Behavioral Sciences (Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology)
Dr. Jennifer Hicks, Chair, Department of Behavioral Sciences
Criminal Justice
Dr. Hallie Stephens; Dr. Mike Davis
Criminal justice is a broad field, closely related to the discipline of criminology. Criminology is the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and related institutional responses. The Bachelor of Arts criminal justice degree represents a challenging, liberal arts approach to the systematic examination of complex crime issues from legal, political, sociological, and psychological perspectives. The program focuses on six content areas: administration of justice, corrections, criminological theory, law adjudication, law enforcement, and research and analytic methods. The criminal justice degree provides the foundation for careers in law enforcement, courts, and corrections, as well as law school and graduate study.
Psychology
Karen Coleman, M.B.S.; Dr. Jennifer Hicks; Emalea Hudgens-Toews, M.A.; Dr. Amy Madewell; Dr. Lakshmi Narayanan; Dr. Joseph Simons-Rudolph
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychologists study and perform research that seeks to describe, explain, predict, and control various aspects of human and animal behavior. The baccalaureate program in psychology is designed to enhance students’ understanding of themselves and others and offers students the latest psychological information and theoretical applications. Students are also introduced to strategies for living more effectively, for gaining or advancing in employment, and for admission to higher levels of education.
The psychology major is designed to serve a variety of career goals through required and elective course offerings. A bachelor’s degree is often a prerequisite to specializing as a professional in many fields of psychology. Southeastern students have the unique advantage of being able to select one of four possible psychology program major tracks: Comprehensive, Clinical, Community, and Psychology Research Methods. With the guidance of an advisor, students are able to tailor their major field of study to best match their future career aspirations. A minor in psychology complements several other fields of study, such as social sciences, communication, business, law, and criminal justice.
All students are encouraged to plan coursework carefully. Early and frequent consultation with an advisor is helpful in sequencing coursework and in selecting courses that will provide a solid foundation in psychology and a good general education.
Education majors may obtain a teaching endorsement by completing specific coursework in psychology and obtaining a passing score on the psychology examination given by the State Department of Education.
At the graduate level, the department offers the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the Master of Education in School Counseling, and the Master of Specialty in Early Intervention and Child Development. See the Graduate Studies section for details.
Sociology
Dr. Susan Hughes; Dr. James Knapp; Dr. Hallie Stephens
Sociology, as one of the behavioral sciences, has human behavior as its basic unit of study. The Sociology program offers a series of courses designed for breadth in education, particularly as they apply to the understanding of human relationships. These courses provide a basic education in human relationships with special emphasis on the structures, functions, patterns, and changes of behavior.
A bachelor’s degree in Sociology provides employment opportunities in such fields as business and industry, community relations and development, urban affairs, corrections, law enforcement, civil service, and many public and private agencies. For others, the B.A. in Sociology provides a prerequisite for admission to graduate school to pursue the graduate degree necessary for professional career opportunities.