The Bachelor of Science in Social and Behavioral Health provides students with the opportunity to learn foundation skills necessary to succeed in the dynamic health and social services environments. Courses in the program teach students how community and social factors contribute to a variety of public health problems, policies, and solutions; how to design, administer, and assess social service and/or behavioral health programs to ensure their quality and effectiveness; and how to help people navigate the healthcare system to find the resources they need to be healthy. Students will learn this through courses in health services, health analytics, complementary & alternative healthcare, cultural & social aspects of health, and behavioral & mental health. Upon graduation, students are prepared for advanced graduate and professional school education, and for entrance into the job market in a variety of health- and social services-related settings such as hospitals, public health agencies, research laboratories, mental health agencies, assisted living facilities, insurance companies, rehabilitation facilities, and non-profit organizations caring for marginalized populations.

To declare a major in Social & Behavioral Health, email graduation@westga.edu. Include your name, student ID number, email address, and telephone number.

For more information, please see the Academic Catalog. A program map, which provides a guide for students to plan their course of study, is available for download in the Courses tab below.

The BS in Social and Behavioral Health provides students with a mastery of the academic subject matter and skills necessary for success in the workplace and further academic environments following graduation. Social and Behavioral Health majors graduate with a working knowledge of the methodologies used to design and assess social and behavioral programs aimed at improving health, as well as the ability to assess social and cultural frameworks of diverse populations of healthcare consumers.

Program Location

Carrollton Campus

Method of Delivery

Face to Face

Accreditation

The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Credit and transfer

Total semester hours required:

This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.

Save money

UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.

Details

  • Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
  • The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
  • Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
  • Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
  • Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
  • One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
  • For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website

There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.

Downloads

Major Required

The internship provides students an opportunity to gain supervised work experience in an agency in their major area of study. Permission of the instructor is also required for this course.

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An introduction to how two or more disciplines in the social sciences may contribute to the understanding of a selected topic or theme. Subjects will vary with the year and with the instructors involved.

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Major Selects

This course provides a general introduction to concepts in medical anthropology, considering health, illness and healing from a biocultural standpoint. Topics covered include cross-cultural understandings of mental and physical health issues, global perspectives on health, and careers in medical anthropology.

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This course examines the health policy process at the national, state, and local levels, with a detailed look at the steps in the process, groups involved, and resultant policies. Through group exercises, each student will experience the policy process, gain an understanding of the dynamics of change, and develop the ability to form coherent policies.

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This course is designed to explore the theoretical principles and practical applications of management for charities and/or nonprofit organizations. The underlying thesis of this course is that by understanding fundamental principles such as developing effective mission and objectives statements, fundraising, marketing and accounting strategies, nonprofits can become more effective and responsive to their constituency's needs. The course will include a field research component.

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This course introduces students to the world of grant-writing and management, and provides an opportunity to experience writing actual grants. Students will learn the process of identifying prospective funders, developing relationships with funders, understanding the basics of writing grants, submitting proposals, working as a collaborative, and preparing for the follow up. Students will apply course learning to write and prepare actual grant proposals.

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This course examines the effect of psychological experiences on bio-physiological processes. Topics discussed include: Psychoneuroimmunology, state dependent learning, therapies (e.g., biofeedback, meditation, hypnosis, guided imagery, etc.), disciplines (e.g., yoga, tai chi, etc.), and philosophical conceptions of mind/body relations.

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An introductory course in psychotherapy providing counseling and communications skills for pre-professionals.

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A theory and survey course designed to provide the student with a background in the issues facing individuals as they age. Instruction offers theory, survey of field of aging and discussion.

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This course includes the sociological study of physical health and illness, therapy, rehabilitation and the organization of health care systems. It will examine help-seeking behaviors, utilization of health care services, issues of bioethics, and health care service provider roles, as well as race, class and gender stratification within the health care system.

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This course presents a sociological introduction to the conceptualization and subsequent treatment of mental illness.

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Examines the ways in which feelings and emotions are socially and culturally produced, defined, and learned, the ways they are embedded in and emblematic of society, and the consequences of the social construction of emotions for self identity, gender, race and ethnicity, aging, health and illness, inequality, power, work, deviance, ethics, law, etc.

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This course is intended to: 1) help students learn the complexity and diversity of social work practice; and 2) help students learn the basic skills necessary to carry out social casework and social group work. Students must come to class prepared to participate in individual and/or group exercises designed to develop these skills.

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Guidelines for Admittance

Each UWG online degree program has specific requirements that you must meet in order to enroll.

Admission Process Checklist

  1. Review Admission Requirements for the different programs and guides for specific populations (non-traditional, transfer, transient, home school, joint enrollment students, etc).
  2. Review important deadlines:
    • Fall semester: June 1 (undergrads)
    • Spring semester: November 15 (undergrads)
    • Summer semester: May 15 (undergrads)
      See program specific calendars here
  3. Complete online application
    Undergraduate Admissions Guide

    Undergraduate Application

    Undergraduate International Application

  4. Submit $40 non-refundable application fee
  5. Submit official documents

    Request all official transcripts and test scores be sent directly to UWG from all colleges or universities attended. If a transcript is mailed to you, it cannot be treated as official if it has been opened. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.

    Undergraduate & Graduate Applicants should send all official transcripts to:
    Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Murphy Building
    University of West Georgia
    1601 Maple Street
    Carrollton, GA 30118-4160
  6. Submit a Certificate of Immunization, if required. If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.
  7. Check the status of your application

Contact

For more information on the Bachelor of Science degree in Social & Behavioral Health, or advising information, contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Pam Hunt Kirk at phunt@westga.edu or email sbhealth@westga.edu.

Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate only), Financial Aid, Fee Payments, Registration, Start/End of term, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.

Graduates will be able to:

  • Assess social and cultural frameworks of diverse populations of healthcare consumers
  • Demonstrate understanding of human growth and development as related to social and behavioral health issues
  • Demonstrate knowledge of complementary, alternative, and integrative approaches to health and wellness
  • Design and assess social and behavioral programs, research or services aimed at improving health