CWU to introduce behavioral health degree

The Central Washington University Board of Trustees approved a new psychology degree program during its July 25-26 meeting on the Ellensburg campus.

The Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health program will offer students a “psychological foundation for understanding and addressing the complexities of behavior health and overall wellbeing within individuals and communities.”

The program, which will begin in fall 2026, is designed to meet the growing demand for “compassionate and skilled professionals” and will integrate psychological, social, biological and cultural perspectives to prepare students for careers as behavioral health support specialists or related positions.

The program will be structured around core psychology courses, behavioral health courses, experiential learning opportunities and a capstone project. Upon completion, degree recipients will be eligible to apply for the behavioral health support specialist certification through the Washington Department of Health.

A behavioral health support specialist is licensed to 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 psycho-social assessments contributing to intake efficiency.

One of the practicum experiences is expected to be conducted in community settings under a licensed community provider and university supervisor.

These providers will not be counselors and are required to work under supervision of a licensed provider. However, they can support graduate-level providers in their counseling activities, which will provide scaffolded support to clients in Washington state.