Bachelor of Science in Behavior & Health

The Behavior & Health program offers unparalleled opportunities to study, learn, and explore a range of career paths related to healthcare and the social and behavioral sciences. Upon graduation, students are well prepared to work in hospitals, schools, nonprofits, community settings, social and human service organizations, research labs, consulting, and more. Our program opens doors to many graduate school and career possibilities, in areas such as occupational therapy and rehabilitation, medicine, dentistry, social work, psychology, public health, physician assistantship, nursing, theology, law, business, and beyond.

Be a part of a rigorous, personalized program with small classes, a close-knit student cohort, and individual attention from top interdisciplinary faculty. Students have access to classes within Sargent as well as throughout BU, exposing them to diverse perspectives, research and internship opportunities, and mentorship. The program allows for in-depth exploration across health professions as students integrate concepts from social and biological sciences, learning essential skills such as critical thinking, research, communication, and cultural humility.

Students work closely with their advisors in the department and college to ensure timely completion of program and degree requirements. In consultation with their advisor, students define a specific focus for their studies (specialty electives) by their junior year. This focus may include a related minor (deaf studies, public health, psychology, special education, etc.), be tied to a specific professional career goal (research, fulfilling graduate school requirements, etc.), or represent a core area of interest that the student proposes to study in more depth (addiction, family & children, etc.).

Behavior & Health students are encouraged to explore BU study abroad programs. Many students elect to study in places such as London, Dublin, and Sydney, which offer practical experiences through internships and provide them with opportunities to apply what they have learned in the classroom. Further, students frequently choose to pursue a minor in different disciplines, which may include business, psychology, languages, education, communication, public health, and more. Students in the major may apply for the Sargent College Senior Thesis for Distinction and are also eligible to apply for the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health (BS/MPH), offered in conjunction with Boston University School of Public Health. 

Questions about the Behavior & Health program?

Visit the BU Undergraduate Admissions website or contact a Sargent Academic Counselor (email sarugrad@bu.edu or call 617-353-2713) or Program Director Robin Newman at newmanro@bu.edu.

Mission

The mission of the Behavior & Health degree program is to prepare students to support the health and well-being of individuals and communities in a range of roles or through graduate studies in health, rehabilitation, and social and human services. The program provides a strong foundation in the behavioral and health sciences and flexibility to explore specialized interests with tailored learning opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Integrate and apply concepts from different fields of study to health and well-being.
• Demonstrate cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills that support effective and sensitive interaction in a variety of cultures, populations, and contexts.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and ethically use scientific information or credible evidence to make informed decisions.
• Be proficient in all forms of communication (oral, visual, electronic, and media) with diverse stakeholders and audiences.
• Be proficient in identifying the key biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors of health and well-being.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Behavior & Health will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, Scientific and Social Inquiry, Digital Media Expression, and elements of the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses or a cocurricular experience.

Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 128 units is required for graduation.
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained.
• Students must successfully complete (minimum grade of D) all of the required courses listed below. If a grade of F or W is received, students may repeat the course only once to meet the requirement.
• No more than 16 units of D grade will be counted toward graduation.
• For external transfer units, a minimum grade of C is required.

Curriculum

• One Sargent first-year experience seminar: SAR HP 150*
• Three courses in biological sciences: CAS BI 105, BI 210, BI 211**
• Eight Sargent courses: SAR HP 151*, HP 250, HP 252, HP 306, HP 321, HP 353, HP 412, HP 500
• 24 units in behavioral sciences: CAS PS 101, SO 100, and four electives (16 units) in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and/or neuroscience.
• One course in statistics: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213
• One course in medical ethics: CAS PH 251
• One 4-unit practicum/internship and seminar: SAR HP 405 (this course is for seniors only)
• 20 units in specialty area (courses will be identified with the advisor during junior year)
• 32 additional units distributed among BU Hub areas and your other interests. Electives can be used to complete a minor and/or explore related areas.
• Behavior & Health program offers one general elective: SAR HP 220 Occupation and Health

*HP 150 and 151 are not required for students enrolling in Sargent after the first year. Note: HP 150 is only offered in the fall term.

**For the Pre-Med track: BI 107 required; BI 108 replaces BI 105; BI 315 replaces BI 211

Sample Curriculum

First Year

Fall

• CAS BI 105 Biology I
• CAS PS 101 General Psychology
• CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing
• SAR HP 150 First-Year Sargent Seminar
• Hub elective

Spring

• CAS BI 210 Human Anatomy
• CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213 Statistics
• CAS SO 100 Principles of Sociology
• CAS WR 151, 152, or 153, Writing, Research & Inquiry
•  SAR HP1 51 Introduction to Health Professions (2 units)

Sophomore Year

Fall

• CAS BI 211 Human Physiology (pre-med students may take BI 315 Systems Physiology)
• CAS PH 251 Medical Ethics
• SAR HP 412 Psychopathology and Rehabilitation
• Behavioral science elective (anything in PS/SO/AN/NE)

Spring

• SAR HP 250 Critical Inquiry
• SAR HP 252 Health & Disability Across the Lifespan
• Behavioral science elective
• Hub elective

Junior Year

Fall

• SAR HP 306 Foundations of Health Promotion
• SAR HP 353 Organization & Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
• Behavioral science elective
• Specialty elective

Spring

• SAR HP 321 Health Conditions Across the Life Course (2 units)
• Behavioral science elective(s) and/or
• Specialty elective(s) and/or
• Hub elective(s)

Senior Year

• SAR HP 405 Practicum and Senior Seminar
• SAR HP 500 Helping Skills
• Behavioral science elective(s) and/or
• Specialty elective(s) and/or
• Hub elective(s)

Specialty area: By the end of junior year, each student will identify an individual specialty area of focus related to their interests and anticipated career path. Examples of specialty areas include Premed, Predental, Nursing, OT, Child Life Specialist, Addiction, Social Work, Counseling/Psychology, Law, and more.

Honors Requirements

Behavior & Health students are eligible to participate in the Sargent College Senior Thesis for Distinction. This experience offers a thorough understanding of the research enterprise. The thesis will develop your technical writing and oral presentation skills through interactions in the laboratory, writing a final report on your project, and summarizing your research in a final poster presentation to students and faculty. And it will help prepare you for graduate school, where the dedication, creativity, and independence honed during your thesis experience will be invaluable. Successful completion of the thesis will result in the designation of “graduation with distinction” appearing on the student’s diploma and transcript.