School of Behavioral Sciences
Making a Difference in the Helping Professions
APU’s School of Behavioral Sciences offers a wide range of programs across numerous departments. Whether preparing future psychologists or police officiers, therapists or professors, we believe in cultivating leaders who will serve others for a higher purpose. All programs within the school carry a distinctly Christian perspective that challenges students intellectually and spiritually while remaining flexible and student-oriented. Creative scheduling allows professionals engaged in evolving careers to enroll in graduate courses taught by highly qualified faculty and held on APU’s Azusa campus and at regional locations throughout Southern California.
Faculty Spotlight
I’m a firm believer that you don’t only teach in the classroom, but you take them outside. For each of my courses, we’ll either go to a victim advocate organization where they can volunteer with those who have become victims of various crimes ... [or] for my American courts class, we actually go to a courthouse so they can see this process from start to finish.
Chair and Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice
Articles
Faculty Feature: Sam Girguis, PsyD, Embraces Forming Strong Connections With Students
Hannah Grace Cicciari ’25 Discovers Her Calling in Social Work
Alumni Feature: Vienna Christensen ’20 Makes a Difference as Outreach Manager at World Relief Western Washington
Faculty Feature: Alan Oda, PhD, Creates an Inviting Space for Students to Grow
Faculty Feature: William “Jody” Wilkinson Finds Beauty in the Unexpected
Student Spotlight: Arianna Sy ’25 Bridges Creativity and Christianity as an Actress
Alumni Feature: Issy Diaz ’20, MSW’22 Creates a Lasting Ripple Effect in Veterans’ Lives
About the Dean
Azusa Pacific University Provost Anita Fitzgerald Henck, PhD, named Stacy Kula, PhD, founding dean of the newly formed College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, effective July 1, 2024. Kula brings more than 25 years of education experience to the role with expertise in qualitative research methods, achievement gaps, and education of underserved and immigrant populations.