Behavioral-Neuroscience Major, BS | Pace University New York

This interdisciplinary degree prepares students for further education in the health professions, medical school, mental health careers, and different graduate schools. It also prepares students for employment as laboratory technicians at medical, mental health, university, government, start-up, biotechnology, and other settings. Coursework includes core Biology, Neuroscience, and Psychology courses, and a wide variety of electives.

Students are required to pass a comprehensive examination given as part of BIO 490 Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences that assesses the ability to integrate and synthesize basic concepts in Biology. Students must register for BIO 493 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	5
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	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
BIO 480 & BIO 490	Research in Biology and Introduction to Research in the Biological Sciences (For students choosing the Biology Path.)	6
or BIO 395	Independent Study in Biology
or BIO 491	Internship in Biology
OR
PSY 380 & PSY 381	Experimental Psychology I and Experimental Psychology II (Only for students choosing the Psychology Path) ⁴	8
Major Electives for the Biology Track
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 336	Genomics
BIO 345	Introduction to Toxicology
BIO 346	Introduction to Basic Pharmacology
BIO 335	Molecular and Cellular Biology (recommended)
PSY 206	Psychology and Law
PSY 227	Psychology of Women
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.)
³: PSY 296L Special Topics: Psychology of Stress is the approved PSY 296 Topics course.
⁴: Students enrolled in the Psychology Path must take 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 Path

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These courses may be taken during any semester of their education. 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
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		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 (Analysis of Human, Social, and Natural Phenomena (AOK5))	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)	5
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Credits	16
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
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	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		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 or BIO from approved list		4
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
Fall
PSY 380	Experimental Psychology I (Required Lab/Discussion component carries zero credits)	4
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
One elective course in PSY from approved list		4
Take two remaining Area of Knowledge, Learning Community courses		6
	Credits	17
Spring
PSY 381	Experimental Psychology II (Required Lab/Discussion component carries zero credits)	4
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	10
	Total Credits	121-122

Pre-Med

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These courses may be taken during any semester of their education. 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
First Second Language Course. See Advisor for guidelines		3
	Credits	12
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 (Analysis of Human, Social, and Natural Phenomena (AOK5))	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)	5
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Credits	16
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		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)	5
	Credits	17
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 (Required Lab component carries zero credits) or General Physics I	4
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
	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 (Required Lab component carries zero credits) or General Physics II	4
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge and Learning Community (LC) course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge and Learning Community (LC) course		3
One major elective course in subject PSY from approved list		3
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	123-124

General Path

In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete two courses with the Anti-Racism Education attribute attached. These courses may be taken during any semester of their education. 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
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		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 (Analysis of Human, Social, and Natural Phenomena (AOK5))	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)	5
CIS 101	Introduction to Computing (Required Lab component carries zero credits)	3
PSY 315	Cognitive Psychology	4
	Credits	16
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
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	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		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
BIO 493	Major Field Test in Biology	0
COM 200	Public Speaking	3
One elective course in PSY from approved list		4
Take two remaining Area of Knowledge, Learning Community courses		6
	Credits	16
Spring
PSY 381 or BIO 480 or BIO 491	Experimental Psychology II or Research in Biology or Internship in Biology	3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
Take any one remaining Area of Knowledge course		3
	Credits	9
	Total Credits	122-123