{"id":46660,"date":"2012-07-06T10:31:40","date_gmt":"2012-07-06T14:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/?page_id=46660"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T16:44:07","slug":"bs-in-behavior-and-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/sar\/programs\/bs-in-behavior-and-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Bachelor of Science in Behavior &amp; Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"sidebar\">\n<h3>Contact<\/h3>\n<p>For contact information, please visit the Sargent College <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sargent\/academics\/departments-programs\/occupational-therapy\/bsbh\/\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u00a0Behavior &amp; Health program\u00a0offers an interdisciplinary, student-centered approach to understanding health at the intersection of psychology, biology, and other natural and social sciences. Designed for students exploring diverse pathways in healthcare and beyond, the major combines academic rigor with flexibility and a strong sense of community.<\/p>\n<p>Graduates are well prepared for careers in hospitals, schools, nonprofit agencies and organizations, community and human service organizations, research labs, and healthcare consulting, as well as for graduate study in fields such as occupational therapy, medicine, clinical psychology and counseling, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, public health, social work, nursing, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Students learn in\u00a0small classes in the major alongside a close-knit cohort and are mentored by nationally recognized, interdisciplinary faculty with research and clinical practice expertise. Coursework emphasizes applied learning and helps students develop essential skills in critical thinking, research, communication, and cultural humility.<\/p>\n<p>With close faculty mentor support, students tailor the major to their interests by selecting a focused area of study, through specialty electives, minors (e.g., public health, special education, psychology), or preparation for specific graduate or professional goals. Opportunities include study abroad programs, internships, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sargent\/student-resources\/student-research-opportunities\/thesis-for-distinction\/\">Sargent College Senior Thesis for Distinction<\/a>, and the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health (BS\/MPH), offered in conjunction with the Boston University School of Public Health.\u00a0<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<h3>Questions about the Behavior &amp; Health program?<\/h3>\n<p>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/admissions\/\">BU Undergraduate Admissions website<\/a> or contact a Sargent Academic Counselor (email <a href=\"mailto:sarugrad@bu.edu\">sarugrad@bu.edu<\/a> or call 617-353-2713) or Program Director Robin Newman at <a href=\"mailto:newmanro@bu.edu\">newmanro@bu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Mission<\/h3>\n<p>The mission of the Behavior &amp; Health degree program is to prepare undergraduate students to support the health and well-being of individuals and communities in professions that include health services, medicine, 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Learning Outcomes<\/h2>\n<p>Students will:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Understand key biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors of health and well-being.<\/li>\n<li>Integrate and apply concepts from psychology, counseling, occupational therapy, and other health-related fields to understand health and well-being promotion.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills that support effective and sensitive interaction with clients, community members, and other health professionals in a variety of cultures, populations, and contexts.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and ethically use evidence to make informed decisions.<\/li>\n<li>Be proficient in all forms of communication (oral, visual, electronic, and media) with diverse audiences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Requirements<\/h2>\n<p>All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub,\u00a0the University&#8217;s\u00a0general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hub\/advising-and-the-hub\/hub-requirements-for-students\/\">BU Hub requirements<\/a> 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 &amp; 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Degree Requirements<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>A minimum of <strong>128 units<\/strong>\u00a0is required for graduation.<\/li>\n<li>A minimum\u00a0<strong>GPA of 2.0<\/strong> must be maintained.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>No more than 16 units of D grade will be counted toward graduation.<\/li>\n<li>For external transfer units, a minimum grade of C is required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Curriculum<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>One Sargent first-year experience seminar: SAR HP 150*<\/li>\n<li>Three courses in biological sciences: CAS BI 105, BI 210, BI 211**<\/li>\n<li>Eight Sargent courses: SAR HP 151*, HP 250, HP 252, HP 306, HP 321, HP 353, HP 412, HP 500<\/li>\n<li>24 units in behavioral sciences: CAS PS 101, SO 100, and four electives (16 units) in psychology, anthropology, sociology, and\/or neuroscience.<\/li>\n<li>One course in statistics: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213<\/li>\n<li>One course in ethics: CAS PH 150 or CAS PH 251<\/li>\n<li>One 4-unit practicum\/internship and seminar: SAR HP 405 (this course is for seniors only)<\/li>\n<li>20 units in specialty area (courses will be identified with the advisor during junior year)<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Behavior &amp; Health program offers one general elective: SAR HP 220 Occupation and Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*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.<\/p>\n<p>**For the Pre-Med track: BI 107 required; BI 108 replaces BI 105; BI 315 replaces BI 211<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Sample Curriculum<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h5>First Year<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Fall<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CAS BI 105 Biology I<\/li>\n<li>CAS PS 101 General Psychology<\/li>\n<li>CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing<\/li>\n<li>SAR HP 150 First-Year Sargent Seminar<\/li>\n<li>Hub elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Spring<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CAS BI 210 Human Anatomy<\/li>\n<li>CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213 Statistics<\/li>\n<li>CAS SO 100 Principles of Sociology<\/li>\n<li>CAS WR 151, 152, or 153, Writing, Research &amp; Inquiry<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0SAR HP1 51 Introduction to Health Professions (2 units)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Sophomore Year<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Fall<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CAS BI 211 Human Physiology (pre-med students may take BI 315 Systems Physiology)<\/li>\n<li>CAS PH 150 Introduction to Ethics or CAS PH 251 Medical Ethics<\/li>\n<li>SAR HP 412 Psychopathology and Rehabilitation<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral science elective (anything in PS\/SO\/AN\/NE)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Spring<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SAR HP 250 Critical Inquiry<\/li>\n<li>SAR HP 252 Health &amp; Disability Across the Lifespan<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral science elective<\/li>\n<li>Hub elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Junior Year<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Fall<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SAR HP 306 Foundations of Health Promotion<\/li>\n<li>SAR HP 353 Organization &amp; Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral science elective<\/li>\n<li>Specialty elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Spring<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SAR HP 321 Health Conditions Across the Life Course (2 units)<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral science elective(s) and\/or<\/li>\n<li>Specialty elective(s) and\/or<\/li>\n<li>Hub elective(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>Senior Year<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li>SAR HP 405 Practicum and Senior Seminar<\/li>\n<li>SAR HP 500 Helping Skills<\/li>\n<li>Behavioral science elective(s) and\/or<\/li>\n<li>Specialty elective(s) and\/or<\/li>\n<li>Hub elective(s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Specialty area:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Honors Requirements<\/h3>\n<p>Behavior &amp; 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 \u201cgraduation with distinction\u201d appearing on the student\u2019s diploma and transcript.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contact For contact information, please visit the Sargent College website. The\u00a0Behavior &amp; Health program\u00a0offers an interdisciplinary, student-centered approach to understanding health at the intersection of psychology, biology, and other natural and social sciences. Designed for students exploring diverse pathways in healthcare and beyond, the major combines academic rigor with flexibility and a strong sense of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1868,"featured_media":0,"parent":213,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1868"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46660"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100533,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/46660\/revisions\/100533"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}