Welcome to the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education (BSED) at Penn State Harrisburg.

The School of Behavioral Sciences and Education shapes future leaders in education, health, and social sciences professions in the region and beyond. Through our collective passion to transform our communities, we foster critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and inclusive excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service to enhance well-being and enrich lives.

Our shared mission is to foster critical thinking skills, problem-solving, adaptability, and inclusive excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service. We aim to prepare the next generation of educators, health, and behavioral professionals who will have a positive impact on the lives and well-being of the communities they will serve in an ever-evolving environment.

We offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate academic programs in two broad academic domains:

  • Health and Behavioral Sciences, including biobehavioral health, human development and family studies, kinesiology, nursing, communication sciences and disorders, speech-language pathology, psychology, clinical psychology, and applied behavior analysis.
  • Teacher Education, including elementary education and secondary education social studies, and curriculum and instruction, certificates in elementary, secondary, special education, literacy, ESL, and endorsements in instructional and mathematical coaching.

The Teacher Education programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the Applied Behavioral Analysis program is accredited by the Association of Behavior Analysis International, and the Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

In BSED, we get to know our students personally through our high-quality courses delivered in person, hybrid, and remote modes. We also offer opportunities for independent study and research, internships, and practicum experiences at different settings to provide the students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities that best prepare them for employment and successful careers in their chosen fields.

We are proud of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Please visit us or contact our office for more information.