Behavioral Psychology Majors
Schools generally don't award degrees in behavioral psychology, but you can major in psychology while pursuing a concentration specific to behavioral psychology. Learn more about degree options and career information.
What Behavioral Psychology Majors Can I Earn?
Most programs usually award a psychology degree with a concentration in an area related to behavioral causes. For example, you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in biobehavioral psychology or in neuroscience and behavior. You can also enroll in a program on a behavioral neuroscience track.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Specializations</b></td><td> Biobehavioral psychology, neuroscience and behavior</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Program Concepts</b></td><td> Behavioral patterns, learning, perception, memory and attention span, neurochemistry</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td> With only a bachelor's degree, students can expect to work as an assistant in a variety of psychology-related fields, as a master's degree is required to work one-on-one with patients</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$47,660 <i>(for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-29)</b></td><td>25% growth <i>(for all substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors)</i>*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatCanILearnByEarningADegreeWithABehavioralSpecialization">What Can I Learn By Earning a Degree with a Behavioral Specialization?</h3><p>If you pursue your psychology major with a behavioral specialization, you'll learn about the biological factors behind behavioral patterns, learning, perception, memory and attention span. The required courses of a behavioral specialization generally cover mental disorders, the physiology of the nervous system, substance abuse, neurochemistry, biochemistry, psychotropic drugs and biotechnology. You can expect to learn about these subjects within the context of human behavior, and where possible, within the context of observations from animal testing.
</p><p>You can also expect to complete many of the core requirements that all psychology majors do. These include courses on basic statistics, psychology research, the history of psychology as a discipline, social science, testing, cognition and learning development.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatShouldIKnowAboutUsingMyDegree">What Should I Know About Using My Degree?</h3><p>Pursuing a behavioral specialization as a psychology major can prepare you to assist psychologists or counselors. With a bachelor's degree you can act as an assistant to a psychologist or a counselor in a community center, a prison or a support group. You could also use your training for a career in substance abuse counseling. You can also major in psychology as an undergraduate student in order to prepare for study in a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program.
</p><p>However, you'll need to earn a graduate degree before you practice psychology as a school psychologist, or therapist. Many states also require a license to work in these positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that clinical, counseling and school psychologists earned a median annual income of $79,820 in 2020. The BLS report also indicates that the median salary of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors was $47,660 that same year.</p>