2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Feb 02, 2025

2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Behavioral Sciences, BA

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About the Program

The Behavioral Sciences major includes studies in several disciplines to provide multiple perspectives on human behavior, culture, and society. It is designed to provide a strong foundation for employment in a variety of fields including public/social services as well graduate school.

Degree Requirements

120 Credit Hours
Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation

PNW General Education Core (30 Credits)

English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 - English Composition I and ENGL 10500 - English Composition II
Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Quantitative Reasoning Core list
Natural Sciences (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Natural Sciences Core list
Technology (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Technology Core list
Humanities (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Humanities Core list
Social Sciences (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Social Sciences Core list
Gen Ed Elective (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Core list
First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): Select from the First-Year Experience Core list

CHESS College Core (24 Credits)

CHSS 10000 - Topics In Self & World (3 credits)
CHSS 20000 - Topics In Knowledge (3 credits)
CHSS 30000 - Topics In Individual & Society (3 credits)
CHSS 40000 - Topics In Happiness (3 credits)
World Language - Proficiency through Level IV in one world language (12 Credits)

Major Core (36 Credits)

SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology
Two Additional Introductory Courses in Behavioral Sciences (6 Credits) - choose from:
Research Methods and Statistics Sequence (6 Credits) - choose one of the options below:
- SOC 38200 - Introduction To Statistics In Sociology and SOC 38300 - Introduction To Research Methods In Sociology , or
- PSY 20100 - Introduction To Statistics In Psychology and PSY 20300 - Introduction To Research Methods In Psychology
Sociology Electives (6 Credits) - Six (6) credits of SOC courses at the 30000-level or above
Area A (6 Credits) - Six (6) credits at the 30000-level or above of ONE of the following disciplines: ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY or SWRK
Area B (6 Credits) - Six (6) credits at the 30000-level or above of ONE of the following disciplines (but not the discipline from Area A): ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY or SWRK
Behavioral Science Elective (3 credits) - Three (3) credits at the 30000-level or above from a course in ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY, SOC or SWRK

Other Required Courses ( 30 Credits)

Free Electives (30 Credits) - Six (6) credits must be taken at the 30000-level or above

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Total 120 Credits Required

Degree Map

Requirements

Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA): 2.0 GPA

Experiential Learning (EL): One EL course required. EL courses are noted by (e) next to the course title.

General Education Core: General Education notations can be found within the course description. Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.

Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study.

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Semester 1 (15 Credits)

CHSS 10000 - Topics In Self & World (See Note 2)
ENGL 10400 - English Composition I
SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology
First-Year Experience - select from Gen Ed Core List
World Language Level I (See Note 1)

Semester 2 (15 Credits)

ENGL 10500 - English Composition II
Humanities - select from Gen Ed Humanities Core List
Introductory Course in Behavioral Sciences (See Note 3)
Quantitative Reasoning - Select from Gen Ed Quantitative Reasoning Core List
World Language Level II (See Note 1)

Semester 3 (15 Credits)

COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
Free Elective
Natural Science - select from Gen Ed Core List
Research Methods and Statistics Sequence - SOC 38200 or PSY 20100
World Language Level III (See Note 1)

Semester 4 (15 Credits)

CHSS 20000 - Topics In Knowledge (See Note 2)
Introductory Course in Behavioral Sciences (See Note 3)
Research Methods and Statistics Sequence - SOC 38200 or PSY 20300
Technology - Select from Gen Ed Core list
World Language Level IV (See Note 1)

Semester 5 (15 Credits)

CHSS 30000 - Topics In Individual & Society (See Note 2)
Free Elective
Gen Ed Elective - Select from the Gen Ed Core list
Sociology Elective - 30000-level or above
Social Science - select from Gen Ed Core List

Semester 6 (15 Credits)

Area A Course (See Note 4)
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective
Sociology Elective - 30000-level or above

Semester 7 (15 Credits)

Area A Course (See Note 4)
Area B Course (See Note 5)
Free Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective - 30000-level or above

Semester 8 (15 Credits)

CHSS 40000 - Topics In Happiness (See Note 2)
Area B Course (See Note 5)
Behavioral Sciences Elective - 30000-level or above: ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY, SOC, or SWRK
Free Elective
Free Elective - 30000-level or above

Additional Information and Guidelines

Note 1: A proficiency through level IV in one world language is required

Note 2: All four CHESS Core seminar courses, CHSS 10000, CHSS 20000, CHSS 30000, and CHS 40000, must be taken. Duplicates are not allowed

Note 3: Choice of ANTH 10000, ECON 10100, HDFS 21000, POL 13000, POL 14100, PSY 12000 or SWRK 20100

Note 4: Area A - two (2) courses (6 credits) at 30000-level or higher in ONE of the following disciplines: ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY or SWRK

Note 5: Area B - two (2) courses (6 credits) at 30000-level or higher in ONE of the following disciplines (but not discipline from Area A): ANTH, ECON, HDFS, POL, PSY or SWRK

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester. Certain exclusions apply.