About the B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABS) Degree Completion Program
National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABS) is a degree completion program designed for busy working adults who want to complete their undergraduate degree for professional advancement or personal accomplishment. Our courses equip you with the tools to effectively work with, and lead, groups of people. This interdisciplinary program combines psychology, sociology, communications and cultural and organizational studies to provide a framework for understanding human behavior, motivation and leadership. The program requires a minimum of 90 quarter hours of previous college credit for acceptance.
Program Highlights
Flexible Schedule
Choose between fully online and campus-based class formats, including weekend and evening class options. Fit your degree around your busy schedule.
Learning Community
Engage with your peers as you stay with the same cohort of fellow students throughout the entire program. Build connections through frequent roundtable discussions that will last beyond graduation.
Customized Degree
Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals. Two independent study projects throughout the program allow you to explore topics interesting to you through self-guided research. You can further enhance your ABS degree with a minor or concentration, such as our new Entrepreneurship concentration.
Accelerated M.A.T. Option
Interested in applying knowledge of human behavior to the classroom as a licensed educator? NLU offers the opportunity for B.A. Applied Behavior Science candidates to take graduate-level teacher preparation coursework as an undergraduate. In as little as one year after completing their Bachelor’s degree, students in this accelerated pathway can earn an M.A.T. in Elementary Education and an Illinois teaching license (PEL). This joint initiative not only offers savings in cost but in time as well!
Career Readiness
Advance in your current position or transition to a new career with our flexible ABS degree. Human Resources, Social Work, Psychology and Non-Profit Management are just a few of the job fields you’ll be prepared for.
What You Will Learn
NLU’s Applied Behavioral Sciences degree program has been in existence since 1978 and was one of the first of its kind. Our program prepares you to maximize the contributions of individuals and groups in diverse workplaces. Highlights of what you’ll learn include:
Research and Fieldwork
Methods of social science research; Designing research projects; Writing a research proposal; Data analysis; Constructing a research report; Identifying and evaluating sources; Compiling a literature review.
Human Behavior and Relationships
Economic models of human behavior; Individual and group decision making; Components of healthy relationships; Effective interpersonal communication; Group dynamics and behavior; Problem solving and resolving conflicts within groups.
Society and Ethics
Economic, political, and social factors of difference; Intersections of power, ideology, and inequality; Intercultural interactions; Ethical and moral dilemmas; Ethical reasoning.
Communication
Critical thinking and writing; Professional presentation skills; Writing arguments, summaries, and analyses; Using technology to communicate; Communication in teams and organizations.
Leadership and Management
Leadership approaches and strategies; Influencing others; Promoting effectiveness in organizations; Organizational systems and processes; Employee/Subordinate development; Problem solving and motivation.
Career Outlook
With a B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences, you can make a difference in nonprofit, governmental, corporate, educational and other settings that need to maximize their human capital and serve clients. Many careers are fast-growing, as well. Human Resources Manager positions are expected to grow 6 percent from 2019-2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Social Services positions, meanwhile, are projected to grow 13 percent during this period, while Training and Development Specialist positions will grow 9 percent.*
You’ll also be prepared for careers in the following areas:
- Non-Profit Management
- Human Resources
- Corporate Training
- Family Support Services
- Consumer Science
- Social Services
- Project Management
- Youth Services
- Customer Service
- Law Enforcement
- Community Liaison
The ABS degree can also set you up for graduate work in Psychology, Sociology, Business, and Education.
*https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm
