Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Whether you decide to become a therapist, social worker, lawyer, or pursue a related career, a degree from the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences at OBU sets you up for a rewarding future where you can make a real, tangible difference in the lives of others. Multiple programs are offered within the Behavioral and Social Sciences Division that you can explore to find the best fit for you and provide the foundation you need.
Hear from the chair of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Dr. Bret Roark, about how a degree from OBU will prepare you to be a future shaper.
Undergraduate Programs
Criminal Justice
A criminal justice degree from OBU allows you to pursue careers in the legal field, law enforcement, criminology and many others. Students drawn to this field often share traits such as integrity, courage and a desire to serve their communities in an effort to help ensure justice is carried out as fairly as possible.
Family Science
With a family science degree from OBU, you will be serving families by meeting practical needs, strengthening families through education and therapy, and supporting families by advocating for their needs. These qualities are at the heart of our family science program. Our team of dedicated faculty is committed to providing a high-quality, Christ-focused education that equips you with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to succeed in life and in your chosen field.
Family Therapy
This unique degree is designed to train and prepare you to become a marriage and family therapist. It combines the strengths of a family science program with those of a pre-counseling psychology program.
History
In our program, you will be prepared for a wide variety of careers related to history and you will leave OBU with a solid foundation for postgraduate study. History courses acquaint you with major areas of knowledge and help you develop skills needed for academic and career success.
Politics
We live in a highly political world. This program will open the door for you to a wide variety of careers related to politics. Through the politics program, you will be prepared for the journey of integrating your personal Christian faith with your growing base of academic knowledge and awareness of the world around you.
Psychology
In the OBU Psychology program, you will embark on a transformative journey of understanding the complexities of the human mind and behavior. Our program goes beyond traditional academics, focusing on skill development and providing opportunities for experiential learning. You have the option to pursue the broad field of psychology or to specialize in forensic psychology, pre-counseling, sport psychology, and family therapy.
Social Sciences Education, Secondary
This degree will prepare you for a career in secondary education anywhere—home or abroad. You’ll leave Bison Hill with credentials that are unmatched. That’s because your professors will invest in you and will model the compassion and dedication needed to help you be successful in working with children and parents anywhere in the world.
Sociology
This degree will equip you to understand the importance and influence of social structures and social interactions on both individual and group behaviors. At OBU, you will develop the analytical and relational tools needed in a complex and rapidly changing 21st-century world.
Sport Psychology
In OBU’s sport psychology program you will embark on a journey to understand the intricate relationship between the human mind and athletic performance. This fascinating field of study is designed to equip you with both psychological expertise and practical skills while offering you a unique blend of theory and practical experiences.
Graduate Programs
Marriage and Family Therapy
The MFT graduate program trains you to provide therapeutic services from a relational and systemic perspective in counseling agencies, schools, hospitals, churches, on the mission field and in private practice. Our program equips you to apply professional skills in order to bring healing to families, couples and individuals.
World-Class Faculty
OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.
Dr. Bret Roark
Chair, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Ralph and Marie Barby Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology
Dr. Jonathan Ashbach
Elizabeth Randel and Ana Scales Assistant Professor in American Constitutional Law
and Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dr. Karen Longest
Associate Dean for Faculty Development,
Professor of Psychology, and
Director for the Center of Teaching Excellence
