Contact Information

Office:  Percival Hall - Room  B02
Chairperson: Dr. Randall Grometstein, 978-665-3612
Secretaries:
Diane Sweeney, (978) 665-3355
Gail Feckley, (978) 665-3241 

Admissions Office: 978-665-3144 or admissions@fitchburgstate.edu

SUMMARY

Fitchburg State University’s Behavioral Sciences Department offers students the education and experience in one of the most fascinating fields of study that looks at who we are, what we do and why. The Behavioral Sciences explore fundamental issues regarding the experiences of  individuals in society through a range of majors and minors; students gain the academic background and research capabilities for both graduate study and immediate entry into a variety of career fields. Focused field experience enhances what is learned in the classroom and broadens students’ options in their chosen fields.

The Criminal Justice major focuses on understanding the criminal justice system and its relationship to society as a whole. The Human Services Program educates students in the skills and competencies necessary to enter and advance their careers in a wide variety of social service arenas. The Psychological Science Program is designed to educate students in the scientific study of the mind and human behavior. The Sociology major addresses major concerns of the field such as culture, stratification, social problems and social institutions.

University Catalog
Four Year Plan of Study

FACULTY

The Behavioral Sciences faculty offer a wide variety of experiences to students who attend the university. Every faculty member holds a doctoral degree, and many provide leadership in their fields through research, publishing, clinical practice, consulting and involvement in regional and national professional organizations. Their areas of expertise and interest are varied and cover many of the relevant issues in modern behavioral analysis and intervention. Our faculty members are recognized scholar-researchers in such areas as motivation, addictive behaviors, feminist theory, community studies, law and justice, police, courts and corrections, child and adolescent development, euthanasia and end of life decision making, marital and family therapy, child abuse and neglect, organizational behaviors, professional ethics, program evaluation, childhood behavior problems, effective teaching strategies, international development issues and suicide prevention.

FACILITIES

The Behavioral Sciences Department also has its own facilities, which include laboratories for infant studies, experimental psychology, cognitive studies and interpersonal skills. These facilities, coupled with the dynamic and energetic teaching available from the faculty, provide the necessary resources for an exceptional education.

Mission of the Behavioral Sciences Department - Adopted November 2, 1999. The Behavioral Sciences Department prepares leaders for the 21st Century.  To that end, our programs seek to foster students’ ability to:

• Understand the internal and external forces that govern their own behavior and that of other individuals, families, small and large groups, and larger societies;
• Appreciate the diversity of human beings and understand the implications of societal change;
• Gather, evaluate, summarize and interpret qualitative and quantitative data;
• Identify and diagnose important societal issues and problems;
• Apply their knowledge to issues in the core areas of criminal justice, human services, psychology and sociology, as well as to such diverse areas as education, nursing, law, business, and other endeavors;
• Recognize ethical and legal issues and to act appropriately to resolve them;
• Demonstrate ethical attitudes and behaviors that enhance the well-being of others.

Graduate Programs

Master of Science in Counseling