College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Graduate Programs
Counseling Psychology
Designed to prepare students to serve their communities as licensed mental health counselors.
Designed to prepare men and women for context-sensitive, strategic leadership in meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed.
Counseling Psychology
A five-year program designed to prepare the doctorate student to serve in diverse community settings as a counseling psychologist.
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northwest University educates individuals to serve within the mental health and human services professions both locally and internationally.
Our Vision and Commitment
The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences’ passion for Psychology, Culture, and Social Justice complements and aligns with the vision of Northwest University to Carry the Call...
To Carry the Call with the Heart involves understanding various ways of life. It entails appreciating and valuing those who are different, and it requires connecting with people in ways that are meaningful to them. To touch the heart one must understand culture, for the heart is entwined with culture.
To Carry the Call with the Head suggests having a solid grasp on an area of expertise. In the field of psychology, it includes thinking critically, making decisions with authority, and accumulating a plentiful and available reservoir of knowledge. There is a strong foundation upon which to build in psychology.
To Carry the Call with the Hand is turning knowledge into power and living with conviction. With a passion for action, it is improving society, it is helping those who cannot help themselves, it is having compassion, and it is being Christ-like. To truly minister and offer healing, one must champion justice and embrace the disadvantaged through loving acts of social justice.
Introduction – From the Dean
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northwest University educates individuals to serve within the mental health and human services 
professions both locally and internationally. The college is home to the School of Psychology and the School of Global Studies, each providing education that is distinctly Christian.
The School of Psychology is built upon the integration of psychology, culture, and social justice. The School of Global Studies is designed to equip people from a wide variety of professions to work for social change and justice across cultural boundaries. With each degree program designed to espouse an ethos of care and service-leadership within the construct of globalization, the college offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in psychology and a graduate program in international care and community development.
Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of cultural immersion projects as well as both local and international internship placement sites. Whether working in after-care centers in Calcutta, a hospital in Morocco, or on aid boats on the Brazilian Amazon, international internships provide an opportunity to connect theory to praxis by responding to Christ’s call to the service, love, and care of those who are hurting. The college has a vibrant international student program as well as international partnerships with universities around the world. Students are exposed to internationally recognized leaders, speakers, and scholars in global mental health and community development.
An integration of cutting-edge technology allows for online global learning communities which interconnect the student to the global community regardless of the student’s location in the world.
Whether serving locally or internationally, graduates of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences are prepared to respond to the call of Christ through service-leadership in a rapidly globalizing world. We hope that you will consider joining us!
- William R. Herkelrath,
Ed.D., Counseling Psychology, Boston University
Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Cohort System
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences graduate programs use a cohort system. Entering students are grouped together and given nearly the same schedule of courses for the entire program. The advantage of this system is the support and openness it creates. The cohort becomes a valuable resource into which students can tap. Students study together. They encourage and assist one another when needed. They also become comfortable with one another to the point of being able to discuss tough issues and share personal accounts. Since a higher level of openness is attainable, a higher level of learning can also be reached.
Admission Requirements
- A Bachelor of Arts or Science (or an equivalent degree) from a regionally accredited college or university. Allowances may be made for degrees accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
- A minimum of a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale
- Completion of application process and acceptance into the program
Find Out More
You can request more information, or speak with Jon Troll at 425.889.5249 or jon.troll@northwestu.edu.
6 pm, Mon, August 16 
Beth Bruno talks about the ICCD program
