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Behavioral health technicians and specialists are important members of any psychiatric care team. They provide therapeutic care, assistance with daily activities and patient monitoring to support patients as they work toward maximum functioning.1
If you feel called to serve others who are struggling with psychiatric or developmental issues, then a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Family Dynamics may be right for you. Grand Canyon University offers this degree for students who are keenly interested in family dynamics and behavioral health and may also want to pursue a master’s degree in counseling.
Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this degree is a comprehensive survey of family dynamics and behavioral health science principles. You will have opportunities to gain a strong foundation in:
The principles covered in the family dynamics courses are informed by the competencies outlined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics.
Online: $485 per credit [More Info]
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
With GCU’s modern e-learning platform, you don’t have to live near our campus in Phoenix or relocate in order to earn your degree in behavioral health focusing on family dynamics. Enroll as an online student and access your course materials from virtually anywhere. Interact with your fellow learners and instructors online, and enjoy the convenience of digital school while benefiting from the same quality of education as our on-campus students. Most online classes for this program are seven weeks long.
This BS in Behavioral Health Science: Family Dynamics emphasis seeks to instill a strong sense of ethical responsibility, Christian servant leadership and professionalism within you. As you complete the family dynamics and behavioral health coursework, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your written and oral communication skills through informative interactions with peers and instructors.
Students who choose the behavioral health field may do so because they have a desire to help others through behavioral therapy or counseling. This degree is designed to instill a foundation of competencies that may allow you to pursue specialist or paraprofessional positions in the behavioral health field.
As a behavioral health specialist, you may pursue work in any of the following settings:2,3
Governmental agencies
Community outreach programs
Youth centers
Geriatric centers
Special needs centers
Criminal justice facilities
Social services departments
Social work agencies
The Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science: Family Dynamics emphasis requires 120 credits for completion.
You’ll have opportunities to examine a diverse range of topics throughout this degree program, including:
Foundational knowledge of disorders
As it relates to addiction and substance use disorders, including biopsychosocial dynamics, stages, processes and effects
Techniques and processes
For prevention, intervention, relapse prevention and aftercare
Theoretical approaches to counseling
Including psychodynamic, Gestalt, person-centered, family systems and cognitive behavioral
Working with multicultural populations
Developing competencies in cultural diversity and social justice
Family dynamics and systems
Examining roles, communication styles, boundaries and generational patterns
This degree can prepare you to pursue advanced degrees or practical work experience in fields such as:2
These courses are designed to instill a framework of foundational knowledge in counseling and family dynamics. Some of the core competencies of this degree include the following:
Additionally, you will complete an extensive capstone project in your senior year. This is a written proposal for a community-based behavioral health organization in your particular area of interest. The capstone project is your opportunity to demonstrate what you’ve been taught throughout the degree program.
At GCU, we are proud to maintain a longstanding tradition of striving toward academic excellence and embracing high standards of instructional quality across all our degree programs. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). What Psychiatric Technicians and Aides Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
2 Indeed. (2023, March 10). 15 Jobs You Can Do With a Behavioral Health Science Degree. Indeed. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
3 Learn.org. (n.d.). What Can I Do With a Behavioral Health Services Degree? Learn.org. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
4 Perry, E. (2021, Dec. 10). Family Dynamics Can Lift You Up (or Drag You Down). BetterUp. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
Some of the jobs that may be related to family dynamics and behavioral health include the following:
This degree does not lead to licensure. It may serve as a steppingstone for students who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in counseling, human services, criminal justice or clinical psychology.
Before enrolling in family dynamics and behavioral health science coursework, it can be helpful to learn more about the field. GCU has compiled the following FAQs and answers to guide you in your career research.
If you’re fascinated with how the human mind works and how people engage in certain behavioral patterns, then this may be an ideal field for you. This degree will enable you to take coursework exploring topics relating to family relationships, marriage and family therapy, human development and cultural diversity in the behavioral health field. Upon graduation, you may decide to pursue work that you find meaningful and personally fulfilling because it may allow you to support other people in your community. Furthermore, a degree program in behavioral health focusing on family dynamics may provide a steppingstone toward pursuing a master’s degree in counseling that may lead to licensure.
A person’s family can shape who they are, how they interact with others and how healthy their socioemotional wellness is. Family dynamics refer to the interactions and patterns of behaviors that exist between family members, whether biological or not. For example, family dynamics encompass the roles of various family members, how family members communicate with each other and the hierarchy that exists within a family unit.4
When you take coursework in family dynamics and behavioral health, you will be taught foundational competencies in the field. These may include family dynamics and systems, couples relationships, parenting dynamics and the skills and modalities that professionals may use when working with families.
Depending on where your career takes you, you may have opportunities to help clients improve their family dynamics. If you decide to further your education with a master’s degree in counseling that leads to licensure, you’ll complete field experience or practicum hours that will enable you to put what you’ve been taught into practice, helping others strengthen their family relationships.5
Combine your passion for behavioral health and serving others with purpose for the future. Apply today at GCU to earn your degree in behavioral health focusing on family dynamics.
