Behavioral Sciences & Leadership
Your success in any field will depend largely on your understanding of yourself, others, and how teams work together. The Behavioral Sciences major lays the foundation for this understanding and allows cadets the opportunity to map a path of study through a diverse menu of courses aligned with their professional and educational goals.
Potential Job Assignments
Most non-rated Air Force Specialty Codes are available to cadets with a Behavioral Sciences Degree. All rated AFSCs are available to Beh Sci majors who are medically qualified.
Within the Air Force
|
Outside the Air Force
|
SAMPLE COURSES
- Advanced Research Methods and Statistical Tools
- Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
- Abnormal Psychology
- Crime and Deviance
- Environmental Sociology
- Learning and Cognition
- Gender, Sexuality, and Society
- Lifespan Development
- Theories of Personality
- Human-Computer Interaction
SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCE
4-DEGREE (FRESHMAN) | 3-DEGREE (SOPHOMORE) | 2-DEGREE (JUNIOR) | FIRSTIE (SENIOR) |
---|---|---|---|
Beh Sci 110 Chem 100 Comp Sci 110 English 111 For Lang 1 For Lang 2 History 100 Math 141 Math 142 Physics 110 Leadership 100 |
Beh Sci 360 P/C/B Option Econ 201 English 211 Engr Mech 220 Law 220 MSS 251 Biology 215 Pol Sci 211 Leadership 200 Beh Sci 361 Beh Sci 231 |
Aero Engr 315 Beh Sci 332 Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Leadership 300 ECE 315 History 300 Philos 310 Soc Sci 311 Adv Open Opt |
Astro Engr 310 Adv STEM Opt Academy Opt Academy Opt Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci Elective Beh Sci 498 Leadership 400Z |
For full program requirements and course descriptions, download the current Course of Instruction Handbook.
CONCENTRATIONS
All cadet majors will choose one of three concentrations to gain depth in a specific discipline.
Psychology concentration: This concentration explores the scientific study of behavior and mental activity from the individual perspective. Coursework emphasizes the rigorous implementation of the scientific method that is foundational to laboratory study, as well as more modern applied focuses. Psychological courses are the conceptual groundwork for those interested in clinical and counseling psychology, as well as the study and practice of leadership. This concentration is an excellent choice for students who want to learn more about the topics introduced in Beh Sci 110 and for students who are preparing to seek a graduate degree in most psychology disciplines.
Sociology concentration: The sociology concentration is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Given the complexities and intricacies of societies and the fact that all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious traditions; from the divisions of race, gender, and social class to the shared beliefs of the common culture. This concentration develops cross-cultural competence and the ability to understand and analyze the cultures, beliefs, values, and institutions of foreign societies. The increased cross-cultural competency gained from this concentration will enhance your ability to lead diverse teams in most Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs), including pilot, navigator, and other rated career fields as well as most non-rated career fields.
Human factors concentration: Human Factors (HF) is a scientific discipline that brings together psychology and design to develop effective systems based on human capabilities and limitations. Students will learn methods and concepts from experimental psychology, sensation and perception, cognition, physiology, human-computer interaction, and ergonomics. Applications include aviation, medicine, space, sports, and human-centered design of technology. Cadets will have the opportunity to study with faculty using eye-tracking, virtual reality, Tesla Model X, humanoid robots, and similar technologies. After successfully completing this degree program, cadets will be prepared for graduate work in human factors and ergonomics, human systems integration, human-computer interaction, and related degree programs.
NOTE: This concentration is not an accredited engineering degree; cadets interested in graduating with an HF-related accredited engineering degree should consider a Systems Engineering degree with an HF emphasis.
VALIDATION AND TRANSFER CREDITS
Beh Sci 110 – Intro to Behavioral Sciences:
- AP Psychology Test = 5
- IB Psychology Test = 6/7
- Grade of “A” in an Intro to Psychology Course taught at an accredited undergraduate level institution. Case-by-case considered; see the Behavioral Sciences 110 Course Director. “A-” or below not considered.Grade of “A” in an Intro to Psychology Course taught at an accredited undergraduate level institution. Case-by-case considered; see the Behavioral Sciences 110 Course Director. “A-” or below not considered.
Other courses are available for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis. Contact the advisor-in-charge for more details.
CONTACT US
behsci_info@afacademy.af.edu
(719) 333-2514