Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Behavioral Neuroscience, BA
What Is the Study of Behavioral Neuroscience?
Behavioral neuroscience explores the role of the nervous system in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion. For example, Behavioral Neuroscientists study the biological basis of normal learning and memory as well as psychiatric illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia and drug abuse. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_neuroscience)
Why Should I Consider this Major?
This interdisciplinary program provides students with the specialized preparation and technological sophistication critical for success in a variety of graduate-training programs, including neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, mental health, and neurobiology; and in health care, including medicine and dentistry. For those students who do not anticipate pursuing post-graduate education, the degree program provides an excellent platform for entry-level positions in such areas as biomedical research and the pharmaceutical industry.
How to Declare:
Admissions: To declare, a student must have completed the following requirements:
- Complete at least 75 undergraduate credits
- MATH 114 or higher
- Complete the following courses with an average grade point of 2.9 or higher: CHEM 121, 122, 123; BIOL 204, 205, 206; PSY 101, 220.
- After completing the above, submit an application to either Coco Besson in AI 599 or Kim Kolb Ayre in BI 315.
Application materials are available at the Behavioral Neuroscience Program website. These materials are also available at the Psychology and Biology Department web pages and AI 599 or BI 315.
This is a competitive application process.
Application deadlines: The deadline for this application is the end of the 2nd full week of classes fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters.
Coursework
Basic Requirements
- BIOL 204 - INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY
- BIOL 205 - INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 206 - INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
- BIOL 321 - GENETICS
- BIOL 323 - CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 432 - EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
- CHEM 121 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
- CHEM 122 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
- CHEM 123 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
- CHEM 251 - ELEMENTARY ORGANIC CHEMISTRY or equivalent
- MATH 114 - PRECALCULUS I
- PSY 101 - INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
- PSY 220 - INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- PSY 301 - OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODS
- PSY 303 - RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES
- PSY 319 - COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
- PSY 320 - TOPICS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- PSY 323 - PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
- PSY 328 - TECHNIQUES IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- One course from:
- BIOL 410 - ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
- PSY 321 - LEARNING
- PSY 324 - COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Seminar Requirements (3-5 credits)
- BIOL 410 - Animal Behavior (can be applied to Basic OR Seminar requirement, not both)
- BIOL 476 - The Structural Basis of Membrane Transport Proteins
- BIOL 486 - Topics in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodevelopment
- PSY 410 - Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSY 420 - Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSY 421 - Seminar in Learning
- PSY 422 - Seminar in Motivation
- PSY 424 - Seminar in Comparative Psychology
Electives under advisement (10 credits)
- BIOL 322 - GENETICS LAB
- BIOL 324 - METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- BIOL 325 - ECOLOGY
- BIOL 410 - ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
- BIOL 467 - COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY
- BIOL 468 - COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
- BIOL 471 - BIOCHEMISTRY I
- BIOL 472 - BIOCHEMISTRY II
- BIOL 476 - THE STRUCTURAL BASIS OF MEMBRANE TRANSPORT PROTEINS
- BIOL 482 - DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF ANIMALS
- BIOL 484 - CELL BIOLOGY LABORATORY
- BIOL 486 - TOPICS IN MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF NEURODEVELOPMENT
- BIOL 497
- CHEM 375 - ELEMENTS OF BIOCHEMISTRY
- PSY 210 - COGNITION
- PSY 302 - RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: CORRELATIONAL APPROACHES
- PSY 310 - SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
- PSY 322 - MOTIVATION
- PSY 327 - COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE LAB
- PSY 410 - SEMINAR IN COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
- PSY 420 - SEMINAR IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- PSY 421 - SEMINAR IN LEARNING
- PSY 422 - SEMINAR IN MOTIVATION
- PSY 424 - SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
- PSY 428 - ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
- One course from:
- BIOL 300
- BIOL 395 - BIOLOGY RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
- BIOL 400
- BIOL 494 - BIOLOGY RESEARCH
- BIOL 495 - RESEARCH COMMUNICATION
- One course from:
- PSY 300
- PSY 400
Additional Information
A maximum combined total of 10 credits in PSY 300, 400 or BIOL 300, 395, 400, 494, 495 can be applied to the major.
GURs:
The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to fulfill major requirements.
- QSR: MATH 114
- SSC: PSY 101
- LSCI: BIOL 204, 205, 206; CHEM 121, 122, 123, 251
Notable Alumni
Sample Careers
- Neuroscientist
- Biomedical Researcher
- Psychiatrist
- Medical Doctor
- Dentist
- Pharmacist
- Veterinarian
- Physician Assistant
- Pharmaceutical Sales
Department
Contact
Program Director
Janet Finlay
AI 572, 360-650-6717
Janet.Finlay@wwu.edu
Behavioral Neuroscience Program Coordinator
Coco Besson
AI 599, 360-650-2148
Coco.Besson@wwu.edu
Biology Program Coordinator
Maren Brinson
BI 315, 360-650-6165
Faculty Advisors
Biology
Roger Anderson, José Serrano-Moreno.
Psychology
Janet Finlay, Jeff Carroll, Jeffrey Grimm, Kelly Jantzen, Mike Mana, Jacqueline Rose.