Minor in Behavioral Neurosciences
Director: Schatz
Behavioral Neurosciences Advisory Board: Garrigan, R. Murray, Vacca, Watrous
Program Overview
Behavioral neuroscience is a field of endeavor that uses interdisciplinary approaches to study and understand the interaction of brain processes and complex behaviors, human and animal. It is an integration of traditional disciplines as diverse as biology, chemistry, computer science, philosophy, and psychology. The behavioral neuroscience minor is intended to be a first step for undergraduate students contemplating professional, academic, and/or research careers in neuroscience, medicine, neuropsychology, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicine, and/or animal science.
Program Purpose and Specifics
The mission of the behavioral neuroscience minor includes:
- advancing understanding of nervous systems and the part they play in determining behavior.
- providing students with multidisciplinary training and perspectives needed to approach issues of interest in the broad area of the biological support of behavior.
The learning objectives of the program include fostering in students:
- an understanding of theories, concepts, and research findings within the field of behavioral neuroscience.
- the usage of appropriate methodologies to develop knowledge and to examine questions within the field of behavioral neuroscience.
- the ability to apply a knowledge base to phenomena within the field of behavioral neuroscience.
- an awareness and an adoption of values and ethical standards shared by professionals within the field of behavioral neuroscience.
The Minor
Students complete the Behavioral Neurosciences with six courses: 3 "core" courses, and 3 electives.
Core Courses:
The following 3 core courses are required
PSY 206 |
Neuroscience Foundations or BIO 412: Neurobiology |
PSY 207 |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
PSY 208 |
Cognitive Neuroscience |
Elective Courses
To ensure the interdisciplinary nature of the program, students wishing to complete the minor must select elective courses offered by at least two participating departments other than their own major.
Courses currently offered by the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Education/Special Education, Interdisciplinary Health Services, Philosophy, Physics, and Psychology that might support the proposed minor are listed below. Students must complete at least three electives, chosen from among:
Biology
BIO 101 |
Cells |
BIO 401 |
Animal Behavior |
BIO 402 |
Advanced Cell Biology |
BIO 405 |
Biochemistry |
BIO 407 |
Developmental Biology |
BIO 408 |
Histology |
BIO 411 |
Molecular Genetics |
BIO 412 |
Neurobiology |
BIO 417 |
Systemic Physiology |
Chemistry
CHM 210 |
Organic Chemistry I |
CHM 210L |
Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
CHM 215 |
Organic Chemistry II |
CHM 215L |
Organic Chemistry Laboratory II |
CHM 340 |
Biochemistry |
CHM 340L |
Biochemistry Laboratory |
CHM 430 |
Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry |
CHM 480 |
Inorganic Biochemistry |
Computer Science
121 Computer Science II
201 Data Structures
202 Computer Architecture
261 Principles of Programming Languages
342 Computer Vision
362 Intro to Artificial Intelligence
Education/Special Education
160 Introduction to Special Education
310 Assessment: Identification and Progress Monitoring
330 Educating Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
424 English Linguistics
Interdisciplinary Health Services
110 Psychological Aspects of Health, Illness & Disability
253 Nutrition: Health and Disease
263 Theories of Addiction & Addictive Behavior
357 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
458 Epidemiology
Philosophy
322 Philosophy of Science
473 Science, Mind and Philosophy
Physics
101 General Physics I
102 General Physics II
101L General Physics Laboratory I
102L General Physics Laboratory II
105 University Physics I
106 University Physics II
105L University Physics Laboratory I
106L University Physics Laboratory II
110 Physics: Concepts and Applications
253 Survey of Nanotechnology
261 Electronics I
262 Electronics II
307 Electricity and Magnetism
419 Biophysics
421 Physics of Fluids
Psychology
100 Introductory Psychology
101 Introductory Psychology (Freshman Seminar)
120 Lifespan Development
121 Child Development
122 Abnormal Psychology for Non-Psychology Majors
201 Biological Basis of Behavior
210 Research Methods
220 Sensation and Perception
221 Animal Learning and Memory
222 Neuropsychology
223 Health Psychology
224 Psychopharmacology
225 Comparative Animal Behavior
226 Psychology of Emotion
232 Abnormal Psychology for Psychology Majors
Students may petition the Behavioral Neurosciences Advisory Board to receive credit for courses not listed above. The determination of the appropriateness of courses for inclusion in the minor will be made by the director of the program, in consultation with an advisory board. Courses may be taken for Behavioral Neuroscience credit only if the student’s work in the class meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Coursework includes a substantive treatment of brain/behavior relationships.
- Coursework includes a substantive treatment of methodology, techniques, and approaches relevant to neuroscience.
- Coursework in other ways contributes to an understanding of the relationship between nervous systems and behavior or other issues typically addressed by neuroscientists.
As an assessment of a course’s contribution to the student’s growth and development as a neuroscientist, the student will typically be required to write a research paper or other substantive project, the focus of which is a topic within the broad discipline of behavioral neuroscience, as part of his/her coursework.