Key Information for Students

The Behavioral Science program is great for you if:

• you care about making a difference in the lives of others and want to serve your community; 
• you are interested in working with diverse groups of people and helping others who are experiencing difficult situations; 
• you are prepared for a rigorous career and can effectively manage stressful situations; 
• you are interested in learning effective interpersonal communication techniques with diverse populations; 
• you are willing to reflect on your experiences and assess the impact of those experiences in working with others; and
• you want to gain practical and theoretical experience that will help you clarify your career path in a behavioral science field. 

Key information and advice for students in the Behavioral Science program:

• This degree provides a sound foundation for those wishing to continue towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in criminal justice, human services, social work, substance use disorders, or psychology.
• Students pursuing public service careers will benefit by using electives from related disciplines in the behavioral sciences. 
• The Professional Field Experience requirement in this program connects students to employment settings and can provide valuable employment references. 
• Background checks are common in some behavioral science fields. Those with prior justice system involvement are encouraged to research employment exclusions that may arise depending on role, employer, and/or licensing criteria.

The Behavioral Science program prepares you for careers such as:

• Criminal Justice careers: State, local, and county law enforcement; corrections; corporate security; private investigations; courtroom staff; victim services; or restorative justice. With an advanced degree, there are career opportunities in federal law enforcement; legal and para-legal services; forensics; and criminology. 
• Human Services careers: Personal care aid, Respite Care Worker, Advocate, Community Organizer, Social Services assistant. With an advanced degree, students may seek careers as a paralegal, social worker, case manager, counselor, or substance abuse counselor.

Job outlook in Behavioral Science in the state of Vermont:

For up-to-date Vermont labor market information, including salary information and growth projections, please visit the Economic and Labor Market Information at the Vermont Department of Labor Website: http://www.vtlmi.info/