Behavioral and Social Services
Located in Kirkland, Washington, Lake Washington Institute of Technology's (LWTech) Behavioral and Social Services program prepares students for sustainable careers as behavioral health and social service professionals.
We prepare students with the professional values, skills, and knowledge needed for work in the integrated treatment of mental health concerns, substance use disorders, physical illness, poverty, addiction, and homelessness.
LWTech Behavioral and Social Services students report a number of advantages to studying here:
- Hands-on experience
- A friendly, calm environment
- Affordable education
- Smaller classes with a personal atmosphere
- A life-friendly schedule
- A broad foundation in real-world training, teamwork, and problem-solving
- Full or part-time studies, with financial aid available for those who are eligible
- Students need an affordable education on the Eastside that is scheduled for their lives. LWTech’s Behavioral and Social Services program offers classes at a cost about one-third of state universities. And we do so in a smaller setting with personal relationships. The right training, at the right time, in the right place can help you get the jobs you want—to help others.
“We are people people. Human-oriented. People who want to help others.”
“We want to make a difference in someone’s life. We have a passion to help, to contribute.”
Additional Behavioral and Social Services Program Information
Entry into the Illustration program requires completion of LWTech's general online application.
Additional admission requirements are listed below.
The applied bachelor's degree in Behavioral Healthcare provides specialized education in preparation for professional work in behavioral healthcare, as well as graduate studies.
For those with an associate degree or the equivalent, the program is:
- Selective admission
- Face-to-face (weekday evenings and Saturday mornings) with some online (asynchronous) courses
- Full-time or part-time
- New cohorts start each fall
Applicants to the program are admitted on a non-competitive basis. The program does have application and qualification requirements. Program information sessions and specialized advising is available before applying to this program.
BAS Prerequisites
- If you have not already taken classes at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, you must fill out the online admissions application to receive a Student ID number and an LWTech issued email address.
- You will not be able to fill out the BAS application without completing this step.
- Associate degree or equivalent (LWTech defines “equivalent” as 90 or more college level credits that minimally include 5 credits each of college level written communication, Math, and Social Science)
- Minimum cumulative GPA across all college coursework of 2.0
- 30 college-level credits, with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in each class, from any of the
following disciplines:
- Addiction studies, chemical dependency, Substance Use Disorder counseling
- Anthropology
- Behavioral health, behavioral sciences
- Child, youth, and family studies
- Criminal Justice
- Disability studies
- Early childhood education, Early childhood and family studies
- Ethnic studies
- Gender, women, or sexuality studies
- Gerontology, aging
- Health sciences
- Human services
- Medical assisting
- Neuroscience
- Nursing
- Occupational therapy assistant
- Physical therapist assistant
- Psychology
- Public health
- Social services
- Social work
- Sociology
- Completion of at least 30 credits of college-level General Education courses with
a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in each class as follows:
- ENGL& 101 English Composition or equivalent – 5 credits
- Any English class above ENGL&101 or any Communications (CMST) course - 5 credits
- MATH& 107 Math in Society (or any college-level, transferable Quantitative Reasoning course) - 5 credits
- Any Social Sciences - 10 credits
- Any Humanities - 5 credits
Admission to the program may occur when any 20 credits of those college-level General Education courses specified above can be documented. Remaining prerequisite General Education courses defined above may be taken after program admittance but prior to admittance to the junior year of the program. The bridge may consist of 0-15 credits and will be completed the summer quarter prior to fall admission.
Transferring From Other Colleges
Partner Colleges
The following associate degree programs have articulation agreements to facilitate upward transfer into LWTech’s BAS in Behavioral Healthcare.
- Cascadia College
- Highline College
- Whatcom Community College
Other Colleges
Enrollment Services staff will evaluate your transcript based on your current program
of study, specifically looking for courses that satisfy LWTech General Education requirements
and/or prerequisite requirements for Behavioral Healthcare BAS.
Application Deadline & Submission Information
Admission Deadline
Fall 2023 Priority
May 19, 2023
Rolling Admission
August 23, 2023
Financial Aid Priority Deadline
March 15, 2023
Entry Date
Next Entry: Fall 2023
Application Fee
$50 non-refundable
Additional Application Information
- 2023 Behavior Health Admissions Application Information
- Note all BAS applicants must also fill out the general admission application prior to applying for the BAS program.
- Application Preview: To apply for the BAS degree, you must create a Self Service Center account. You may preview the BAS application by downloading a PDF of the first page.
Entry into the Behavioral and Social Services, AAS, requires completion of LWTech's online application.
The associate degree in Behavioral and Social Services prepares students for entry-level work and for LWTech's applied bachelor's degree in Behavioral Healthcare or Public Health. The program is:
- Open admission
- Face-to-face (weekday mornings) with some courses available online (asynchronous)
- Full-time or part-time
- Start any quarter
This associates degree provides a generalist education. Students begin by enrolling in BHAV 110 Introduction to Behavioral and Social Services.
Graduates are prepared for entry-level employment and may continue on to a bachelor's degree program, including LWTech’s applied bachelors degree in Behavioral Healthcare.
Entry into this program requires completion of an admission application.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology uses the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges Online Admissions Application Portal.
Additional Admission Considerations
- International Students Apply via Office of International Programs & Global Education
- Adult Education: Basic Education for Adults (BEdA)
- New to Washington State: Learn more about determining residency status
- Justice Involved: Re-Entry Support for Students Who Have Been Justice Involved
- Undocumented citizens: See the residency affidavit and visit the undocumented students page for more information.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Certificate of Proficiency in Behavioral and Social Services (Long Certificate)
- Open admission
- 60 credits
- Face-to-face (weekday mornings) with some courses available online (asynchronous)
- Full-time or part-time
- Start any quarter
This certificate provides a generalist, introductory education. It is most often selected by those who already have a college degree or who can only complete one year of studies. The coursework represents the core of our associate degree studies. Students begin by enrolling in BHAV 110 Introduction to Behavioral and Social Services.
Students can complete this certificate as a stand-alone sequence or while completing the AAS.
Certificate of Completion in Substance Use Disorder Counseling (Short Certificate)
- For associates, bachelors, and graduate students
- Open admission
- 3 courses (15 credits)
- Online (asynchronous) or face-to-face (weekday afternoons)
- Part-time
- Start any quarter
This sequence provides a basic education in addiction and its treatment. All of the classes are available as self-paced online, asynchronous courses. Two of the courses are also offered face-to-face, on campus. The courses can be taken in any order.
Students can complete this certificate as a stand-alone sequence or as part of their AAS or BAS studies.
This education fulfills the alternative training education requirements for Substance Use Disorder Professional applicants with a license in good standing in one of the following credentials, as outlined in WAC 246-811-076: ARNP, psychologist, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselor, advanced social worker, independent clinical social worker, osteopathic physician, osteopathic physician assistant, physician, or physician assistant.
Entry into the Behavioral and Social Services certificates requires completion of LWTech's online application.
Additional Admission Considerations
Not Sure Where to Start?
Program Information Sessions
All those interested are invited to come learn about LWTech’s Behavioral and Social Services program. College faculty and staff will share information about the degrees and certificates available and the jobs they prepare graduates for. We will explain the application processes and answer questions.
RSVP, Location, Virtual Link Information
Info sessions are offered virtually or on campus. Please RSVP for Microsoft Teams loogin and campus location information.
Dates
March 13, 2023, 1 p.m., via Microsoft Teams
April 11, 2023, 6 p.m., via Microsoft Teams
May 12, 2023, 1 p.m., on campus
June 6, 2023, 6 p.m., on campus
Microsoft Teams Help
- Microsoft Teams can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone or you can call in.
- Microsoft Teams does not require registering for an account.
- Visit Teams Support for more information and help videos.
LWTech Information Sessions
Not sure what program you want to apply to? Check out LWTech's general information sessions and weekly tours by going to LWTech.edu/Visit.
