Course Overview
This summer, SBH offered a free undergraduate course to recent high school graduates. The 2-unit in-person course, PSYC 204 Introduction to Behavioral Health, was designed to help students just entering college understand how behavioral health professionals work in healthcare settings, and what careers in behavioral health are like. The course instructors were Dr. Kenny Boyd (Psychology), Dr. Kelly Baek (Social Work and Social Ecology), and Prof. Alisha Saavedra (Counseling and Family Sciences), who introduced their respective profession and its typical roles and activities.
Faculty and Student Presentations
Nine students completed the course, with faculty presentations from each SBH department: Dr. Darren Moore on substance use disorder treatment, Dr. Shondel Mishaw on marital and family therapy, Prof. Alisha Saavedra on the child life specialist profession, Dr. Danielle Clair on play therapy, Dr. Sophia Truong on the community resiliency model, Prof. Brittney Hitt on clinical social work, and Dr. Grace Lee on neuropsychology. In addition, graduate students Ava Swanstrom presented on ADHD and autism treatment, Julia Cole on sleep disorders, Rosie Mejia on primary care psychology, Nikita Ravindra Bangera on medical family therapy, and Jessica Gonzalez and Holy Rizk on cultural health psychology.
Student Reflections
The students appreciated learning about the diverse behavioral health career paths. "This course has given me a stronger appreciation for the professionals who dedicate their lives to improving the mental health of others, and it has further motivated me to pursue my career goals," wrote Lisa Kim, a California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) freshman pre-nursing major who intends to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Another CSUSB freshman, psychology major Mia Morataya, expressed, "Overall, this course helped me understand the behavioral health field in a much deeper way. Learning about psychology, clinical psychology, social work, clinical social work, and neuropsychology showed me how connected these areas are and how they all contribute to helping people. I feel more prepared and motivated to continue studying behavioral health, and I'm excited to keep exploring the different paths I can take in the future."
University of California, Irvine freshman Daniela Rodriguez wrote, "…this introductory course on behavioral health has strengthened my interest and validated my career choice for psychology while broadening my understanding of the many ways I can make a difference in the lives of others. Meeting professionals who shared both the rewards and challenges of their careers gave me a more realistic perspective on the field while inspiring me to continue exploring different paths."
How to Register for 2027
Students can have the 2 quarter units transferred to their undergraduate institution as a general elective. The next course will be offered June 21–24, 2027, on the Loma Linda University campus. High school students interested in exploring behavioral health careers can learn more and register at Introduction to Behavioral Health.
