2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

ehavioral sciences major
No matter what you do in life, there is one irrefutable fact: you’ll be working with other people. Therefore, your success in
any field will depend largely on your understanding of yourself and others and your ability to work together. The Behavioral
Sciences major lays the foundation for this understanding. Three academic tracks are offered in the major: Leadership and
Organizations Track, which examines in depth the area of leadership; Human Factors and Systems Design Track, which focuses
on how people interact with the machines and systems they use; and the Behavioral Sciences Track, which allows students the
opportunity to choose courses of the greatest interest. Each track emphasizes understanding people, but in different contexts,
and requires the completion of the core, two additional foreign language courses, plus 12 major’s courses for a total of 147
semester hours.
The Behavioral Sciences Track allows students to tailor an array of courses within the behavioral sciences, from a micro to
a macro level. This is a good option for cadets aspiring to medical school; psychology is one of the top majors for students
entering American medical schools.
The Leadership and Organizations Track allows students an opportunity to examine in depth the area of leadership.
The Human Factors and System Design Track introduces students to the capabilities and limitations of human operators and
how these characteristics affect person-machine systems.
Suggested Course Sequence
3rd-Class Year 2nd-Class Year 1st-Class Year
Beh Sci 231 Aero Engr 315 Academy Opt
Beh Sci Track Beh Sci 310 Astro Engr 410
Chem 200 Beh Sci 332 Beh Sci Track
Econ 201 Beh Sci Track Beh Sci Track
English 211 Beh Sci Track Beh Sci Track
Engr Mech 220 Beh Sci Track Beh Sci Track
For Lang 3 Beh Sci Track Beh Sci Track
For Lang 4 Biology 315 English 411
Law 220 El Engr 315 Mgt 400
MSS 200 History 302 MSS 400
Physics 215 Math 300 Soc Sci 412
Pol Sci 211 Philos 310 Sys Opt
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (Beh Sci)
Offered by the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership.
Beh Sci 110. Introduction to Behavioral Sciences. Provides an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and
mental processes across diverse levels of analyses. Covers psychological principles that can be applied in and out of the
military. Critical thinking, leadership, and respect for human dignity will be emphasized through the study of subjects such
as perception, cognition, learning, memory, social interactions, mental health issues, and the biological basis of behavior. In
addition, students will be exposed to subjects closely related to psychology such as sociology, cultural anthropology, leadership,
and human factors engineering.
Beh Sci 231. Basic Research Methods and Statistical Tools. Introduces the integrated approach to statistics and empirical
research. Topics include basic research design, APA statistical reporting, SPSS data analysis, descriptive measures, inferential
statistics, and hypothesis testing.
Beh Sci 310. Foundations for Leadership Development. Explores leadership development as a scientific study.
Specifically, it examines principles that will set students on a lifelong path of becoming leaders of character who treats others
with respect and dignity. Combines the academic study of leadership development with experiential exercises, case studies,
and student projects designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of leadership styles and behaviors.
60 United States Air Force Academy Catalog