Find Your Perfect School
The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration discloses that one in five adults in America suffers from a type of mental illness that interferes with their ability to function in life. Anxiety, depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common mental health problems, according to SAMSHA.
The prevalence of mental issues is drawing more and more people to Behavioral Psychology which studies the connection between people’s minds and behaviors. It analyzes behaviors and treats mental health problems on the theory that environmental stimuli and positive/negative reinforcement can lead to behaviors.
Scientists and researchers studying behavioral psychology have been trying to uncover why people behave as they do. They are trying to unravel human behavior patterns to help them predict how humans behave to develop better products, create more livable spaces, and build better habits.
Scientists will also be able to understand better how human behaviors can be improved by using proven scientific techniques. Through the study of behavioral psychology, experts will be able to provide better solutions to mental health problems, including autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other problematic health conditions.
Everything around us is a behavior. By studying behavioral psychology, specialists will have the tools and know-how to interpret and improve different behaviors, which is important in various fields, including consumer marketing, animal training, and counseling drug addicts.
Behavioral psychology also involves sorting out complex stimuli and assessing consequences, which require a lot of analysis, experimentation, and training. This is why behavioral psychologists are known to be some of the most hard-working researchers in psychology.
Quick Summarization
An online Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology degree will shape students into becoming clinical psychologists who study, analyze, and treat psychological conditions with a behavioral perspective. This program will involve intensive studying of psychology, counseling, and applied behavior analysis therapy to prepare learners for entry-level psychology jobs that involve direct client interaction.
Methodology
Achieving one’s professional goals starts with choosing the best school that offers the desired degree program. Those seeking a Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology, Behavioral Health, or Behavioral Sciences must ensure that the school they choose best suits their professional and personal needs.
Below are the most crucial factors that we used to consider the Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology or Behavioral Health and Behavioral Sciences programs and colleges for our list.
Each degree program stands out with these features:
- Delivered online or in a hybrid format, allowing adult students to customize their degrees to fit their schedules,
- Features coursework that covers the most important topics, including Fundamentals of Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Behavioral Science Research, and Diversity in Behavioral Science, to name a few,
- Online and hybrid classes are facilitated by professors who are practicing psychologists and are recognized for their contributions to behavioral psychology research.
- Total tuition costs must be minimal, especially for out-of-state students, to ensure they can afford a university education.
- Provides financial assistance through federal aid, grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs to make higher education more attainable for everyone,
- Offers a generous transfer credit policy that accepts credits from a prior learning experience to reduce the total tuition cost further,
- Obtained proper accreditation from national and regional accrediting agencies, such as the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists proving that the school or program meets the highest standards in education.
Visit our Methodology page.
Best Online Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology
Bellevue University
Bellevue University is a tech-savvy university innovating distance learning for over 25 years. This institution is dedicated to delivering the highest quality digital experience possible by offering flexible learning formats to make earning a college degree more achievable for everyone.
Aside from offering seamless online classes, Bellevue University is committed to making transferring from one school to another as quick and easy as possible. It offers general financial aid and scholarship packages, a transfer credit policy, and work-study programs. Students are also guaranteed to have a dedicated support team consisting of an enrollment counselor, financial counselor, and student counselor who can guide them and help them make informed decisions that matter most to their degrees.
Bellevue University partners with industry experts and national businesses to ensure it can offer career-relevant programs, instill future-proof industry knowledge, develop transferable job-ready skills, and employ faculty that truly care about the student’s future.
This institution offers its online Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science degree that lets students build a practice-focused portfolio right from day one. This program helps prepare students as they research and build knowledge on topics within ethics, human diversity, human services, psychology, and sociology.
In this program, students will tackle various challenges that individuals, families, and communities face. They will work on projects that help build comprehensive portfolios that will make a good impression on future employers.
Upon graduation, Behavioral Science students will have the crucial skills needed for careers in behavioral health, corporate leadership, clinical counseling, and social services. They will be able to communicate effectively in counseling and clinical settings. They can conduct comprehensive patient assessments and develop treatment plans that facilitate change.
Course requirements for Bellevue University’s BS in Behavioral Science degree include:
- Foundations for Professional Success in Behavioral Science
- Counseling Theories
- Treatment Strategies and Ethical Considerations
- Social Deviance and Psychopathological Perspectives
- Introduction to Human Services
This university has the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) stamp of approval.
Mercy University
Mercy University is committed to providing students the opportunity to improve their lives through quality higher education. The school offers liberal arts and professional programs in personalized learning environments to prepare students to take on fulfilling careers, to act responsibly and ethically, and to continue learning throughout their lives.
Being a leader in higher education, Mercy University has consistently ranked as one of the top schools in New York and across the nation for its academic excellence and affordability. This institution is also nationally recognized for its innovative programs that help students realize their personal and professional goals.
Mercy University is recognized regionally and nationally for its commitment to developing engaged citizens and providing outstanding services. It is one of the top schools that offer veteran education. It was also recognized as a top performer on campus ethnic diversity in 2020. It is the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)-approved and recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Mercy University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science degree, a multidisciplinary program with a sociology and psychology foundation to explore human behavior. It offers concentrations in Community Health, Gerontology, and Health Services Management.
This BS in Behavioral Science program is a combination of flexibility and structure. It is designed for those looking to study dispute resolution, improve healthcare, or help aging individuals. This program features four required courses and eight major elective courses, making this degree an excellent choice for students with prior learning experience from an accredited institution. Students can also tailor their degrees to their unique interests and goals.
This program offers internship opportunities that suit students’ interests to ensure they get the most out of their experiences. It also ensures graduates can identify and compare qualitative and quantitative methods, basic statistical tools, and research designs during social research.
At the end of the program, Behavioral Science graduates will be more than capable of employment in health-related fields, including gerontology, government agencies, health services management, human resources, mediation and negotiation, nonprofit agencies, and private sectors.
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is committed to preparing diverse learners to succeed in the global marketplace. To this day, NCCU continues to be passionate about providing diversity and access to excellent quality higher education.
Being one of the top historically black colleges or universities and a top-rated regional university in the south, NCCU offers a wide selection of flagship programs in the arts, business, education, law, nursing, and sciences. The Carnegie Foundation has also identified it as a Community Engaged Institution for the Advancement of Teaching. In the academic year 2019-2020, NCCU students contributed over 181,950 hours of public service around the Triangle region.
Today, NCCU celebrates 110 years of offering academic excellence and developing students through rigorous training and public service. It is a Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges-accredited institution.
NCCU’s online Bachelor of Science in Behavioral and Social Sciences degree is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for the growing demands and challenges of a global workplace. It is also designed to satisfy the current workforce’s need for flexible, analytical, and quick-thinking employees who transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries to solve problems and solve real-world challenges.
Some of the courses required for NCCU’s BS in Behavioral and Social Sciences include:
- Social Problems
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- The Psychology of Human Development and Maturation
- Family and Social System
- Demography
Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit, and accredited institution that has changed lives since 1968. It is committed to helping traditional students, non-traditional students, and working adults looking to advance in their careers through higher education.
WilmU supports student success by offering flexible formats, including fully online options, and consistently lower tuition rates than most regional competitors. Its current student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1, ensuring that students get enough attention and guidance from their professors. This university also offers a diverse range of over 200 degree and certificate programs that equip students to stand in the global marketplace through an experience-rich curriculum delivered by seasoned faculty with years of experience in their respective fields.
This university, its colleges, and its specific degree programs are accredited by the:
- The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- The Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- The US Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
WilmU offers an online Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science program that trains leaders and problem-solvers to work in various industries, including business, education, government, human services, and nonprofit sectors. This Behavioral Science program emphasizes the impact of various environments, cultural influences, social issues, and individual and large-group behaviors.
This broad-based program provides students with an in-depth understanding of human behavior based on anthropological, cultural, psychological, philosophical, and sociological viewpoints. It also provides learners with plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning experiences through internships.
Studying Behavioral Science at WilmU also gives students a deeper understanding of the contemporary local and global issues that require complex solutions by delving into individual, family, group, and cultural dimensions of behavior, ethics, program evaluation, and research. Students can take advantage of WilmU’s Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE Program, where they can use their bachelor’s degree elective courses to complete a Dual-Credit Certificate by incorporating master’s level coursework at no extra cost.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is ranked as the top college campus in Arizona and is among the best college campuses in the United States of America in 2023.
Grand Canyon University is an affordable Christian university that offers a private, liberal arts education rooted in the Christian faith and biblical values at an affordable rate. It currently has a wide array of online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs suitable for working adults who are looking to earn a degree or advance in their careers. Students will gain valuable skills and credentials through these programs to meet their personal and professional goals.
Classes at GCU are delivered fully online or hybrid, which is an excellent learning option for students who want to pursue a degree but need some flexibility in their schedules. Aside from that, this university also offers evening classes to those looking to make connections and networking opportunities but have a lot of obligations during the daytime.
Military service members, veterans, and their families are also welcome at CGU. This school provides flexible degree programs to help fulfill the professional goals of the men and women who sacrificed their lives for us.
GCU offers an online Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health degree that provides a general and broad perspective on each behavioral science area. This program is also aimed at helping students delve deep into human behavior within Christian values-oriented environments. While this program does not lead to licensure, it helps students meet the requirements for graduate studies in healthcare.
With a BS in Behavioral Health degree, students can take on roles that help improve the quality of life of those in need. This program will teach them about counseling theories, group dynamics and processes, and treatments for addiction and substance abuse disorders. They will also study abnormal psychology, human development, probability, and statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a behavioral psychologist do?
A behavioral psychologist studies behavioral styles and creates strategies to help individuals and groups change destructive behaviors into more positive ones. They conduct research using the right stimuli and conditioning to observe human behavior. Some behavioral psychologists work with young children in clinical mental health counseling private practice. Others teach at elementary, middle, or high schools and colleges or universities.
A behavioral psychologist usually works with clients with behavioral health issues like addiction, bipolar disorder, depression, and other psychological issues. As behavioral and mental health counselors, they use behavioral assessment to characterize, explain, observe, and predict behavior.
Many also venture into related disciplines, including forensic psychology, social psychology, and clinical psychology.
How does one become a licensed behavioral psychologist?
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Psychology or any related field (following completion of an associate degree), a graduate who desires to become a licensed behavioral psychologist must pursue a Master’s in Psychology with coursework in Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology or a related field. After that, they will need to pursue a PhD in Psychology with a Cognitive and Behavioral Studies concentration.
Aside from earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Psychology, aspiring psychologists must also accrue supervised clinical hours ranging from 1,500 to 6,000 hours, depending on their state. Once completed, they must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and a jurisprudence exam, if applicable.
How much does a behavioral psychologist usually get paid?
The Labor Statistics Bureau says all psychologists can earn a median annual pay of $85,330, depending on their chosen field.
Key Points to Ponder
- An online Bachelor’s in Behavioral Psychology teaches students to use research-based learning theories to help clients change their behaviors and use behavioral therapy to treat several mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and more.
- Behavioral Psychology and Behavioral Science degree online graduates must pursue a Master’s and Doctorate in Psychology to qualify for the licensure examination for psychologists.
- Some online bachelor’s degrees in Behavioral Psychology programs or Behavioral Science may not lead to licensure but can best prepare students for graduate studies.
Additional Information: