Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Sciences
Serve and lead your community with a behavioral science degree.
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Gain a Better Understanding of People
If you find the human experience complex and fascinating, the Behavioral Science major at Concordia University Irvine gives you a rigorous, faith-informed lens for exploring it.
You’ll draw on the tools of anthropology, psychology, and sociology to study how individuals and communities think, relate, and flourish. Through research methods, practicum experiences, and close mentorship, you’ll develop a durable skill set in analysis, communication, cultural understanding, and ethical leadership.
Choose the path that fits your callings: a general track or an emphasis in anthropology, psychology, or sociology. Whichever route you take, you’ll be equipped to serve others compassionately, ethically, and faithfully in your vocation.
Career Relevant
Gain real-world skills for a life of service and leadership.
Collaborative Classes
Learn in classes with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Opportunity Awaits
Access internship and career opportunities across Southern CA.
Getting Started
Throughout your behavioral science major coursework you’ll examine questions that shape every society: What does it mean to be human? How do cultures form? Why do people make the choices they do? How should we live together?
In this program, you’ll explore the dynamic between self and society, agency and structure, and nature and culture — and consider how a Christian worldview complements the scientific study of human behavior.
Next Start
January 11, 2027
Curriculum
Core Curriculum (Sample Courses):
- ANT210 – Cultural Anthropology
- ANT364 – Culture and Self
- ANT435 – Religion in Society
- BSC265 – Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
- BSC296 – Introduction to Research Methods
- BSC318 – Linguistics
- BSC492 – Capstone: The Good Society
- PSY345 – Social Psychology
- PSY371 – Cognition
- PSY403 – Health Psychology
- SOC320 – Social Stratification
- SOC321 – Social Problems
- SOC461 – Social Theory
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
Upon completing your behavioral science degree, you’ll be able to:
- Write and speak in genres appropriate to the behavioral sciences.
- Summarize and evaluate literature to demonstrate understanding of content, theories, and methods.
- Demonstrate understanding of statistical concepts, perform calculations successfully, and apply problem-solving strategies to analyze statistical data and draw conclusions.
- Illustrate how a Christian worldview interrelates with and complements the scientific study of human behavior.
- Examine the different components of sociocultural and international diversity.
Emphases
- Anthropology
- General
- Psychology
- Sociology
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses for each emphasis.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. In fact, 100% of our students receive some form of financial assistance! View tuition costs and fees for undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
View the Application page for full details on application and admission requirements.
Nationally Recognized Q&I Curriculum
Concordia University Irvine is among a distinctive group of universities that offer a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum for all of its students. Our nationally recognized Enduring Questions & Ideas curriculum (Q&I, for short) is carefully crafted so that you discover the purpose of a liberal arts education — to grow intellectually, ethically, and spiritually.
Internships
Every behavioral science major completes an internship before graduation. You’ll apply theory in real settings, build professional networks, and discover your calling with guidance from faculty. Concordia partners with nonprofits, clinics, schools, and community programs across Southern California.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the behavioral science major pursue roles that serve people and strengthen communities, often stepping into helping professions or continuing to graduate study. With additional education or licensure where required, students commonly move toward fields such as:
- Clinical psychology
- Educational psychology
- Counseling
- Marriage and family therapy (MFT)
- Law
- Public policy
- Social work
- Nursing
- Seminary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these roles are all projected to grow at least 4% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations.1
Academic Opportunities
As a behavioral science major, you can explore other areas of the social sciences and shape your degree around the topics that interest you most. You can do this by adding a related emphasis or minor to your degree, which allows you to personalize your studies and build skills that match your career goals.
You may also be interested in continuing your education through one of our graduate programs in leadership or counseling offered by the Townsend Institute at Concordia, where you can deepen your understanding of human behavior and learn to support others with compassion and confidence.
Extracurricular Activities
Concordia offers many opportunities for you to become involved with on-campus events, clubs, and organizations. You can also choose to broaden your understanding of culture and society through studying in another country, or global travel. Our students creatively and effectively apply behavioral science knowledge and skills to promote positive change in the community.
- Around-the-World Semester®
- Concordia Cares
- Mission and Service Learning
- President’s Academic Showcase
- Study Abroad
Life at Concordia
Join a community where you’re free to explore your interests and pursuits, make relationships that last a lifetime, and develop your own relationship with God. What will you explore?
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
FAQs
Is behavioral science a good major?
Yes. If you feel called to understand people and help communities thrive, a behavioral science degree offers a powerful blend of rigor, relevance, and service. You’ll gain transferable skills in research, data literacy, communication, and cultural competence that are valuable across professions.
What is a behavioral science career?
Because the behavioral sciences field is interdisciplinary, your career options are broad. Graduates often work in social services, healthcare, education, HR, community development, research, and more.
Behavioral science major careers may include:
- Consultant
- Health services specialist
- Human resources specialist
- Intervention specialist
- Public health specialist
- Social worker
It’s important to note that for some of these careers, you may need to take additional coursework or exams.
What is the difference between a psychology and behavioral science degree?
Psychology and behavioral sciences have some similarities. Psychology focuses primarily on the individual — cognition, emotion, and behavior. Behavioral Sciences integrates psychology with sociology (groups and institutions) and anthropology (culture and meaning) to give you a wider-angle view of people in context.
At Concordia, you can even add a psychology emphasis to your behavioral science degree if you’re interested in studying both.
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Sources
1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025),
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025),
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/anthropologists-and-archeologists.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025),
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025),
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025),
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (viewed Oct. 22, 2025).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.