About Us

Our Mission

The Behavioral Science Department is home to rigorous interdisciplinary programs that prepare 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

  • Students will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior, engaging with 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, intervene with, assess, and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Sociology

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will engage with 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.
  • Critical thinking: Our Sociology program encourages critical thinking—a foundation for scholarly and creative work as envisioned by UVU.
  • Students will learn 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.
 

Master of social work (msw)

Program Learning Outcomes

  • MSW students will be able to provide competent care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and societies as advanced generalist social work professionals.
  • MSW students will be able to promote social and economic justice within the psychosocial-cultural-context occupied by individuals, families, groups, communities, and societies.
  • MSW students will enhance their professional development by experiencing engaged teaching methods, clinically-based learning activities, and ongoing opportunities for self-exploration.
  • MSW students will promote the profession of social work in the local community and be able to identify how to practice in the local community is impacted by the global realities.
  • MSW students will be able to, with competence and cultural sensitivity, engage communities of color and other historically marginalized populations and increase both the provision of social work services and the utilization of social work services by members of these populations.
  • MSW students will competently evaluate research and engage in research-informed practice.
 

Marriage & Family Therapy (mft)

Program Learning Outcomes

  • The program trains students in the knowledge and history of the MFT profession and how to utilize systemic and developmental theories in their clinical work.
  • The program trains students to practice relational/systemic therapy including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of presenting problems.
  • The program trains students to be aware, knowledgeable and conscientious in their work with diverse, marginalized and under-served populations.
  • The program trains students to engage in ethical clinical work and decision making through a commitment to ethical practice and to the AAMFT Code of Ethics.
  • The program assists students as they develop an MFT identity by preparing students for MFT licensure and employment upon graduation from the program.

clinical mental health counseling (CMhc)

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Individual Therapy
    Students will engage in critical thinking and demonstrate a heightened self-awareness in the counseling role. Students will also demonstrate skills necessary to be an effective counselor while applying a theoretical approach.
  • Ethical Practice
    Students will understand counselor professional identity and demonstrate skill in applying ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
  • Clinical Assessment
    Treatment Planning-Students will demonstrate the knowledge and ability to diagnose and design treatment plans for a broad range of mental health issues. Students will also be able to select and interpret assessment measures (i.e., academic/educational, career, personality, diagnostic, and developmental).
  • Professional Development
    Students will understand counselor professional identity and demonstrate skill in applying ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
  • Research and Theory
    Students will be able to critically evaluate research in a manner that informs counseling practice.
  • Group Therapy
    Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills to facilitate psychoeducational and process groups.
  • Diversity in Counseling
    Students will be able to demonstrate the awareness, knowledge, and skills to counsel clients from diverse backgrounds.
  • Career Counseling
    Students will have knowledge of career assessment and planning principles and theories.
  • Prevention
    Students will demonstrate knowledge of how to design and deliver mental illness prevention programs.
  • Program Evaluation
    Students will apply program evaluation techniques to individual, group, and couple’s counseling settings.
  • Human Development
    Students will be able to apply theories of human development to clients’ needs and issues.