Department of Behavioral Sciences

Faculty

Ray Bower (1987)
Professor of Psychology; Chair, Department of Behavioral Sciences

B.A., 1976, Miami University, Ohio

M.A., 1987, Miami University, Ohio

Ph.D. 1992, Miami University, Ohio

Jim D. Knight (1975)
Registrar and Associate Dean of Instruction;Associate Professor of Psychology

B.A., 1966, Trevecca Nazarene University

M.S., 1973, University of Tennessee

Elizabeth Gassin (1995)
Professor of Psychology

B.S., 1988, University of California

M.S., 1990, Purdue University

Ph.D., 1995, University of Wisconsin

Kent Olney (1995)
Professor of Sociology

B.A., 1977, Asbury College

M.Div., 1979, Asbury Theological Seminary

M.A., 1985, Gallaudet University

M.S., 1995, University of Oregon

Ph.D., 1999, University of Oregon

Rebecca Taylor (2004)
Associate Professor of Psychology

B.S., 1988, Olivet Nazarene University

M.A., 1998, Olivet Nazarene University

Ph.D. 2007, Capella University

Charles Perabeau (2005)
Associate Professor of Sociology

B.S., 1994, Olivet Nazarene University

M.A., 1998, Loyola University

M.Phil., 2001 Drew University

Ph.D. candidate, Drew University

Kristian Veit (2007)
Assistant Professor of Psychology

B.A., 1998, University of Nebraska

M.A., 2003, Northern Illinois University

Ph.D., 2006, Northern Illinois University

Dale Smith (2008)
Assistant Professor of Psychology

B.S., 2001, Olivet Nazarene University

M.S., 2006, Auburn University

Ph.D., 2008, Auburn University

The Department of Behavioral Sciences offers programs of study in psychology and sociology. Students may choose to major or minor in either of these disciplines. The Department's mission is to instruct students, by both word and example, so that they might become competent behavioral scientists or consumers of behavioral science, critical thinkers, and compassionate servants of Jesus Christ. The behavioral sciences seek to broaden one's understanding of human behavior and then interpret that behavior to both the individual and society. Department faculty operate from the Christian perspective that God has created human beings and is intimately interested in their development and patterns of behavior.

Psychology offers the option of a B.A. or B.S. degree. The B.A. degree in psychology consists of 32-33 credit hours; whereas the B.S. degree is expanded to 44-45 credit hours in psychology. Students who major in psychology will learn about human development, interpersonal relationships, abnormal behaviors, and common research methods. While all majors take a defined set of core courses, they also have the opportunity to select from several optional courses. A psychology major will equip students for graduate work in any area of psychology, as well as provide a solid background for entry-level positions in a variety of human service vocations.

Sociology offers a B.A. degree consisting of 37 credit hours. Emphasis is placed on understanding the classical and historical foundations of sociology, including the major topics and methods used by sociologists. Patterns of social behavior, community life, and traditional social institutions - such as family and religion - are core elements of the sociology program. The major allows some flexibility in the choice of courses and culminates with a senior research project. Graduates with a degree in sociology are typically prepared to enter graduate school (pursuing advanced degrees in a variety of related social science disciplines) or to seek entry-level employment in a number of social and institutional settings.

Both programs of study within the Department of Behavioral Sciences - psychology and sociology - share the same purposes: (1) to enhance student awareness and understanding of human behavior, including its causes and consequences; (2) to increase knowledge of the scientific methods used by behavioral scientists when measuring human behavior and obtaining data; and (3) to encourage application of Christian principles when studying and serving humans in our world.