Behavioral Science Major

Behavioral science is a major that typically falls into the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies category.

There are 19 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in behavioral science, 75 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 29 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 9 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Behavioral Science Degree?

Behavioral science is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #92 in popularity. About 3,700 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017. This major is dominated by women with about 80.7% of recent graduates being female.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of behavioral science majors is as follows:

• Asian: 1.8%
• Black or African American: 22.9%
• Hispanic or Latino: 13.9%
• White: 41.3%
• Non-Resident Alien: 1.5%
• Other Races: 18.7%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in behavioral science. About 1.5% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending behavioral science majors to the U.S. are Canada, India and Malaysia.

What Will You Learn as a Behavioral Science Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to behavioral science to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Behavioral Science Majors

A major in behavioral science should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

Skills for Behavioral Science Majors

A major in behavioral science prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

Abilities for Behavioral Science Majors

A major in behavioral science will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

What Can You Do With a Behavioral Science Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with behavioral science:

Careers Related to Behavioral Science

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Transportation Planners	6.7%	$81,340
Life Scientists	9%	$78,190
Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists	10.3%	$100,770
Community and Social Service Specialists	13.2%	$42,620

Behavioral Science Major Salary

Behavioral science majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $46,000 to $89,000. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

Your salary will be largely dependent on the career path you follow and what area of the country (or world) you work. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Behavioral Science Major Jobs

Some careers associated with behavioral science require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for behavioral science careers below.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Behavioral Science

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	0%
Post-Secondary Certificate	0%
Some College Courses	0%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	0%
Bachelor's Degree	36.2%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	0%
Master's Degree	12.1%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	4%
Post-Doctoral Training	48.2%

Online Behavioral Science Programs

There are 75 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, with 9 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Many learners are drawn to online programs due to the ease of use and flexibility. Students should be warned that those who enroll in online programs can take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to drop out.

Is a Behavioral Science Major Worth It?

The median salary for a behavioral science grad is $86,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 120% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $937,000 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Biological & Physical Science
• Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
• Systems Theory
• Mathematics & Computer Science
• Biopsychology
• Gerontology
• Historic Preservation
• Medieval Studies
• Museum Studies
• Science, Technology & Society
• Accounting & Computer Science
• Behavioral Science
• Natural Sciences
• Nutrition Science
• International Studies
• Holocaust Studies
• Classical & Ancient Studies
• Multicultural & Diversity Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Cultural Studies & Analysis
• Human Biology
• Dispute Resolution
• Maritime Studies
• Computational Science
• Human Computer Interaction
• Marine Science
• Sustainability Science
• Other Interdisciplinary Studies

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
Image Credit: Polimerek via License