Studying behavioral health and psychology can open many doors. This wide-reaching field is more than working one-on-one with patients and people. It also includes understanding how humans behave. Understanding human behavior and how it manifests is key to having a successful career in the behavioral health field.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an online completion degree in B.S. in Applied Psychology to help students achieve their career goals. Here, our staff discusses what skills you need for behavioral health jobs and what makes our program stand out.
Character Education Develops Professional Skills
At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, our mission is to awaken, nurture, and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We are enriched by the Lasallian Catholic heritage and use their educational values as the basis of all our programs. We strive to bring out the best in our students and create a culture where critical thinking, problem-solving, and character-building are at the forefront.
It is these three focuses that reinforce our vision. When you choose us, you’ll receive an education that emphasizes excellence, provides flexible access to support your needs, and equips you with professional skills to help cement you as an ethically guided leader in your workplace and community.
Skills Needed for Behavioral Health Jobs
A behavioral health specialist’s hard and soft skills are critical to their success. Some of these skills can be learned through teaching, while other skills you pick up through life experiences.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are concrete, measurable abilities that are specific to a job. You can learn them through courses, training, and real-life work experiences. Examples of hard skills include:
- Knowledge of human behavior
- Knowledge of regulatory practices
- Research design and interpretation
- Knowledge of psychological phenomena
- Psychological principles, theories, and concepts
- Patient data analysis
- Knowledge of healthcare computer systems
- Monitoring vital signs
Soft Skills
Soft skills are innate to a person, but they can also be learned through interpersonal relationships and while resolving conflicts at home, school, and work. These include:
- Problem-solving
- Compassion
- Time management
- Communication
- Patience
- Strong work ethic
- Collaboration
- Flexibility
Earn a B.A. in Applied Psychology From SMUMN
At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, we create programs that equip our students with the hard and soft skills they need to be successful. Our B.A. in Applied Psychology program is no different. This program is fully online and combines cutting-edge research with a strong foundation for future graduate programs. For instance, students who plan on enrolling in our M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services degree program to become licensed therapists may take up to six graduate credits while still enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program.
What Is Applied Psychology?
Applied psychology is the study of human emotions and behavior in everyday situations. It enables you to solve problems associated with human behavior, such as workplace issues, interpersonal conflict, and injustices. It is a broad field and contains many subspecialties, including counseling, forensic psychology, and clinical psychology.
Program Outline
A bachelor’s degree in applied psychology focuses on how to put theory and techniques to work on a day-to-day level. The goal of our program is to influence professionals who can improve performance, build strong client relationships, and strengthen group dynamics. Our program follows the guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association for Undergraduate Psychology programs.
You can complete our 33-credit completion program in one year completely online. This flexible education option makes it easy to balance your life with your learning. We also offer financial aid and scholarships to qualified students to help keep our programs affordable.
Our program includes the standard foundational courses and specific courses, such as:
- Learning and Cognition
- Brain and Behavior
- Abnormal Psychology
Some highlights of our program are:
- Earning the optional Community Health Worker Certificate
- Fast-tracking your graduate degree by taking dual-credit courses toward your master’s degree
- Free access to course materials in other programs
You can also take advantage of our credit transfer policy to accelerate your degree. You can transfer up to 90 completion credits from a past undergrad, associate degree, or technical college credit. You can also receive credit for your military experience or training.
Career Opportunities
Our bachelor’s program sets you up for career advancement and can prepare you for further graduate studies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this industry are expected to grow up to 21% through 2032. Psychologists work in a range of sectors, including law, business, education, and engineering. Some possible career paths include human resources specialists, which locate talented recruits who fit the company culture, and marketing professionals, which use consumer mindsets and behaviors to create targeted aids and expand customer bases.
Open Doors to Your Future
Take the first step towards a successful career with an Applied Psychology degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. This program will provide you with the skills and training you need for behavioral health jobs in any industry.
We offer six start dates for our B.A. in Applied Psychology completion program. These multiple start dates allow you to apply for admission now and begin your program when it’s convenient for you. Our admission team can answer any questions you have about our program and the application process. Request information today to learn more.
