The Social and Behavioral Science Department offers course work in History, Political Science, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Sociology, and Anthropology that enables students to acquire knowledge and develop ideas, attitudes, and skills that not only provide a sound basis for appreciation of peoples and cultures, but also serve to prepare the graduate for employment in many fields. Specific majors are offered in History, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as more general majors in the Social and Behavioral Sciences with concentrations in a wide range of disciplines.
A Bachelor’s Degree in one of the disciplines offered by this department prepares a graduate for employment in a variety of occupations. The analytical, research, and writing skills learned in these programs are adaptable to almost any occupational requirements of jobs in both the public and private sectors, including government and industry.
Graduates from these programs have gone on to successful careers in government service and research, including counseling, teaching, and other areas. In the private sector, almost every employer needs employees with the skills acquired in these programs.
In cooperation with Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, the department offers a pre-law curriculum leading to a B.S. degree in Social Science that has been designed to promote an ethical, social and environmental conscience in addition to strengthening one's potential for becoming a successful law school student.
In recent years, many of our graduates have successfully completed law schools throughout the Southeast, including Samford University, the University of Alabama, and Jones School of Law, while others have gone on to complete graduate school programs in Education, History, Political Science, Museum Studies, Psychology, and Sociology.
In addition to the challenging course work offered in these programs, Faulkner University is dedicated to expanding the horizons of its students outside the classroom through extensive use of practicums, guided field-trips, and activity-based research in the work setting. Each semester Faulkner students participate in hands-on learning through: attendance at professional meetings, such as the Southern Historical Association; Civil War Battlefield tours; Biblical Archaeology tours; and work experience at the Alabama Archives, the Governor's Office, Museums, and at various local educational and mental health facilities.
Graduate Performance (May, 2005) Since 1992 our department has graduated 107 students in History, Pre-Law, Political Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Psychology. Of those graduating, 67 are employed in their fields of study. Of the 107 graduates, 104 applied to graduate school and were accepted. Of that 104, 40 have completed their master's degrees, 10 have completed Juris Doctor's degrees, and at least one has completed a PhD in his field. All in all, our department is very gratified to report that we appear to be very successful at preparing our graduates for employment in the field as well as preparing them for graduate school.
Thanks,
Ed Hicks
V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies In addition to regular faculty in the department, several of the counseling courses taught as part of the Bible program are cross-listed and majors in the Social and Behavioral Science are exposed to this course-work from a Biblical perspective.