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DePaul’s Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABS) program is a two-year program for adult students who have an associate’s degree and would like to pursue a career in human services, social work, nonprofit management and other related fields.
The ABS curriculum combines courses from the Department of Psychology, the College of Communication and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Courses will provide you with perspectives on human behavior, interaction and communication.
Students attend one class per week at DePaul’s Loop campus, as well as take courses online.
The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Studies degree from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) is an accelerated, inter-disciplinary, 2-year degree completion program for adult students. This degree is offered at the Loop campus and online.
This course-based major is for graduates of community colleges with an Associate's degree who seek broad interdisciplinary preparation for a career in human services, social work, nonprofit management and other related fields.
Applicants to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences need an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science (from IL schools; other degrees to be evaluated), or have earned 66 semester credit hours, applicable to the program based on review and evaluation.
The major consists of courses from the Department of Psychology, the College of Communication, and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, which offers the majority of courses, including a unique series of Adult Learning Seminars. The courses in the major provide students with multiple perspectives on human behavior, interaction and communications.
Program Requirements
Program Requirements |
Quarter Hours |
Transfer Credit |
98 |
Major Requirements |
94 |
Total hours required |
192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Analyze and apply knowledge and theories of behavioral sciences.
- Investigate problems using qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Apply ethical principles in context.
- Explain the value of social justice in behavioral settings.
- Utilize principles of reflective practice in behavioral science.
- Analyze and apply different liberal arts perspectives.
Major Requirements (94 quarter hours)
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
CMNS 329 | PERSUASION | 4 |
PSY 347 | SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | 4 |
DCM 333 | ADDICTIONS AND RECOVERY | 4 |
or PSY 363 | ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ADDICTION AND RECOVERY |
DCM 307 | ANALYZING HUMAN BEHAVIOR | 4 |
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
DCM 323 | THE PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING AND THE AGED | 4 |
PSY 302 | PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH | 4 |
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
DCM 304 | EVOLVING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS | 4 |
DCM 325 | WORK & SOCIETY | 4 |
PSY 353 | ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY | 4 |
or PSY 354 | COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY |
Methods (14 credit hours)
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
DA 200 | DATA ANALYTICS | 4 |
or DA 233 | APPLIED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS |
DCM 308 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS | 4 |
LL 301 | RESEARCH METHODS | 6 |
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
DCM 324 | EFFECTIVE GROUP AND PERSONAL DYNAMICS | 4 |
ORGC 316 | COMMUNICATION AND GROUP DECISION-MAKING | 4 |
ORGC 353 | COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE | 4 |
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
LL 270 | CRITICAL THINKING | 4 |
CCH 299 | ASSESSING AND MANAGING CONFLICT | 4 |
DCM 303 | LEADERSHIP MODELS FOR STRONG ORGANIZATIONS | 4 |
Course List
Course |
Title |
Quarter Hours |
LL 201 | REFLECTIVE LEARNING | 2 |
or RPL 101 | PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT |
DCM 314 | LEARNING AND TRANSFORMATION | 2 |
DCM 315 | EXPLORING THE FIELD | 2 |
DCM 316 | WORK IN A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT | 2 |
DCM 317 | ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS | 2 |
DCM 318 | SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE PROFESSIONS | 2 |
DCM 319 | CREATIVITY AND INNOVATIVE THINKING | 2 |
LL 303 | CAPSTONE PROJECT | 6 |