Behavioral-Neuroscience Major, BS

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	44-55
Major Requirements	49-53
Open Electives	12-27
Total Credits	120

University Core Requirements (44-55 Credits)

See complete University Core requirements.

Includes several of the major-required Math, Biology and Physics courses listed below:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Major-Required Math and Science Courses
Specific courses required for University Core:
MAT 131	Calculus I (Foundation Math)	4
BIO 101	General Biology I (Lab Science)	4
PSY 112	Introduction to Psychology (Areas of Knowledge/HSN)	4
In Depth Sequence
CHE 111	General Chemistry I	4
CHE 112	General Chemistry II	4
CHE 223	Organic Chemistry I	4
Other Core Requirements for Major
BIO 101	General Biology I	4
BIO 102	General Biology II	4
BIO 231	Genetics	4

Major Requirements (49-53 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Major Courses 1
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 209	Health Psychology	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
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 380 & PSY 381	Experimental Psychology I and Experimental Psychology II (Only for students choosing the Psychology Path) 4	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		57-61

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 (12-27 Credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Open Electives
Select 12-27 credits 1		12-27
Total Credits		12-27

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

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These cour​ses may be taken during any semester of their education. See advisor for more information.

undefined

Pre-Med path

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These cour​ses may be taken during any semester of their education. See advisor for more information.

undefined

Biology capstone Path

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These cour​ses may be taken during any semester of their education. See advisor for more information.

undefined