About Us

Our Mission

The Behavioral Science Department is a rigorous interdisciplinary program (Anthropology, Family Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and Substance Use Disorder Counseling) that prepares students to make positive contributions in their academic, work, and community settings by developing their understanding of human functioning in various contexts. We promote and mentor student engagement with each other and with their academic, professional, or geographic communities in order to achieve essential learning outcomes.

Program Learning Outcomes

Anthropology

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Anthropological Knowledge
    Students learn anthropology by acquiring the skills of reading professional writings, historical and contemporary, for their location in the scholarly literature and for how the works develop arguments using concepts and data, and provide knowledge of a range of social situations and locations.
  • Critical Thinking and Professional Writing
    Students will learn to produce their own arguments and studies on society, culture, and history by mobilizing professional literature and data, both gathered by others and by themselves, demonstrating a critical understanding of how data can be constituted.
  • Methodological Knowledge
    Students will learn to grasp the nuances, strengths, and weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative methodology in anthropology as well as those of classical anthropological participant observation.

Psychology

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will critically analyze quantitative data in order to draw empirically supported conclusions about human behaviors.
  • Students will write in a professional manner, defined as a mastery of the mechanics of basic writing, the conventions of professional writing (e.g., conforming to a publication style), and the ability to produce a coherent argument.

Family Science

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Create educational interventions for individuals and families.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills related to the ten areas outlined for Certified Family Life Educators by the National Council on Family Relations
  • Apply best practices for communication and conflict management in interpersonal relationships and family systems
  • Demonstrate the ability to work with diverse populations and under served communities

Social Work

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Engage in Policy Practice
  • Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Sociology

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Training students in sociological theory and its role in building sociological knowledge: This outcome fosters UVU’s mission of engaged learning where students learn how to apply academic knowledge to real-life situations, problems, and prospects.
  • Training students to think critically: Our Sociology program encourages critical thinking—a foundation for scholarly and creative work as envisioned by UVU.
  • Training students in qualitative and quantitative sociological methodology: This outcome prepares students to interpret and perform evidence-based research, which in turn helps them secure a job in sociology and related fields including nonprofit, policy, teaching, reporting, law, and social work.

Substance Use Disorder Counseling

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Professional Knowledge of Substance Abuse
    Students will be able to identify behaviors and problems related to substance use.
  • Proficiency in Counseling by Applying Content Knowledge
    Students will be able to develop personalized recovery programs for their clients that establish healthy behaviors and coping strategies and they will do so in strict adherence to professional ethics.