B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Behavioral and Social Science Online
Expand your horizons with a versatile liberal arts education that empowers you to think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate with others to creatively solve problems.
Program Overview
See a snapshot of our online B.A. Liberal Arts – Behavioral and Social Science
Prepare for a variety of satisfying careers when you earn an online Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts Studies with a concentration in Behavioral and Social Science from Avila University. Develop humanities expertise in topics such as religion, pop culture, and psychology while also selecting elective courses that align with your personal interests. Make your passion your profession with this uniquely personalized degree that provides you with a strong educational foundation in a range of highly marketable fields.
At Avila, we combine the flexibility of a 100% online, asynchronous format with the support of a highly engaged, attentive faculty dedicated to developing you as a whole person. Enjoy the benefits of a values-based, private school education for an affordable price.
Career opportunities:
- HR Coordinator
- Sales Associate
- Program Administrator
- HR Coordinator
- Sales Associate
- Program Administrator
Tuition
Choose our cost-effective online program
The B.A. Liberal Arts – Behavioral and Social Science online program tuition is the same affordable, pay-as-you-go rate for all U.S. residents. Fees are included in the total tuition, and financial aid may be available.
Plus, a Prior Learning Assessment evaluates knowledge gained outside traditional academic environments and may help reduce your tuition and time to completion.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. Liberal Arts – Behavioral and Social Science | $290 | $870 |
Transfer Your Credits for Lower Tuition
Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.
Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student’s Avila record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted. Amount of transfer credits accepted varies by program. View the desired program’s webpage for information about its transfer credit parameters.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Know our application deadlines and class schedules
Ideal for working professionals, the B.A. Liberal Arts – Behavioral and Social Science online program features 8-week courses and multiple start dates each year so you can begin at the time that works best for you. View the full calendar for all upcoming starts and corresponding deadlines.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 2025 | 1/6/25 | 12/20/24 | 12/20/24 | 1/3/25 | 1/6/25 | 3/2/25 | 8 weeks |
| Spring 2 2025 | 3/3/25 | 2/26/25 | 2/26/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/3/25 | 5/4/25 | 8 weeks |
Now enrolling:
Ready to take the next steps toward earning your degree?
Admissions
Explore our admission requirements for this behavioral science degree online
We’ve simplified the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. You can find all requirements for admission to the Avila online B.A. Liberal Arts – Behavioral and Social Science below.
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts
- 2.0 GPA in prior coursework
- Transfer up to 90 credits
In order to be eligible to receive a bachelor’s degree from Avila University, you must have the following:
- High school diploma
- Minimum 2.0 GPA on college coursework or 2.0 GPA on high school conferred transcript
- Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
Submit all official transcripts to:
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Avila University
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64145
Courses
Read about our social science degree online courses
In order to earn the B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Behavioral and Social Science online, you will complete 120 credit hours, including 35 credit hours of general education requirements, 15 credit hours of major requirements, 21 credit hours of concentration courses, and 49 credit hours of electives.
Course objectives:
- Develop and maintain interpersonal, small group and public communication skills for use in a career and social context.
- Apply verbal and non-verbal components of oral communication to real life situations.
Course objectives:
- Use the computer to generate multiple drafts and demonstrate writing as a process.
- Strengthen skills in the construction and logical development of a clear and concise thesis.
Course objectives:
- Identify and explain the significance of major works of art.
- Recognize & describe the aesthetic elements which mark selected periods & artists.
Course objectives:
- Identify the basic molecules of life and to predict their properties and reactions.
- Connect the genetics of all biological life and understand the basic flow of genetic information.
Course objectives:
- Appreciate the aesthetic qualities of literary texts and develop an awareness of influential critical and interpretive methods
- Analyze and interpret works from different historical and cultural traditions using appropriate critical terms of literary analysis and responding to questions about genre, style, and content or theme
Course objectives:
- Knowledge: Identify and characterize the major questions of United States and World history in terms of continuity and change using relevant political, economic, social, religious, and cultural institutions, traditions, and beliefs.
- Theory: Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of race, gender, class, ethnicity, or religion on the experiences of ordinary and extraordinary people of the past using current historical theory and methodology.
Course objectives:
- Perform operation with real numbers. Evaluate algebraic expressions.
- Solve and apply linear equations and inequalities.
Course objectives:
- Obtain knowledge of basic ethical theories and how they apply to all areas of live: personal, professional and societal.
- Recognize the differences between moral absolutism, relativism and pluralism.
Course objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the sociological perspective
- Compare and contrast the major concepts, ideas and methods of sociology
Course objectives:
- Learn the primary features of the major world religious systems, with special focus on scriptures, social and cultural formations, history, myths and rituals, ethics, and the category “sacred”
- Learn to interrogate the methodologies used in discussing the categories of “world religions” and “religious experience,” with particular focus on the role that dominant narratives and elite discourses play in the formation of these systems
Course objectives:
- Examine the development of peace research and peace studies over the last 50 years.
- Understand the breadth and scope of the interdisciplinary field of peace studies.
Course objectives:
- Synthesize the learning from previous learning into a comprehensive reflection on growth of mindset and understanding of various topics
- Synthesize various research and self-assessment activities into a plan for development that is applicable in modern organizations.
Course objectives:
- Use logical approaches in processing information and forming conclusions.
- Make and evaluate decisions based on set criteria and projections.
Course objectives:
- Operate a computer using productivity applications to accomplish tasks
- Show knowledge of social and ethical issues relating to computer use
Course objectives:
- Organize data into appropriate graphical and tabular representations.
- Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and dispersion.
Course objectives:
1: Knowledge Base in Psychology
1.1a: Use basic psychological terminology, concepts, and theories in psychology to explain behavior and mental processes.
1.1b: Explain why psychology is a science with the primary objectives of describing, understanding, predicting, and controlling behavior and mental processes.
1.2a: Identify key characteristics of major content domains in psychology (e.g., cognition and learning, developmental, biological, and sociocultural).
2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
2.1b: Use psychology concepts to explain personal experiences and recognize the potential for flaws in behavioral explanations based on simplistic, personal theories.
2.1a: Describe the value and limitations of using theories to explain behavioral phenomena.
2.1b: Describe common fallacies in thinking (e.g. confirmation bias, post hoc explanations, implying causation from correlation) that impair accurate conclusions and predictions.
2.2b: Describe what kinds of additional information beyond personal experience are acceptable in developing behavioral explanations (i.e., popular press reports vs. scientific findings).
3: Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
3.1a Describe key regulations in the APA Ethics Code for protection of human or nonhuman research participants.
5: Professional Development
5.1d Describe how psychology’s content applies to business, health care, educational, and other workplace settings.
Course objectives:
- Identify the principal theories that describe leadership behavior.
- Identify the models for analyzing leadership behavior and leadership effectiveness.
- Synthesize various theories and self-assessment activities into a plan for development that is applicable in modern organizations.
Course objectives:
- Define and describe terms and concepts associated with, and identify actual examples of, diversity in the context of various environments.
- Differentiate between Cultural Awareness, Cultural Appreciation, and Cultural Appropriation.
- Describe the roots and current state of the feminist movement and how it relates to today’s diversity oriented workplaces.
- Analyze the data and claims surrounding the gender wage gap.
Course objectives:
- Employ active listening techniques, including summarizing, paraphrasing, questioning and nonverbal response.
- Make a clear, well-organized verbal presentation
- Employ skeptical, evaluative, and logical approaches in processing information and drawing conclusions
- Analyze one’s own thinking processes, including how one’s experiences, feelings, ideas, and intuition affect thinking.
- Critically examine the relationship between belief and reason and the integration and influence of each.
- Know the foundational elements (concepts, terms, theories, figures, methodologies, and historical contributions) in cognitive psychology.
- Learn how researchers in the field of cognitive psychology can study mental processes that cannot be directly observed (i.e. attention, memory).
- Know the key vocabulary and concepts in the field well enough to discuss them with an audience, both written and oral.
- Use knowledge of cognitive psychology to help others.
