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.

Behavioral Health


Overview


Career Paths


Courses

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.

CourseCourse NameCreditsPrerequisites/Co-Requisites
PSY 202General Psychology3
PSY 210Statistics for Behavioral Studies3
CHD 312Human Development3
PSY 322Abnormal Psychology3
FAM 400Human Sexuality3CHD 312 or 314 (Pr)
PSY 475Research Methods3PSY 210 (Co)
PSY 497Internship3^ See below
BEH 490Behavioral Health Capstone3Senior Status (Co or Pr)
^ Prerequisite: Approval of the internship site, supervising instructor and department chair is required.
Behavioral Health Concentration - Counseling (12 credits)
PSY 300Tests and Measurements3PSY 210 (Pr)
PSY 311Principles of Counseling3
PSY 320Cross-Cultural Counseling3
PSY 467Counseling Theories3PSY 202, 311 (Pr)
Psychology (Pre-Psychology) Electives - General (6 credits)
PSY____Psychology Elective3
PSY____Psychology Elective3