Central Washington University Board of Trustees July 25, 2025 ACTION – Approval of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health undergraduate program offers students a psychological foundation for understanding and addressing the complexities of behavioral health and overall well-being within individuals and communities. Designed to meet the growing demand for compassionate and skilled professionals, the program integrates psychological, social, biological, and cultural perspectives to prepare students for careers as behavioral health support specialists or related positions. The program curriculum is structured around core psychology courses, behavioral health courses, experiential learning opportunities, and a capstone course. Upon completion of this degree, degree recipients should be eligible as bachelor’s degree recipients to apply for the behavioral health support specialist certification through the Department of Health. The degree will equip students with competencies to fill entry-level positions in behavioral health. Society has a need of skillful practitioners that can provide brief, evidence-based behavioral health treatment under supervision. A Behavioral Heath Support Specialist can provide brief interventions for acute stress, depression, anxiety, and other common mental and behavioral health conditions. They can facilitate symptom screening and explain results, as well as complete psychosocial assessments contributing to intake efficiency. BHSS providers can deliver structured suicide screening, assessment and management and share psychoeducation to individuals and groups. One of the practicum experiences is expected to be conducted in community settings under a licensed community provider and university supervisor, which will enable the program to foster authentic community partnerships. While these providers will not be counselors and are required to work under supervision of a licensed provider, they can support graduate level providers in their counseling activities, which will provide scaffolded support to clients in Washington State. We are confident that the Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health will prepare students with the foundational knowledge, practical skills, and supervised field experience necessary to meet Washington State’s growing need for entry-level behavioral health support specialists, who can provide evidence- based interventions and contribute meaningfully to interdisciplinary care teams. We recommend the following motion: The Board of Trustees of Central Washington University endorses the recommendation of the Faculty in the College of Sciences and hereby approves the Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health on July 25, 2025. Submitted: Approved for Submittal to the Board
Patrick Pease
Jim Wohlpart
Provost/Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
President
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