Applied Behavioral Science

Applied Behavioral Science Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) is a major or minor for students who wish to pursue a career that will help others improve their lives. The faculty in the ABS department are behavioral, child-clinical, and developmental psychologists, educators, and sociologists. Their graduates go on to pursue careers and graduate school in psychology, public health, human services, education, law, medicine, and nursing. If you are interested in one or more of these career areas, then you will find that our courses will help you understand behavior and teach you to provide practical evidence-based solutions to socially important problems. As seniors, our majors complete a year-long practicum where they put into practice their knowledge of the principles and problem-solving techniques they learned in their courses. As an ABS major, you will choose your own practicum. Do you want to work with infants, children, whole communities, youths in the criminal justice system, or individuals with disabilities such as autism? We can help you do this before you ABSC students get lots of real-world experience to graduate. This practical experience increases your prepare them for careers in helping professions. chances of succeeding in a number of postgraduation activities (e.g., obtaining employment in social service, school, or hospital settings or admission into graduate, law, or medical school). Getting Started: Take one of our introductory classes. ABSC 100 Introduction to Applied Behavioral Science (required course for ABS majors and minors). In this class you will learn a lot about human behavior. This knowledge has practical applications. For example, you will learn how behavioral scientists have helped children and their families overcome autism. You will learn how behavioral scientists have improved education. You will learn how they have successfully treated drug abuse. You will also learn about the many different careers available to students who study applied behavioral science. This course uses teaching techniques that ensure effective but painless student learning. ABSC 150/151 Community Leadership (elective credit) In this course you will learn about solving problems facing communities (e.g., crime and drug abuse). You will also learn leadership skills so that you can help solve these real-world problems. ABSC 160 Introduction to Child Behavior and Development (elective credit) Here you will learn about typical and atypical behavior and development from conception to preadolescence. Students interested in working with children after they graduate will find this course particularly useful. For more information about ABS classes, the major, the minor, and our internship opportunities available to undergraduate students,, visit our website at http://www.absc.ku.edu/