Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience
Program Contact: Adrienne Betz 203-582-5259
Behavioral Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that studies brain and behavior in a multifaceted and integrative way. The Behavioral Neuroscience major is a course of study that emphasizes the interaction between the psychological and biological foundations of behavior. Behavioral Neuroscience majors choose one of two tracks (natural science or psychological science) based on individual goals and interests.
The natural science track is a science-intensive program that provides training to students who have primary interests in the biological sciences as applied to psychology and behavior. The curriculum in this track can fulfill the science prerequisites for most professional schools.
The psychological science track includes a core set of courses in biology, chemistry and physics, but is more psychology-intensive than the natural science track. This track would be appropriate for those who are most interested in aspects of psychology that are most directly related to physiology and brain function, and how they relate to behavior. The curriculum in this track prepares students for entry to graduate programs or employment in behavioral neuroscience and related fields.
Students seeking a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience must complete requirements for the University Curriculum. Initial placement in English and mathematics scores is determined by examination and evaluation of high school units presented. Within the major, behavioral neuroscience students take a set of courses that emphasize scientific reasoning. After taking PS 101, all majors take PS 206, PS 307, PS 308 or PS 353 , and PS 401. All students must complete PS 206 and PS 307 followed by PS 308 or PS 353 in a subsequent semester. The capstone course, PS 401, must be taken in the senior year and must be taken as a seminar during the regular academic year. In each of the following sequence courses, students must earn a grade of C- or higher before moving on to the next course: PS 206, PS 307, PS 308 or PS 353 . Students must earn a grade of C- or higher in PS 252 before moving on to PS 357 . In addition, students must maintain a psychology GPA that is above 2.0. PS 401, the capstone course, requires senior standing and must be taken as a seminar during the regular academic year. All majors are encouraged to work closely with their academic adviser to plan their progress through the major.
BS in Behavioral Neuroscience: Natural Science Track
In addition to the University Curriculum, students on the natural science track must complete a biological and physical science core, and a psychology core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum | ||
| FYS 101 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| UC Breadth Elective | ||
| UC Capstone | ||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable I 1 | 3 |
| Two courses in the natural sciences: (PHY 110 and PHY 111) | ||
| Two social science courses (PS 101 and PS 272) | ||
| Two humanities courses | ||
| One course in fine arts | ||
| Two UC electives (CHE 110 and CHE 111) | ||
| Science Core | ||
| BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CHE 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 211 & 211L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| PHY 110 & 110L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| PHY 111 & 111L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | 4 |
| Biology and Chemistry Core | ||
| BIO 211 & 211L | Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | 4 |
| BIO 212 & 212L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 4 |
| BIO 329 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIO 346 & 346L | Cell Physiology and Cell Physiology Lab | 4 |
| CHE 315 & 315L | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry Lab I | 4 |
| Psychology Sequence Courses | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | 3 |
| PS 307 & 307L | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology and Introduction to Methods Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Research Methods in Psychology and Advanced Research Methods Lab | ||
| Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| PS 401 | Senior Seminar in Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology Content Courses | ||
| PS 233 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PS 252 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PS 272 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PS 354 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PS 357 | Drugs, Brain and Behavior | 3 |
| 1 | Students who do not directly place into MA 141 should take MA 140 |
Behavioral Neuroscience majors normally complete the following in their first year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FYS 101 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| BIO 150 | General Biology for Majors | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable I 1 | 3 |
| BIO 151 | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics | 4 |
| CHE 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 111 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
| 1 | Students who do not directly place into MA 141 should take MA 140 |
All majors are encouraged to work closely with their academic adviser to plan their progress through the major.
BS in Behavioral Neuroscience: Psychological Science Track
In addition to the University Curriculum, students majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience: psychological science track must complete a biological and physical science core and a psychology core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum | ||
| FYS 101 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| UC Breadth Elective | ||
| UC Capstone | ||
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable I 1 | 3 |
| Two courses in the sciences: (PHY 101 and one other Natural Science Breadth Elective) | ||
| Two social sciences course (PS 101 and PS 272) | ||
| Two humanities courses | ||
| One fine arts course | ||
| Two additional UC electives (CHE 110 and CHE 111) | ||
| Science Core | ||
| BIO 150 & 150L | General Biology for Majors and General Biology for Majors Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 151 & 151L | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics Lab | 4 |
| CHE 110 & 110L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111 & 111L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| PHY 101 & 101L | Elements of Physics and Elements of Physics Lab | 4 |
| Biology and Chemistry Core | ||
| BIO 211 & 211L | Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I | 4 |
| BIO 212 & 212L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 4 |
| BIO 240 | Cellular Communication | 3 |
| BIO 329 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| Psychology Sequence Courses | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | 3 |
| PS 307 & 307L | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology and Introduction to Methods Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Research Methods in Psychology and Advanced Research Methods Lab | ||
| Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| PS 401 | Senior Seminar in Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology Content Courses | ||
| PS 233 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PS 252 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PS 272 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PS 354 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PS 357 | Drugs, Brain and Behavior | 3 |
| Three PS electives | 9 | |
| 1 | Students who do not directly place into MA 141 should take MA 140 |
Behavioral Neuroscience majors normally complete the following in their first year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FYS 101 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| MA 141 | Calculus of a Single Variable I 1 | 3 |
| BIO 150 | General Biology for Majors | 4 |
| BIO 151 | Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics | 4 |
| CHE 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 111 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
| 1 | Students who do not directly place into MA 141 should take MA 140 |
All majors are encouraged to work closely with their academic adviser to plan their progress through the major.
Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective freshmen are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.
Premedical Studies Program
Students majoring in Health Science Studies, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or the natural science track of Behavioral Neuroscience may fully participate in the premedical studies program. The curriculum in this degree program can fulfill the science prerequisites for most professional schools. Students should refer to Premedical Studies for more information about the premedical studies program and contact the Health Professions Advisory Committee for further academic advising.