Behavioral-Neuroscience Major, BS

Campus: NYC

This interdisciplinary degree prepares students for entry into medical school, mental health careers, graduate school programs in the sciences, and other fields. The program is also well suited for pre-physician assistant, and pre-occupational therapy students. Students may also obtain immediate employment as laboratory technicians in medical, mental health and counseling, university, government, start-up, biotechnology, and other settings. Coursework includes core rigorous Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Psychology courses, and a wide variety of electives. For their final projects, students complete a two-semester independent research project with one of the over 40 faculty in the biology and psychology departments, depending on their interests.

Students are required to pass a two-part comprehensive examination that assesses the ability to integrate and synthesize basic concepts in Biology, Neurobiology, and Psychology. Students must register for BIO 493 in their final semester to take the exam.

Major Completion Summary

Major Completion Summary
Requirement	Credits
University Core Requirements	42-51
Major Requirements	49-53
Open Electives	16-29
Total Credits	120

University Core Requirements (41-51)

See complete University Core requirements.

Includes as part of the General Core requirement the following Prescribed General Core courses: CHE 111 (General Chemistry I); CHE 112 (General Chemistry II); and CHE 223 (Organic Chemistry I)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Major-Prescribed Science Course Sequence
CHE 111	General Chemistry I	4
CHE 112	General Chemistry II	4
CHE 223	Organic Chemistry I	4
Civic Engagement Course (PSY 233 recommended)		3
Learning Community - BNS 410 required
Two Arts & Humanities (AH) courses		6
One Social Sciences course (SOC 102 recommended)		3
MAT 131	Calculus I (fulfils MAT core requirement)	4
Other Core requirements (see link above)

Major Requirements (49-55 Credits)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Major Courses ¹
BIO 101	General Biology I (Fulfils Science Lab Core requirement)	0
BIO 102	General Biology II	4
BIO 231	Genetics	4
BIO 251	Principles of Human Anatomy	4
BIO 325	Neurobiology	3
BIO 334	General Physiology	4
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
BNS 410	Systems Behavioral Neuroscience (satisfies the Learning Community)	4
PSY 112	Introduction to Psychology (Fulfils Social Science Core course)	4
PSY 209	Health Psychology	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
MAT 131	Calculus I	0
MAT 141	Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences	4
or PSY 205	Statistics in Psychology and Allied Fields
For students choosing the Biology Capstone path
BIO 490 & BIO 480	Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences and Research in Biology	6
or BIO 395	Independent Study in Biology
or BIO 491	Internship in Biology
OR, for students choosing the Psychology Capstone Path:
PSY 386 & PSY 387	Psychological Research I and Psychological Research II	8
Major Electives
Select two PSY and one BIO course; 9-13 credits from the following:		9-13
BIO 212	Human Disease and Disorders
BIO 222	Plants and People
BIO 232	Developmental Biology
BIO 264	Microbiology
BIO 305	Evolutionary Biology
BIO 322	Animal Behavior
BIO 330	Behavioral Pharmacology
BIO 336	Genomics
BIO 345	Introduction to Toxicology
BIO 346	Introduction to Basic Pharmacology
BIO 335	Molecular and Cellular Biology (recommended for pre-med)
BIO 399Q	Special Topics in Biology: Mammalogy-Adaptation, Diversity and Ecology of Mammals
PSY 206	Psychology and Law
PSY 227	Psychology of Women
PSY 233	Psychology of Civic Engagement
PSY 241	Psychology of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
PSY 243	Applied Social Psychology
PSY 277	Evolutionary Psychology
PSY 302	Child Psychology
PSY 296	Approved Psychology Topics Course
PSY 303	Adolescent Psychology
PSY 304	Social Psychology
PSY 307	Psychology of Personality
PSY 320	Abnormal Psychology I
PSY 321	Abnormal Psychology II
PSY 323	Psychology of Learning
PSY 337	Introduction to Psychological Counseling
PSY 375	Lifespan Development Psychology
Total Credits		61-65

¹: Students may also take BIO 395 Independent Study in Biology or BIO 491 Internship in Biology as part of the Independent Research in Biology requirement.
²: Two Psychology courses from the approved list below and one approved Biology course (BIO 335 Molecular and Cellular Biology is recommended for pre-med students.)
³: PSY 296L Special Topics: Psychology of Stress is the approved PSY 296 Topics course.
⁴: Students enrolled in the Psychology Path must take both PSY 380 and PSY 381 and not BIO 480 and BIO 490.

Open Electives (16-29 Credits)

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Open Electives
Select 16-33 credits ¹		18-33
Total Credits		18-33

¹: Includes UNV 101 First-Year Seminar (1 credit) - required of first-year freshman students.

Pre-med students should consult with pre-med advisors.

Psychology capstone Path

Students on this path take the Experimental Psychology Sequence (PSY 386 followed by PSY 387) .

Please note that students cannot take Genetics (Bio 231) and Human Anatomy (Bio 251) at the same time due to a time conflict.

Students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached.

See advisor for more information.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
BIO 101	General Biology I (Writing Intensive (WE). Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 111	General Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
UNV 101	First-Year Seminar: Introduction to University Community	1
Systems Beh. Nauroscience will satisfy the Learning Community
Take one Arts and Humanities (AH) class		3
Second Language Course. Or begin Math Sequence. See Advisor for guidelines		3-4
	Credits	15-16
Spring
BIO 102	General Biology II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 112	General Chemistry II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
PSY 112	Introduction to Psychology	4
Second Language Course, if applicable. Or Continue Math sequence. See advisor		3-4
	Credits	15-16
Second Year
Fall
BIO 231	Genetics (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 223	Organic Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing	3
	Credits	15
Spring
ENG 120	Critical Writing	4
PSY 209	Health Psychology	3
One elective course in BIO (Bio 335 recommended for pre-med)		3-5
Take any Arts & Humanities core course (AH) or Begin Math Sequence		3-4
	Credits	13-16
Third Year
Fall
BIO 251	Principles of Human Anatomy (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
BIO 325	Neurobiology	3
MAT 131	Calculus I	4
ENG 201	Writing in the Disciplines	3-4
Civic Engagement (CE) elective (PSY 233 recommended)		3
	Credits	17-18
Spring
BIO 334	General Physiology (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
MAT 141 or PSY 205	Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences or Statistics in Psychology and Allied Fields	4
BNS 410	Systems Behavioral Neuroscience ^(LC)	4
One elective course in PSY from approved list		3-4
	Credits	15-16
Fourth Year
Fall
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
PSY 386	Psychological Research I	4
One elective course in PSY from approved list		4
Take one remaining AH course		3
Take any remaining required or core courses (e.g. Bio 251 if not completed; language or ARE requirements)
	Credits	14
Spring
Take any remaining Core courses or required/open electives		12
PSY 387	Psychological Research II	4
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	120-127

Pre-Med path

Please note that students cannot take Genetics (Bio 231) and Human Anatomy (Bio 251) at the same time due to a time conflict.

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. See advisor for more information.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
BIO 101	General Biology I (Writing Intensive (WE). Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 111	General Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
UNV 101	First-Year Seminar: Introduction to University Community	1
Systems Beh. Neuroscience will satisfy the Learning Community
First Second Language Course. See Advisor for guidelines		3
Take one Social Sciences core Course (SS) - SOC 102 recommended		3
	Credits	15
Spring
BIO 102	General Biology II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 112	General Chemistry II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
PSY 112	Introduction to Psychology	4
Second Language Course, if applicable		3
	Credits	15
Second Year
Fall
BIO 231	Genetics (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 223	Organic Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Credits	15
Spring
ENG 120	Critical Writing	4
PSY 209	Health Psychology	3
One elective course in BIO (BIO 335/BIO 335A, Writing Enhanced (WE) recommended)		5
One major elective course in subject PSY from approved list		4
	Credits	16
Third Year
Fall
BIO 251	Principles of Human Anatomy (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
BIO 325	Neurobiology	3
MAT 131	Calculus I (Required Lab/Discussion component carries zero credits)	4
ENG 201	Writing in the Disciplines	3-4
Civic Engagement (CE) elective (PSY 233 recommended)		3
	Credits	17-18
Spring
BIO 334	General Physiology (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
MAT 141 or PSY 205	Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences or Statistics in Psychology and Allied Fields	4
BNS 410	Systems Behavioral Neuroscience	4
CHE 224	Organic Chemistry II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
BIO 490	Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences (Writing Enhanced (WE) course. Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
BIO 327	Cellular Biochemistry	4
PHY 101 or PHY 111	College Physics I (Or PHY 101A and PHY 111B. Or PHY 111A and PHY 111B and PHY 111R. Requires both lecture and lab.) or General Physics I	4
	Credits	14
Spring
BIO 395 or BIO 480 or BIO 491	Independent Study in Biology or Research in Biology or Internship in Biology	3
PHY 102 or PHY 112	College Physics II (OR (PHY 112A+ PHY 112B + PHY 112R) OR (PHY 102A + PHY 112B) Required Lab component carries zero credits) or General Physics II	4
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
Take one Art & Humanities course (AH)		3
Take one Art & Humanities course (AH)		3
One major elective course in subject PSY from approved list		3
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	124-125

Biology capstone Path

Please note that students cannot take Genetics (Bio 231) and Human Anatomy (Bio 251) at the same time due to a time conflict.

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. See advisor for more information.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
BIO 101	General Biology I (Writing Intensive (WE). Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 111	General Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
UNV 101	First-Year Seminar: Introduction to University Community	1
Systems Beh. Neuroscience will satisfy the Learning Community
Take a Social Sciences (SS) core course (SOC 102 recommended for health careers)		3
First Second Language Course. See Advisor for guidelines		3
	Credits	15
Spring
BIO 102	General Biology II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 112	General Chemistry II (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
PSY 112	Introduction to Psychology	4
ENG 110	Composition	3
Second Language Course, if applicable		3
	Credits	18
Second Year
Fall
BIO 231	Genetics (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CHE 223	Organic Chemistry I (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Credits	15
Spring
ENG 120	Critical Writing	4
PSY 209	Health Psychology	3
One elective in BIO (Bio 330 or BIO 335 are recommend; Bio 335 is a WEC)		3-5
Take one Arts and Humanities (AH) core course		3
	Credits	13-15
Third Year
Fall
BIO 251	Principles of Human Anatomy (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
BIO 325	Neurobiology	3
MAT 131	Calculus I	4
ENG 201	Writing in the Disciplines	3-4
Civic Engagement (CE) elective (PSY 233 recommended)		3
	Credits	17-18
Spring
BIO 334	General Physiology (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	4
MAT 141 or PSY 205	Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences or Statistics in Psychology and Allied Fields	4
BNS 410	Systems Behavioral Neuroscience	4
One elective course in PSY from approved list		4
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
BIO 490	Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences (Writing Enhanced (WE) course)	3
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
One elective course in PSY from approved list		4
Take one Arts and Humanities (AH) core course		3
	Credits	13
Spring
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
BIO 480 or BIO 395 or BIO 491	Research in Biology or Independent Study in Biology or Internship in Biology	1-4
Take any remaining core courses or open electives to complete 120 credits		12
	Credits	13-16
	Total Credits	120-126