UTSA students collaborate and discuss their observations during classroom activity.
AUGUST 7, 2025 — UTSA will launch a new bachelor of science in behavioral science degree program this fall through the College of Education and Human Development.
The innovative program is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in counseling, educational psychology and applied behavioral analysis, particularly in Texas and rural communities where health service gaps continue to widen.
With a focus on practical skills and career readiness, the program equips students with both professional credentials and the interpersonal skills increasingly valued by employers.
“In a world that’s very much hurting, we are building base skills for any profession, skills that help students connect, build relationships and understand human needs,” said Jennifer Cook, associate professor in the UTSA Department of Counseling and co-chair of the task force that developed the program. “Employers now value skills like relationship-building and problem-solving over traditional technical skills.”
— Jennifer Cook
A UTSA Department of Counseling faculty member leads a discussion on observation techniques in a supervision room.
The behavioral science degree program is the newest of 26 degrees offered by the College of Education and Human Development, which has more than 1,500 students enrolled for Fall 2025. The new program is currently enrolling with a focus on students in lower division classes. Two courses being offered this fall under the behavioral science degree are “Diversity in Early Childhood” and “Learning How to Learn.”
The in-person degree program takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise from across departments in the college, including the Department of Counseling and the Department of Educational Psychology.
Students will choose one of four specialized tracks, each designed to align with specific career paths and graduate school opportunities:
Mario Torres, dean of the UTSA College of Education and Human Development, said he appreciates how the behavioral science program emphasizes the return on investment notion that a college degree should prepare students for a variety of career pathways.
“The interdisciplinary curriculum combined with complementary field-based components prepares students with skills and expertise that are highly transferable and relevant to the fast-evolving job market and knowledge economy that we see today,” Torres said.
Experiential learning will be a central component of the program. Students will gain field experience working with local service providers, giving them practical exposure to their chosen disciplines.
“We anticipate students will be able to have direct learning activities related to their certifications they are seeking,” said John Davis, associate professor in the UTSA Department of Educational Psychology and co-chair of the task force that developed the program. “Students will come out of the program confident and job ready.”
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