Psychological and Behavioral Health

Instructor Megan Vant

A major in Psychological and Behavioral Health supports individual and community health and well-being through foundational coursework in Psychology with particular emphasis on counseling and social problems such as addiction. The major prepares students for careers in the helping professions, especially as drug and alcohol counselors through the option of coursework preparing them for Alcohol and Drug Counseling Certification in Illinois.

Available online only.

Students majoring in Psychological and Behavioral Health must take a minimum of 40 credit hours

Majors & Programs

Psychological and Behavioral Health,
Major

Courses

PS 101: Introduction to Psychology

A general survey course prerequisite for all courses in the department.

PS 242: Introduction to Research Methods

This course introduces the fundamental principles of research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation in empirical research.

PS 255: Introduction to Counseling

This course in an overview of the field of counseling techniques, the importance of the therapeutic relationship and how to facilitate it, several different theories, types, and settings of psychotherapy/counseling, including those that treat individuals struggling with addiction, and research foundations of counseling. This course will also introduce students to an array of careers in the helping professions and have a major focus on cultural considerations and professional ethics as they relate to counseling and other critical interventions.

PS 346: Abnormal Psychology

A study of the various patterns of mental, behavioral, and personality disorders. Major emphasis is on the diagnosis and understanding of the disorder. Pertinent legal issues are also discussed.

PS 355: Crisis Intervention & Counseling

This course is an overview of crisis intervention and counseling. Major theoretical models across a variety of settings, including settings that treat individuals struggling with addiction, will be examined. Topics include triage assessment, skills for identifying individuals in crisis and how to intervene using evidence-based approaches, cultural considerations including race and equity, and application of crisis intervention to various types of crises including suicide, grief, and loss, sexual assault, domestic violence, school violence, and natural disasters.

SO 101: Introduction to Sociology

This course is an introduction to the study of society, including the basic concepts of society, culture and personality, and their relationship to one another. This course is required for majors and minors and is a prerequisite for most 300 level sociology courses.

SO 218: Social Problems

This course entails a sociological examination and analysis of selected social phenomena that are defined as social problems by a significant number of persons. This course will examine social problems from each of the major sociological paradigms (symbolic interactionist, conflict, and functionalist) to illuminate recurring substantive problems in the areas of economic inequality, social inequality, and the restriction of democracy.