Areas of Study

Anthropology is the study of humans, cultures, and societies across time and around the world. Students explore how people organize their lives, create meaning, adapt to changing environments, communicate, and interact within communities. The anthropology concentration introduces students to key areas of the field, including cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and the study of human diversity in both the past and present. This concentration provides a strong foundation for careers and graduate study in fields such as cultural resource management, international development, public health, education, nonprofit work, museum and heritage work, research, social services, and other areas where understanding people, cultures, and communities is valuable.

Archaeology and heritage management focuses on understanding, preserving, and interpreting the material and cultural traces of human life. As a subfield of anthropology, archaeology studies people and cultures through artifacts, landscapes, architecture, and other forms of material evidence, especially from the past. Heritage management builds on this work by considering how cultural sites, objects, traditions, and histories are protected, preserved, shared, and interpreted for communities and the public. This concentration provides a strong foundation for students interested in archaeology, cultural resource management, museum and heritage work, conservation, research, tourism, public history, and related fields.

Behavioral Science explores how people think, act, relate, and respond to the world around them. As an interdisciplinary field, it draws from areas such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, development, criminal justice, emergency management, and related social sciences. The BS Behavioral Science degree provides students with a broad foundation in the study of human behavior, culture, society, social issues, and research methods while allowing flexibility to select courses from multiple areas of interest. This program is well suited for students who want to explore connections across the behavioral and social sciences, prepare for a variety of career or graduate study options, or complete a degree plan that incorporates coursework in a flexible and meaningful way.

The Brain and Cognition concentration builds on this foundation of psychology as the study of the mind, behavior, and human experience, by focusing on how people think, learn, remember, perceive, make decisions, and respond to the world around them. Students explore the scientific study of mental processes and behavior while developing skills in research design, data analysis, critical thinking, and communication. This concentration also includes mentored undergraduate research experience, giving students opportunities to contribute to original research with a faculty member and, in some cases, present or publish their work. The Brain and Cognition concentration provides a strong foundation for students interested in graduate study or careers in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, research, healthcare, education, and related fields.

Community and international development focuses on helping communities identify needs, strengthen local capacity, and respond to social, economic, and environmental challenges. This interdisciplinary concentration equips students to understand complex issues such as poverty, inequality, sustainability, health, education, migration, and community resilience. Students explore how organizations, governments, and communities work together to create meaningful change at local, national, and global levels. The Community and International Development concentration provides a strong foundation for students interested in nonprofit work, humanitarian and development organizations, public service, advocacy, community leadership, program planning, and related fields.

Criminal justice focuses on how societies define, respond to, and prevent crime. Students explore the major parts of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections, while also examining the social, legal, and ethical issues that shape public safety and justice. Through the study of law, criminology, policy, and human behavior, the criminal justice concentration provides a strong foundation for students pursuing careers in criminal justice and related fields. It also serves as a valuable area of study for students interested in law, history, political science, social work, sociology, business, development, emergency services, healthcare, and other professions where understanding justice systems, social issues, and human behavior is important.

The Emergency Management Certificate and Emergency Preparedness minor provide undergraduate students with an all-hazards approach to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. Students develop an understanding of emergency planning, incident management, operational coordination, recovery efforts, and after-action assessment. They also build practical skills in ethical decision-making, critical thinking, strategic planning, risk and vulnerability assessment, and collaboration with agencies, organizations, and community stakeholders. These programs provide valuable preparation for students interested in emergency management, public safety, healthcare, government, nonprofit organizations, business continuity, and other fields that require effective planning and response during times of crisis.

Occupational therapists help individuals develop, recover, or adapt the skills needed for daily life, work, learning, and meaningful participation in their communities. This work requires understanding each person’s goals, abilities, environment, and challenges, while identifying creative strategies that support independence and quality of life. Because psychology focuses on the study of human thought, behavior, development, motivation, and well-being, it provides a strong foundation for students preparing for the field of occupational therapy.

The BS Psychology: Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration is a pre-professional pathway for students planning to pursue the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree at Andrews University. Through the accelerated “3+3” track, students complete the first three years of undergraduate coursework in psychology and related prerequisite areas, then begin the OTD program in what would traditionally be their fourth undergraduate year. The first two semesters of the OTD program also count toward completion of the BS Psychology degree, allowing students to complete both the bachelor’s degree and the doctoral degree in six years.

Psychology is the study of the mind, behavior, and human experience. Students explore how people think, feel, develop, interact, and respond to the world around them while building skills in communication, research, critical thinking, and understanding human behavior. An undergraduate degree in psychology provides a strong foundation for a wide range of career paths in human services, education, business, healthcare, research, and many other fields, as well as for graduate study in counseling, psychology, social work, education, health professions, development, organizational leadership, and related areas.

At AU, Psychology is offered as both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Both share the same core and prepare students for a wide range of careers and graduate study opportunities. The primary difference is how coursework is distributed within the 120 credits required for the bachelor’s degree. The B.A. includes 31 major credits with 10 credits of modern language proficiency, while the B.S. includes additional psychology electives instead of language proficiency for a total of 40 major credits.

Sociology is the study of human society, social relationships, and the groups and institutions that shape everyday life. Students explore how people are influenced by families, communities, cultures, organizations, social systems, and broader social forces. Through the study of topics such as identity, inequality, social change, institutions, culture, and group behavior, sociology helps students understand how societies function, where conflicts and challenges emerge, and how people work together to create change. Along the way, students develop strong skills in research, critical thinking, communication, data analysis, and understanding complex social issues. These skills prepare graduates for careers in human services, nonprofit organizations, community development, government, criminal justice, public policy, education, business, healthcare, research, and many other fields, as well as for graduate study in the social sciences and related professions.