School of Human Behavior

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Division Chair

Dr. Joshua Dara

Faculty

Bridges, Dara, Magee, B. Pounds, J. Pounds, Roberts

The courses in this division are designed for (1) those who desire training for a variety of vocations in human relations and (2) those who seek a background study of the cultural milieu, social relationships, and individual psychology of human behavior in preparation for other professions. This division presents both a practical and a scientific analysis of human behavior in social life.

There are three major programs in the human behavior division: criminal justice, psychology, and social work. Students enrolled in the various programs in this division will be expected to take an exit examination in their major subject area during their last semester before graduation.

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice provides a foundational education and understanding of the criminal justice discipline involving police, courts, and corrections. The program is designed to equip the student with critical and analytical skills in the promotion of justice, public safety, and crime prevention. It also offers broad perspectives on law, law enforcement, the judicial system, and correctional programs. The Criminal Justice degree will provide students with quality, high level instruction that will prepare the graduate for a wide array of employment opportunities at local, state, or federal governmental levels with specialization in law enforcement, public safety, homeland security, or in emergency response.

Psychology

The psychology program is designed to give students a strong foundation in understanding human behavior and mental processes in a liberal arts education with the primary focus of developing skills, knowledge, and abilities to pursue service to God and others. Students completing the requirements for a major in psychology will have instruction in the physiological functioning of the brain and its effects on the individual, research methodology, human development, history of psychology and major theories, and mental health illnesses and treatment. In addition, students will be exposed to basic skills and techniques in counseling and have opportunities for implementing these skills in a clinical setting. Students completing the major requirements in psychology will have an excellent knowledge base for application to graduate studies in the fields of psychology and counseling.

Bachelor of Social Work

Grounded in a Christ-centered worldview with a liberal arts foundation, the Louisiana College Baccalaureate Social Work Program seeks to prepare students for both entry-level generalist social work practice and graduate social work education. The program emphasizes a “Person in Environment” perspective to understand the totality of the human experience - social, spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. The BSW program trains students to compassionately serve, effectively lead, and competently engage in a practice that enhances human well-being and promotes social justice for vulnerable populations.

We are the only faith based, accredited BSW program in the state, and students completing the program receive a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Students earning the BSW degree are eligible to apply to advanced standing Master of Social Work Programs, allowing them to complete the graduate degree in as little as 10 months to 18 months, depending on the program to which they apply. The social work faculty in the Louisiana College BSW program are experienced, licensed professionals in the field who diligently strive to foster a rich, varied, learning environment, using numerous methods of instruction. Some of these include “practice role-plays”, field trips, community service-learning projects, creative projects, hands-on learning activities, group discussions, and lectures that incorporate media and technology. Our small class sizes provide ample opportunities to engage in discussions that challenge critical thinking, promote scientific inquiry, and enhance collegiate relationship building through lasting friendships with other students.

Bachelor of Social Work Program Mission

The mission of the Louisiana College Bachelor of Social Work Program is to prepare students within an academically challenging, Christ-centered context to become competent, compassionate, and ethical generalist social workers who facilitate effective change in their communities and across the globe.

Bachelor of Social Work Program Goals

1. The program will produce students who competently apply generalist social work knowledge, values, and skills as they engage as leaders in diverse communities.
2. The program will produce students who have the ability to ethically integrate Christian values with their practice, as well as the values and ethical principles of the social work profession, in a rapidly changing world.
3. The program will train students to continually seek to understand human diversity and social justice issues and to become skilled at engaging and advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations affected by these issues at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
4. The program will prepare students to become career-long learners who critically think about the populations they serve and the contemporary issues of our society, using an informed knowledge base.

Bachelor of Social Work Program Admission and Application Process

Students desiring admission to the Social Work Program must meet the following criteria:

1)  Successfully complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of college curriculum. The courses must include, but are not limited to the following courses:  

•    Natural Sciences (4 hours; 3 hour lecture; 1 hour lab)
•    English 101 & 102
•    History 101 & 102
•    Political Science 232
•    Psychology 220
•    Social Work 101
•    Social Science (3 hours)

    ***Adherence to the suggested social work curriculum design makes it possible for the student to complete these courses by the end of the second semester of the student’s sophomore year of college. If a student is enrolled in any of the courses above at the time of application, program admission will be provisional upon successful completion of the course(s).

2)  Earn a cumulative G.P.A of 2.5 by the time of application and maintain that 2.5 G.P.A. for graduation, while earning no grade less than a “C” in all core social work course requirements.

3)  A student will be notified in writing when he or she has met requirements to apply for admission to the program. Upon notification of eligibility for program admission, the student will complete and submit the program application form to the Director of the Social Work Program. See Appendix A in the student handbook for this application form. While a copy of this form will be provided to the student with the notificaion letter, it can also be located online on the program’s web page.

4)  Following submission of the admission packet to the Director of the Social Work Program, the student will be scheduled for an admission interview with the Admission Committee. The purpose of the interview is to assess the student’s understanding of social work and the level of commitment to this profession as a career choice. The interview, combined with the admission application, serve as an overall assessment of the student’s personal value system, level of self-awareness, and evaluation of the student’s strengths and limitations.

5)  Upon completion of the interview and assessment by the Admissions Committee, the student will be notified in writing of the decision regarding acceptance into the BSW Program. The student will also be given an interview feedback form to inform the student of how the Admissions Committee perceived the student’s strengths, areas for growth, and any other helpful feedback, in order to aid the student in the process of ongoing self-reflection and growth required by this profession.

Degrees

The division offers the following degrees:

Programs

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Social Work

• Criminal Justice Minor
• Psychology Minor
• Social Work Minor

Courses

• CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
• CJ 201 Criminal Law
• CJ 202 Correctional Systems and Institutions
• CJ 223 Social Problems
• CJ 301 Civil Law
• CJ 302 Diversity in Criminal Justice
• CJ 303 Police-Community Relations
• CJ 310 Legal Aspects of Criminal Justice
• CJ 311 Homeland Security
• CJ 315 Juvenile Delinquency
• CJ 330 Criminal Investigation
• CJ 338 Seminar in Criminology
• CJ 400 Special Topics in Criminal Justice
• CJ 401 Victimology
• CJ 403 Administration/Organization of Criminal Justice Agencies
• CJ 404 Ethics in Criminal Justice
• CJ 405 Field Placement
• CJ 449 Directed Study in Criminal Justice

• PY 220 Introduction to Psychology
• PY 223 Social Problems
• PY 230 Developmental Psychology
• PY 320 Psychology of Religion
• PY 344 Learning and Cognition
• PY 345 Psychology of Personal Relationships
• PY 347 Tests and Measurements
• PY 348 Physiological Psychology
• PY 349 Theories of Personality
• PY 359 Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences
• PY 370 Interpersonal Relationship Skills
• PY 400 Special Topics in Psychology
• PY 409 Experimental Psychology: Methods of Research
• PY 410 The Meaning of Marriage
• PY 411 History of Modern Psychology
• PY 413 Abnormal Psychology
• PY 414 Helping Skills
• PY 416 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• PY 417 Independent Reading and Research in Psychology
• PY 422 Introduction to Research and Writing for Psychology
• PY 433 Death and Dying, Grief and Loss
• PY 499 Psychology Practicum

• SW 101 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
• SW 223 Social Problems
• SW 249 Interviewing Skills
• SW 250 Social Work Practice I
• SW 251 Social Work Practice II
• SW 325 Substance Abuse and Addictions
• SW 326 Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect
• SW 349 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SW 350 Social Research Methods
• SW 359 Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences
• SW 380 Social Work Practice III, Organizations and Communities
• SW 400 Special Topics in Social Work
• SW 429 Social Welfare Policy and Analysis
• SW 433 Death and Dying, Grief and Loss
• SW 436 Field Practicum
• SW 438 Field Seminar
• SW 449 Directed Study in Social Work
• SW 450 Social Work Ethics

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