If topics such as religion, pop culture and psychology interest you, a number of career opportunities are available with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science. A liberal arts degree allows students to explore a variety of subjects that are beneficial in a broad range of career paths before deciding on a major.
Obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in behavioral and social science prepares you for roles in human resources, sales, counseling, research, behavior intervention and more with a personalized learning experience. Avila University offers a B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Behavioral and Social Science online program that equips graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue numerous career options.
What Is a Behavioral Science Degree?
The study of human actions and interactions includes psychology, sociology, anthropology and cognitive science. Indeed describes this area of study as having two emphases: neural decision sciences and social-communication sciences.
The study of how we make decisions has evolved over the years, and decision neuroscience is a relatively new way of examining decision-making. It includes cognitive theory, social psychology, social neuroscience, psychobiology and management science. In other words, it’s the study of how our brains handle interactions with others. This includes physiological issues and thoughts, how education and environment alter the brain, and how actions and language are used in group interactions.
The social-communication sciences include behavioral science, anthropology, organizational behavior, organizational ecology and social networks. These studies focus on how people respond to market shifts, how different cultures view society, how family and religion connect people, and how organizations affect the interactions of people.
Jobs in Human Resources, Sales and Program Administration
The career opportunities for graduates of Avila’s degree are varied. However, three popular career fields for those with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science include HR coordinator, sales associate and program administrator.
A human resources coordinator may help with an organization’s hiring process and onboarding. They may also maintain employee files and handle compensation, benefits, training and employee relations responsibilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for this position is $67,650 per year, and the job outlook is favorable with a faster-than-average growth potential.
Sales positions involve a lot of relationship management and communication skills, and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science can be very beneficial for a sales professional. Depending on the industry, salaries can reach over $116,000 per year for technical sales. Many sales positions offer a low base salary but also pay commissions on actual sales, so the potential earnings can be much higher.
Program managers or administrators in the social and community service field coordinate and supervise programs that support public well-being. These are often with nonprofit organizations, for-profit social service companies and government agencies. The BLS predicts this is a fast-growing job market, with an average annual salary is $77,030.
More Career Options With a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral and Social Science
While HR coordinator, sales associate and program administrator are some of the more popular career choices for graduates of Avila’s program, graduates’ choices do not need to stop there. Indeed notes that a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science can lead to careers such as research assistants working with professors and scientists, or working as registered behavior technicians helping people with developmental disabilities to improve their quality of life. Intervention specialists work with children with developmental disabilities to succeed in school. The average salaries for these positions range from about $40,000 to $48,000 per year.
This degree also prepares graduates for jobs such as market researcher, crime analyst, social worker or health services director. The average annual salaries for these positions range from about $60,000 to about $82,000 per year, per Indeed. Other job opportunities for those with this degree are grant writer, probation officer, intelligence analyst, police officer, political consultant, financial analyst, urban planner, geographer and many more diverse fields.
While Avila University’s B.A. in Behavioral and Social Science online program provides a foundation for success, some graduates may pursue additional qualifications and degrees with their foundational knowledge. Avila’s program is the ideal starting place for these professionals. For example, students with a graduate degree in counseling, special education or a related field in addition to a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and social science have further career opportunities like addiction counseling, mental health counseling or becoming board-certified behavior analysts. These positions typically pay between $53,000 and $78,000 per year. A master’s degree can also open up jobs in anthropology and psychology that pay significantly more.
Expanding Your Career Potential With a B.A. in Behavioral and Social Science
Earning a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in behavioral and social science is easy to achieve with the fully online program from Avila University. In addition to the degree’s general education requirements, this program includes courses in liberal arts studies, religion, popular culture and abnormal psychology. The behavioral and social sciences courses discuss topics like conflict resolution, general psychology, leadership, diversity in the workplace and more.
With expansive skills in a variety of subjects, those with a liberal arts degree with a focus on behavioral and social science are ready for any professional opportunity in their future. This includes additional qualifications or degrees.
Learn more about Avila University’s online B.A. in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Behavioral and Social Science program.
