Behavioral Neuroscience Major
The behavioral neuroscience major provides an in-depth understanding of fundamental principles of neuroscience and biological bases of behavior. The major emphasizes coursework in biology and psychology, but it also involves coursework in chemistry, mathematics, statistics, and research methodology.
The major is an option for students considering careers in behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, forensic psychology, gerontology, health psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and other such professions. With appropriate advising the major also may allow preparation for careers in other areas of biology, biomedical sciences, and science education.
You are not permitted to double major in behavioral neuroscience and psychology or behavioral neuroscience and biology (BA or BS). However, you are permitted to major in behavioral neuroscience and minor in psychology but not biology.
The behavioral neuroscience major requires a minimum of 53 credit hours.
All prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in the following courses. Co-requisites must be taken during the same semester.
Prerequisite or Co-Requisite: DAY-CHEM 115 or CHEM 208 or CHEM 238. CCPS-BIOL 102.
This course examines the structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins. The molecular mechanisms of replication, transcription, mRNA processing and translation will be emphasized. In addition, regulation of these processes will be explored. Lecture and laboratory. Intended for students majoring in biology or related disciplines.
Prerequisite: Day-BIOL 172. CCPS-Co-requisite: BIOL 181-L. This course will apply the knowledge acquired in BIOL 172 to the inheritance patterns of genetic traits between individuals and within populations. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: DAY- BIOL 181. CCPS-BIOL 172. An introduction to the principles of evolutionary biology, including the history, processes and patterns of evolution as well as systematic biology.
Prerequisite: BIOL 181 and BIOL 364. Explores the cellular and molecular biology of the nervous system in order to provide an in-depth analysis of such topics as sensation and perception, consciousness and sleep, learning and memory, neuroplasticity and neural regeneration.
Prerequisite: BIOL 181. This course provides biology majors with information on pre? and post?graduate opportunities, prepares them for graduate studies related to biology by developing a resume and statement of purpose, and gives them experience speaking publicly on biological topics using appropriate technology. S/U Grading.
Prerequisite: BIOL 351. Using the scientific literature and in consultation with a faculty mentor, students will develop a proposal for an independent research project in the biological sciences and publicly present the proposal to their peers.
Prerequisite: DAY-BIOL 172. CCPS-BIOL 102 and BIOL 172. An in?depth study of the biology of the nervous system emphasizing the relationship between neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite: BIOL 200. Students complete an off?campus work experience in a professional field of interest and write a literature review on a biological topic related to the profession in consultation with a faculty mentor. A minimum of 135 hours must be completed during the off-campus experience.
Prerequisite: BIOL 200. Students complete an original field, laboratory, database, or literature research project in consultation with a faculty mentor.
Prerequisite: BIOL 483 or 484. Students present the results of their Senior Seminar I project to faculty and peers in a public forum.
A fundamental course in the study of inorganic chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, fundamentals of inorganic complexes and an introduction to the chemistry of main group elements.
A fundamental laboratory course in the study of inorganic chemistry. Topics include the preparation of inorganic complexes, resolution of chiral transition metal compounds, ion conductivity and a preparation of a main group inorganic compound.
Prerequisite: CHEM 238. This lecture course studies the chemistry of all major organic functional groups in one semester. Topics include nomenclature, stereochemistry and some mechanisms and theory. Emphasis is placed on the reactions and their application in synthesis.
Prerequisite: CHEM 238-L. This laboratory course develops organic lab skills and techniques through organic reaction experiments and characterization of organic compounds using NMR and IR spectroscopy and instrumentation.
It is strongly recommended that students have completed two years of high school algebra and one semester of high school trigonometry in order to be successful in this course. A study of the fundamental principles of analytic geometry and calculus with an emphasis on differentiation.
Co-requisite: MATH 231. The principles of Newtonian mechanics including motion, energy, and force. Calculus with extensive use of vector analysis. Intended for science majors. The modeling-centered, inquiry-based workshop format — integrated laboratory and lecture — emphasizes experiment, data collection and analysis, problem solving, and cooperative learning in both small and large groups. Offered fall semester.
This is a survey course providing a study of the behavior of living organisms, particularly human behavior. Typical problems are methods and measurement in psychology, theoretical systems, learning, motivation, perception, personality and psychopathology.
Prerequisite: BIOL 172 or PSYC 101. This course will provide an overview of the basic neuroanatomical and neurophysiological contributions to psychiatric disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, somatoform disorders, cognitive disorders, and disorders of childhood and adolescence. Pharmacological treatments will also be addressed.
Prerequisite: BIOL 172 or PSYC 356. Examines the bidirectional interaction between the brain, behavior and the immune system. Students in this course will study both human-and animal?based literature. Topics include the brain, behavior and immune interface, behavioral and psychosocial characteristics linked with immune function, the impact of stress and coping, sickness behavior, and immunoenhancement.
Examines the physiological, ontogenetic and functional foundations of human and animal behavior. Emphasizes central nervous system mechanisms that mediate processes such as arousal and sleep, hunger and satiety, learning and memory, aggression and violence, human psychopathology, and the psychoactive properties of recreational and therapeutic drugs.
Choose one (3-4 hrs.):
Prerequisite: MATH 326. It is recommended that students receive a grade of C or better in MATH 326 to be successful in this course.
This course takes the material from MATH 326 into the applications side of statistics including functions of random variables, sampling distributions, estimations and hypothesis testing.
or
Prerequisite: CRIM 102 or PSYC 101 or SOCI 101. Co-requisite: BSCI 275-L.
This course provides an overview of descriptive and inferential techniques behavioral scientists use to help guide decision?making. Emphasis is given to hypothesis testing, to include coverage of t?tests, one?way ANOVA, regression, and correlation, as well as APA?formatting issues.
Co-requisite: BSCI 275. A laboratory to complement Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. SPSS basics are emphasized.