Behavioral Science, Bachelor of Science
Purpose
The purpose of the Bachelor of Science degree program in Behavioral Science is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of how social issues, social environments, and cultural influences impact individual and group behaviors. With a Wilmington University Behavioral Science degree, students will gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in careers working with adolescents and teens, families, the elderly, the homeless, the court systems, government agencies, addictions, crisis interventions, and more. Upon completion of the program, students seek careers in the human services, government, business, and industry. Students seeking graduate degree options may consider Master’s degrees in social work, sociology, psychology, human services, public administration, criminology, counseling, or human resource management.
Program of Study
The program includes courses in psychology, sociology, and cultural anthropology. Course work emphasizes normal and abnormal individual development, as well as family, group, and cultural dimensions of behavior. Ethical and professional issues are also addressed. Skill development in interpersonal relations, problem solving, and evaluation of programs and research is stressed. In addition, General Education courses required of all Wilmington University undergraduates provide a well-rounded academic foundation.
Classroom courses provide a blend of theory and application. Students also have the option to explore internship opportunities throughout the community in a variety of settings which provide experiences in applying knowledge and skills. The program is offered statewide, with day and evening classes offered at New Castle, Dover, and Georgetown. The program is also offered in New Jersey at Mt. Laurel and Cumberland. The program is also available online.
Program Competencies
Knowledge:
Demonstrate the ability to define and explain theory and application within the Behavioral Science disciplines with regard to:
- Change and development at individual, group, and societal levels.
- Individual differences, group variations, and social deviance.
- Micro- and macro-level processes involving individuals, groups and societies.
- Empirical and ethical issues related to the systematic study of individual, group and societal processes.
Skills: Related to the Behavioral Science Disciplines
- Demonstrate effective oral and written presentation skills.
- Demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, plan, implement, analyze, and report formal inquiry in the behavioral sciences.
- Demonstrate effective utilization of current technologies.
- Demonstrate the ability, skills, and flexible thinking necessary to explore the various applications of behavioral science in the real world, including career options.
Personal and Professional Development
- Demonstrate an awareness of one’s strengths and limitations, interests, aptitudes, values, goals, commitment to self-directedness, self-discipline, and planning for present and lifelong learning, career identification, and development.
- Demonstrate an awareness of self in relation to others, including effective interpersonal communication skills, ability to work in teams, and respect for diversity and multiculturalism in a pluralistic society.
CAP (Community and Academic Partnerships)/Co-op Program
CAP/Co-op Program Option (6 credits)
| PSY 309 | Interpersonal Communication Skills | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 315 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Ethnic Groups and Minorities | 3 |
The Co-op option allows students to complete core courses in PSY 309 - Interpersonal Communications Skills or PSY 315 - Group Dynamics and SOC 304 - Ethnic Groups and Minorities in a supervised educational work setting related to the student’s major field of study. If students select the Co-op option, both PSY 309 or PSY 315 and SOC 304 in Co-op format are required. Alternative core courses may also be available for Co-op depending on the field placement. Each Co-op assignment is one semester long and normally, the two Co-op assignments span two consecutive semesters with the same employer. In order to be eligible, students must have at least 60 credits, plus a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Students must inform the Director of the CAP/Co-op program and the Behavioral Science Program Chair one semester before they would like to begin a Co-op assignment.
For additional information on the CAP/Co-op program option, please see the website: www.wilmu.edu/coop/
Program Policies
Elective Guidelines
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences recommends that students who transfer in six or more core courses and all 18 credits of core electives use any remaining electives to increase their subject knowledge by taking upper level electives in their field. These will include the interdisciplinary electives identified from the other academic colleges.
Minimum Grade Policy
The Behavioral Science program has set a minimum passing grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required core course must retake that course.
Curriculum
General Education Requirements (40 credits)
| CTA 206 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| ENG 131 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENG 310 | Research Writing | 3 |
| HIS 381/HUM 381 | Contemporary Global Issues | 3 |
| OR | |
| POL 300 | American Politics | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective with Lab (4 Credits) | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 |
Behavioral Science Core (45 credits)
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| PHI 302 | Ethics and Values in Behavioral Science | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Marriage and the Family | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Ethnic Groups and Minorities | 3 |
| SOC 306 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| SOC 318 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 405 | Social Deviance | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 305 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
Select 6 credits from upper level (300-400) courses beginning with the SOC prefix.
Choose one course from the following:
| PSY 340 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 340 | Applied Research Design | 3 |
Choose one course from the following:
| PSY 409 | Seminar in Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 409 | Seminar in Applied Behavioral Science | 3 |
Choose one course from the following:
Choose one course from the following:
| SOC 490 | Internship in Behavioral Science (Behavioral Science majors) | 3 |
OR any upper level (300-400 level) SOC, PSY, CRJ or ORG course
Choose one Developmental course from the following:
Behavioral Science Electives (18 credits)
Courses beginning with the prefix CRJ, PSY, ORG, or SOC may be used as Behavioral Science electives. In addition, the following courses may also be selected as Behavioral Science electives:
| POL 326 | Public Policy and Social Issues | 3 |
| POL 350 | Economic, Welfare and Income Policy | 3 |
| POL 380 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
NOTE: Guided Practicum (SOC 290-SOC 291) as well as Internship (SOC 490) and Co-op (SOC 450) experiences are available.
Free Electives (18 credits)
Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives.
Suggested Program Sequence
Freshman
1st Semester
2nd Semester
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Sophomore
1st Semester
| ENG 131 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Dev. Psych Elective | |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 |
Behavioral Science Core: Choose any course beginning with the prefix SOC.
2nd Semester
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective with Lab (4 Credits) | |
| ENG 310 | Research Writing | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Marriage and the Family | 3 |
Junior
1st Semester
| PSY 309 | Interpersonal Communication Skills | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 315 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| OR | |
| Co-op | |
| SOC 405 | Social Deviance | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 305 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| HUM 381/HIS 381 | Contemporary Global Issues | 3 |
| OR | |
| POL 300 | American Politics | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
2nd Semester
| SOC 304 | Ethnic Groups and Minorities | 3 |
| OR | |
| Co-op | |
| PSY 340 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| OR | |
| SOC 340 | Applied Research Design | 3 |
| SOC 318 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 306 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
Senior
1st Semester
| PHI 302 | Ethics and Values in Behavioral Science | 3 |
| SOC 490 | Internship in Behavioral Science (Behavioral Science majors) | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 406 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
2nd Semester
| SOC 409 | Seminar in Applied Behavioral Science | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 409 | Seminar in Psychology | 3 |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
| Behavioral Science Elective | |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Behavioral Science Core: Choose any course beginning with the prefix SOC.
Behavioral Science Completion Degree
What is a Completion Degree?
A Completion Degree is a personalized version of a Bachelor’s degree created exclusively for students who have completed an Associate’s degree at an accredited institution. A student who expects to transfer a completed Associate’s degree should communicate with a Wilmington University Academic Advisor before registering for courses. An official transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Curriculum
As a transfer student who holds an associate's degree from a partner institution, the following Behavioral Science courses are required.
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| PHI 302 | Ethics and Values in Behavioral Science | 3 |
| PSY 305 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| OR | |
| SOC 405 | Social Deviance | 3 |
| PSY 309 | Interpersonal Communication Skills | 3 |
| OR | |
| PSY 315 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| PSY 406 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| OR | |
| SOC 490 | Internship in Behavioral Science (Behavioral Science majors) | 3 |
| SOC 302 | Marriage and the Family | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Ethnic Groups and Minorities | 3 |
| SOC 306 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| SOC 318 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 331 | Research, Writing and Information Literacy in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 340 | Applied Research Design | 3 |
| SOC 409 | Seminar in Applied Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Dev. Psych Elective | |
| Upper Level Behavioral Science Elective | |
| Upper Level Behavioral Science Elective | |
The following courses or their equivalents are prerequisites for a degree in Behavioral Science:
ENG 122 English Composition II
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
Natural Science Elective with Lab
SOC to Applied Family Science (AFM) Accelerated Option
This accelerated option will allow eligible PSY or SOC students to have the opportunity of taking up to two selected graduate level courses in place of selected PSY or SOC courses and the opportunity to be formally accepted into the AFM program prior to completion of the B.S. in Behavioral Science or Psychology degree.
In order to be eligible, students must have completed 90 undergraduate credits, including PSY 101. Furthermore those students seeking approval for the PSY/SOC to AFM accelerated option must have obtained an overall GPA of 3.50 or better. Courses taken at the graduate level will fulfill the requirements for both programs.
Students interested in applying may secure the necessary forms and begin the approval process with the Chair of the graduate Applied Family Science program.