Behavioral Science

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Explore the world of social sciences at Ozarks Tech! Our program is meant for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. It is also a great way to jump into entry-level human service jobs. 

Not sure which specific area you are interested in? Our program is a great option to explore! You will gain a solid foundation in multiple disciplines through your required courses. You will also take a mix of general education courses and electives in psychology, sociology and criminology. No matter your next step, our program will help you build the skills to succeed in any social science field. Get started at Ozarks Tech and see where your studies will take you!

Dr. Amy Shelley
Behavioral Sciences Department Chair
417-447-6688

Visit Department

Accreditation

OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status with the HLC is displayed on the page linked below. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2030-2031. View more information on OTC accreditation.

Program Outcomes

View program outcomes

General Admissions to Ozarks Tech

Admission to Ozarks Technical Community College is open to all individuals who can benefit from its educational programs. A focus of the college mission is on the academic, career and personal goals of the student. OTC may admit you as a First-Time student just completing their high school, GED or HiSET requirements or as a Transfer student coming from another institution finishing up a certificate or degree. For more information, visit OTC Admissions.

Wondering how you’re going to pay for college? At OTC, we believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to earning a degree. Our staff will work with you to make a financial plan. To browse the resources available to you, see paying for college.

At Ozarks Tech, we want your transfer process to be easy. We accomplish this goal through articulation agreements. These agreements are an official partnership to match coursework between schools. This gives you a more seamless transition from Ozarks Tech to a four-year institution.

We have established an agreement for this program. This will simplify the transfer of your credits to partner schools. To understand how this degree will transfer, review the current articulation agreements. Be sure to consult with your transfer school to ensure you’re on the right path toward completing your four-year degree.

APPLY NOW
COSTS & OPTIONS
PROGRAM DETAILS
REQUEST INFO
VISIT DEPARTMENT
BACK TO ALL PROGRAMS

COSTS & OPTIONS

CREDENTIAL TYPE
PROGRAM
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO:
LENGTH OF PROGRAM
COST*

Associate of Arts

Behavioral Science
  • Transfer to a four-year institution to pursue further education in social sciences
  • Find work immediately after graduation in entry-level human service positions

61 credit hours
4 semesters

$10,903.00*
to
$14,685.00*

Short-Term Training

Learn More

Accelerate your career with OTC's short-term training courses. Gain valuable skills in as little as just weeks and unlock new opportunities for success. View courses. 

Learn More

Varies by course

Not Sure Which Career is Right for You?

TAKE A CAREER ASSESSMENT TEST

PROGRAM DETAILS

Clicking on the options below will provide overview information, course sequences (when applicable), and specific course descriptions. To see a full catalog of all the offerings at OTC, visit catalog.otc.edu.

Behavioral Science (A.A.)*

A.A.Degree: 61 Hours

The Associate of Arts in Behavioral Science is an interdisciplinary degree that provides a directed path of study for transfer to institutions offering baccalaureate and advanced degrees in Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, or related fields of study. 

CORE 42 is a statewide general education course of study intended to ensure that all graduates possess a common core of college-level skills and knowledge. CORE 42 specifies the basic competencies and knowledge areas that all students completing degrees at a Missouri public institution of higher education must complete. CORE 42 is comprised of dozens of courses distributed across five knowledge areas. These courses are designated with a Missouri Transfer (MOTR) course number, which guarantees the one-to-one transfer of these courses among all Missouri public institutions of higher education. Please refer to MDHE Core Transfer Curriculum for detailed information on CORE 42 courses.

All knowledge areas below, designated with the CORE 42 logo, indicate all courses in that area have been evaluated and provided a MOTR number for transfer to all Missouri public institutions of higher education.

OTC math courses approved with CORE 42 designation (MTH 128, MTH 128S, MTH 130, MTH 130S, MTH 138) have guaranteed transfer to all Missouri public higher education institutions.  Any math course with a CORE 42 prerequisite will satisfy the math general education credit.  The higher level math courses may not have direct transfer to all four-year universities.  Students should check with their receiving institution for transferability of these courses.

Any course with an approved MOTR number or additional hours from a MOTR approved course can be utilized to fulfill the Core electives requirement.  Credit received from an OTC course may be greater than the MOTR transfer equivalency.  The additional credit provided form OTC for a MOTR approved course will move the additional credit to the Core electives (e.g. CHM 160 at OTC = 4 credit hours, MOTR equivalency = 3 credit hours; additional 1 hour moved to Core electives).
 

VIEW SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCES

REQUEST INFORMATION

*Notices and Disclaimers

*Costs displayed are based on current tuition and fee rates for the program’s required credit hours, as approved by the OTC Board of Trustees, and are subject to change without notice. Estimates reflect both in-district and out-of-district residency rates. Actual costs, degree completion time, and credit requirements may vary based on residency, prior credits, elective courses, program updates, and enrollment factors. For additional information on attendance costs, visit Cost of Attendance, tuition and fees or contact us at 417-447-6900.

**Graduation rates vary by individual. For details on program enrollment, retention, exam/certification, and employment rates, visit Student Outcomes / Student Right-to-Know. Some careers on this list may require additional education and training. For program-specific accreditation visit OTC Accreditation.