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 and a foreign language up to the 102-level. 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 in separate semesters. The capstone course, PS 401, must be taken in the senior year, taken as a seminar during the regular academic year, and following completion of PS 308. 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 101 before moving on to any 200-level PS courses and in PS 252 before moving on to PS 357 . 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 and the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement, students on the natural science track must complete a biological and physical science core, and a psychology core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biological and Physical Science Core 2 | ||
| 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 |
| or | ||
| University Physics | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| BIO 211 & 211L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and 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 Core | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | 3 |
| PS 307 & PS 307L | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology with Lab and | 4 |
| Advanced Research Methods in Psychology with Lab and | ||
| or | ||
| Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| PS 401 | Integrative Capstone for Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Majors | 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 |
| 2 | Some of these courses can fulfill the University Curriculum requirements |
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 and the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement, students majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience: psychological science track must complete a biological and physical science core and a psychology core.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Science Core 2 | ||
| 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 |
| BIO 211 & 211L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and 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 Core | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology | 3 |
| PS 307 & PS 307L | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology with Lab and | 4 |
| PS 308 & PS 308L | Advanced Research Methods in Psychology with Lab and | 4 |
| or | ||
| Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| PS 401 | Integrative Capstone for Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Majors | 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 200 or above PS electives | 9 | |
| 1 | Students who do not directly place into MA 141 should take MA 140 |
| 2 | Some of these courses can fulfill the University Curriculum requirements |
Behavioral Neuroscience majors, on either track, normally complete the following in their first year2:
| 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 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 |
| 2 | Some of these courses can fulfill the University Curriculum requirements. |
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.
Pre-Medical Studies Program
Students majoring in Health Science Studies, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or the natural science track of Behavioral Neuroscience may fully participate in the pre-medical studies program. The curriculum in this degree program can fulfill the science prerequisites for most professional schools. Students should refer to Pre-Medical Studies for more information about the pre-medical studies program and contact the Health Professions Advisory Committee for further academic advising.