Are you passionate about working with youth? As a Child Behavioral Health (CBH) major, you will gain direct experience and work closely with dedicated peers and supportive faculty. This innovative undergraduate program brings elements usually found in graduate-level studies into an undergraduate program preparing you to provide effective behavioral health support to youth.
Application Deadlines
Are you an incoming first-year or transfer student? Submit your UO application by the deadline for the term you want to start. Don’t forget to declare pre-child behavioral health as your major.
How to Apply
Step 1: Declare the pre-child behavioral health major.
All students will begin their journey as a child behavioral health pre-major.
- Incoming first-year and transfer students: On your UO application choose the pre-child behavioral health major. If you’re already accepted to the UO and want to switch to pre-CBH before orientation, contact the UO Office of Admissions.
- Current UO students: If you are interested in the CBH major, you can declare the Pre-Child Behavioral Health major using the CBH Major Change Form or make an appointment with our advising team.
Step 2: Work toward meeting our admission requirements.
Whether you are UO or transfer student, all students must meet the following admission requirements:
- 2.7 cumulative college GPA
- 3.0 GPA in pre-major courses, with at least one core course completed (see: Pre-major Core Curriculum)
- 90 quarter credits (or 60 semester credits) earned by the start of the program
- Demonstrated commitment to the child behavioral health field, reflected in two short-answer responses on the CBH application
Meeting these requirements usually takes two years. An example degree plan can be found here.
Step 3: Apply to full major status.
The final two years of the child behavioral major are completed at the Ballmer Institute located at University of Oregon Portland campus. As a cohort model, students are eligible to enter the program every fall term.
The application for the 2028 cohort, Fall 2026 start, is now open.
Students are encouraged to apply up to one year in advance but no later than June 15th when the application closes.
Step 4: Transition to the Ballmer Institute
Before you transition to the Ballmer Institute, you must clear the CBH Checkpoint. The CBH Checkpoint occurs in the spring term before entry into the program and verifies that you:
- Have met / On track to meet all admission requirements (stated above) before the start of the program
- Cleared the background check requirements