify an individual specialty area of focus related to their interests and anticipated career path. Examples of specialty areas include Premed, Predental, Nursing, OT, Child Life Specialist, Addiction, Social Work, Counseling/Psychology, Law, and more.

Honors Requirements

Behavior & Health students are eligible to participate in the Sargent College Senior Thesis for Distinction. This experience offers a thorough understanding of the research enterprise. The thesis will develop your technical writing and oral presentation skills through interactions in the laboratory, writing a final report on your project, and summarizing your research in a final poster presentation to students and faculty. And it will help prepare you for graduate school, where the dedication, creativity, and independence honed during your thesis experience will be invaluable. Successful completion of the thesis will result in the designation of “graduation with distinction” appearing on the student’s diploma and transcript.

Accreditation

Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).