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. Training elements typically present in graduate degree programs have been brought into this innovative undergraduate major. Students will receive training in applied skills such as relaxation, problem-solving, and flexible thinking; gain 700 hours of applied practice in community settings supervised by clinical faculty; and learn how to effectively work as part of a behavioral health team.

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. The latter two years involve specialized coursework and applied practical experiences completed at the Ballmer Institute at the University of Oregon Portland.

Students interested in pursuing the child behavioral health major should declare the pre-major in child behavioral health at time of admission to the university or, if not admitted to the pre-major (or the pre-major is not yet available), students can declare a professional objective of child behavioral health.

Admission to the CBH major occurs once per year in the spring term. Students who complete the prerequisite requirements; earn a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses; maintain a 3.0 GPA overall; and have documented background check clearance are eligible for admission. Additional admission requirements may be added due to capacity constraints. Admission to the program is competitive and limited to 200 students annually.

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

Courses used to fulfill the pre-major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. Coursework transferred in from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams are acceptable with a mark of P*.

Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be passed with a letter grade of mid-C or a P* where pass/no pass is the only grading option for the course.

Pre-major Requirements

Introductory Psychology/Human Services3-4
Issues for Children and Families
Exploring Family and Human Services
Introduction to Psychology II
Healthy Communities
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion4
Diversity in Human Services
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
Philosophy and Cultural Diversity
Social Inequality
Human Development3-4
Human Development in the Family Context
Developmental Psychology
Total Credits10-12

 Major Requirements

Professional Core
BEHT 412Ethics and Professional Practice for CBHS4
BEHT 481Supervised Practicum I in Child Behavioral Health4
BEHT 482Supervised Practicum II in Child Behavioral Health4
BEHT 487Integrated Practice I in Child Behavioral Health8
BEHT 488Integrated Practice II in Child Behavioral Health8
BEHT 489Integrated Practice III in Child Behavioral Health8
Knowledge Core
BEHT 320Risk and Resilience in Youth Development4
BEHT 321Digital Media and Behavioral Health4
BEHT 340Evidence-Informed Decision-Making4
Skill Development Core
BEHT 411Foundational Interviewing and Counseling Skills4
BEHT 413Screening and Risk Assessment4
BEHT 471Child and Youth Supports and Interventions I4
BEHT 472Child and Youth Supports and Interventions II4
BEHT 473Parent and Family Supports and Interventions4
BEHT 474Community Interventions to Support Youth and Families4
DEI Core
BEHT 350Diversity Equity and Inclusion Theory I3
BEHT 351Diversity Equity and Inclusion II3
DEI Elective Courses (4 courses/12 credits)12
Supporting Behavioral Health of Tribal Youth
Behavioral Health: Asian and Pacific Islander
Supporting Behavioral Health of Latinx Youth
Supporting Behavioral Health of Black Youth
Supporting Neurodiverse and Disabled Youth
Improving Behavioral Health of LGBTQ Youth
Total Credits90

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Child Behavioral Health

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
First term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
PSY 202Z Introduction to Psychology II 4
Core-education course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Sedonc term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
SOC 207
Social Inequality
or Introduction to Ethnic Studies
4
Core-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Third term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
Cultural literacy course in global perspective 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
First term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
PSY 308 Developmental Psychology 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Second term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education in social science 4
Elective course 1
 Credits 13
Spring
Third term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
Core--education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
Elective course 1
 Credits 13
Third Year
Fall
BEHT 321 Digital Media and Behavioral Health 4
BEHT 350 Foundations of Culturally Responsive Practice 4
BEHT 411 Foundational Interviewing and Counseling Skills 4
BEHT 412 Ethics and Professional Practice for CBHS 4
 Credits 16
Winter
BEHT 320 Youth Risk and Resilience 3
BEHT 351 Diversity Equity and Inclusion II 3
BEHT 471 Child and Youth Supports and Interventions I 4
BEHT 481 Supervised Practicum I in Child Behavioral Health 4
 Credits 14
Spring
BEHT 413 Screening and Risk Assessment 4
BEHT 450 Supporting Behavioral Health of Tribal Youth 3
BEHT 472 Child and Youth Supports and Interventions II 4
BEHT 482 Supervised Practicum II in Child Behavioral Health 4
 Credits 15
Fourth Year
Fall
BEHT 451 Behavioral Health: Asian and Pacific Islander 3
BEHT 473 Parent and Family Supports and Interventions 4
BEHT 487 Integrated Practice I in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
Winter
BEHT 452 Supporting Behavioral Health of Latinx Youth 3
BEHT 474 Community Interventions to Support Youth and Families 4
BEHT 488 Integrated Practice II in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
Spring
BEHT 340 Evidence-Informed Decision-Making 4
BEHT 453 Supporting Behavioral Health of Black Youth 3
BEHT 489 Integrated Practice III in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 180

Bachelor of Science in Child Behavioral Health

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
Mathematics or computer science course 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
PSY 202Z Introduction to Psychology II 4
Core-education course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
SOC 207
Social Inequality
or Introduction to Ethnic Studies
4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Mathematics or computer science course 4
Cultural literacy course in global perspective 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
Mathematics or computer science course 4
PSY 308 Developmental Psychology 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Core-education course in science 4
Core-education course in science 4
Elective course 1
 Credits 13
Spring
Core--education course in social science 4
Elective courses 9
 Credits 13
Third Year
Fall
BEHT 321 Digital Media and Behavioral Health 4
BEHT 350 Foundations of Culturally Responsive Practice 4
BEHT 411 Foundational Interviewing and Counseling Skills 4
BEHT 412 Ethics and Professional Practice for CBHS 4
 Credits 16
Winter
BEHT 320 Youth Risk and Resilience 3
BEHT 351 Diversity Equity and Inclusion II 3
BEHT 471 Child and Youth Supports and Interventions I 4
BEHT 481 Supervised Practicum I in Child Behavioral Health 4
 Credits 14
Spring
BEHT 413 Screening and Risk Assessment 4
BEHT 450 Supporting Behavioral Health of Tribal Youth 3
BEHT 472 Child and Youth Supports and Interventions II 4
BEHT 482 Supervised Practicum II in Child Behavioral Health 4
 Credits 15
Fourth Year
Fall
BEHT 451 Behavioral Health: Asian and Pacific Islander 3
BEHT 473 Parent and Family Supports and Interventions 4
BEHT 487 Integrated Practice I in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
Winter
BEHT 452 Supporting Behavioral Health of Latinx Youth 3
BEHT 474 Community Interventions to Support Youth and Families 4
BEHT 488 Integrated Practice II in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
Spring
BEHT 340 Evidence-Informed Decision-Making 4
BEHT 453 Supporting Behavioral Health of Black Youth 3
BEHT 489 Integrated Practice III in Child Behavioral Health 8
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 180