Child Behavioral Health (BA/BS)

The child behavioral health major provides students with knowledge and skills to improve the behavioral health and wellness of youth. Students will learn how to equitably deliver evidence-based interventions to promote wellness and prevent mental health problems from developing or worsening in children and adolescents. This degree encompasses classroom instruction and supervised practical training by experts in behavioral health. Students will gain over 700 hours of supervised community-based practice as part of this major. Child behavioral health specialists who graduate from this program will be prepared to support the behavioral health and wellness of children and adolescents across identities and abilities and from a variety of family structures and backgrounds in schools, the health care system, and other community settings. With a degree in child behavioral health, you will be part of the next generation of mental health professionals and ready to enter the workforce with the skills necessary to:

• Identify youth who can benefit from early intervention or referral to mental health services
• Equitably deliver evidence-based prevention and intervention programs that promote the well-being of youth 
• Teach youth to identify and regulate emotions, set goals, problem solve, practice mindfulness and other skills to support well-being
• Help children and families establish healthy habits for sleep, physical activity, digital media use, and develop supportive relationships
• Collaborate with other professionals like teachers, psychologists, and physicians to support health and wellness for youth 

The major is designed as a 2 + 2 program with the first two years focused on the completion of core education requirements, bachelor's degree requirements, and pre-major core curriculum in Eugene or another institution. The latter two years involve specialized coursework and applied practical experiences completed at the Ballmer Institute at the University of Oregon Portland.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of health equity and promotion in children and adolescents across identities, abilities, and family backgrounds/structures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of risk and protective factors that affect the behavioral health of children and adolescents, with an emphasis on persistently underserved communities.
• Demonstrate knowledge of prevention and intervention theory, and the ability to identify evidence-based practices and programs, particularly addressing the needs of historically underserved populations.
• Demonstrate foundational intervention skills with children, adolescents, and families from all communities, including culturally responsive and affirming delivery of services and evidence-based programs.
• Demonstrate professionalism across service settings, including understanding of professional ethics, and appropriate consultation with practitioners.

Child Behavioral Health Major Requirements

Students in the child behavioral health major must complete the pre-major core curriculum and the program requirements (listed below).

Pre-major Requirements

 Major Requirements