Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Health – Concentration in Counseling
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Health program is designed to help students learn and understand what constitutes psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being for individuals. Specialize by selecting one of two emphases of counseling and coaching. All students will learn to consistently practice integration of psychology and Christianity. Counseling students develop practical counseling skills to pursue advanced degrees or work in a variety of mental health organizations. Coaching students apply psychological principles and strategies to encourage personal growth in individuals. With an important emphasis of applying knowledge in an experiential setting, the program includes a credit-earning internship that reflects a minimum of 135 hours at an off-campus site.
Why Behavioral Health at ACU?
In addition to a faculty to student ratio of 17:1 and a rigorous and biblically integrated curriculum, ACU’s Behavioral Health program offers several unique advantages:
- The behavioral health program at ACU is unique in its practicality, both clinical-based and biblically integrated so graduates are equipped with hands-on counseling skills.
- ACU’s graduates have successfully pursued occupations and graduate work in the behavioral health and medical fields for over 2 decades.
- ACU’s program has adopted the five (5) major learning objectives recommended by the American Psychological Association.
What will I study?
The Behavioral Health program provides a biblical liberal arts foundation with an innovative approach to general studies that reclaims a Christian conception of the Liberal Arts, preparing students to be influential thinkers. Career-related focus areas will include:
- General Principles of Psychology
- Human Development
- Counseling Skills: Principles of Counseling, Cross-Cultural Counseling, Counseling Theories, Internship Experiences
- Group Counseling and Principles of Coaching
- Christian Integration in Practice
Career Paths
Students who select the Behavioral Health Major will be able to choose from a variety of job opportunities in the mental health community such as:
- Case Manager
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Psychiatric Technician
- Law Enforcement Officer
- College Admissions Counselor
- Correctional Occupations
- Motivational Speaker
- Lawyer
- Human Resource Worker
- Management
- Border Patrol
Graduates from ACU will also be well prepared to pursue graduate work leading to licensure in counseling and other behavioral health disciplines.
Department of Behavioral Health and Social Sciences
Arizona Christian University
Building 2000
1 W. Firestorm Way
Glendale, AZ 85306
Phone:
(602) 489-5300
Email:
[email protected]
Academic Major Courses
Core requirements accumulate to 36 credits, 15 credits of Biblical and Theological Studies, and 8 credits of foreign languages courses. 3 Credits of Upper Division Biblical and Theological Studies electives are required.
| Course | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites/Co-Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY 202 | General Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY 210 | Statistics for Behavioral Studies | 3 | |
| CHD 312 | Human Development | 3 | |
| PSY 322 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
| FAM 400 | Human Sexuality | 3 | CHD 312 or 314 (Pr) |
| PSY 475 | Research Methods | 3 | PSY 210 (Co) |
| PSY 497 | Internship | 3 | ^ See below |
| BEH 490 | Behavioral Health Capstone | 3 | Senior Status (Co or Pr) |
| ^ Prerequisite: Approval of the internship site, supervising instructor and department chair is required. | |||
| Behavioral Health Concentration - Counseling (12 credits) | |||
| PSY 300 | Tests and Measurements | 3 | PSY 210 (Pr) |
| PSY 311 | Principles of Counseling | 3 | |
| PSY 320 | Cross-Cultural Counseling | 3 | |
| PSY 467 | Counseling Theories | 3 | PSY 202, 311 (Pr) |
| Psychology (Pre-Psychology) Electives - General (6 credits) | |||
| PSY____ | Psychology Elective | 3 | |
| PSY____ | Psychology Elective | 3 | |
