Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. This interdisciplinary field integrates several disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, biology, chemistry, and computer science. As such, students in this degree will develop competency in foundational coursework in the life and physical sciences. At the upper level, students complete a directed curriculum that will provide them depth of training in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience specifically.

Nationwide, there is increasing interest in neuroscience programs and training. Students completing a BS in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience will be well prepared for graduate study, as well as to enter entry-level healthcare and technical occupations.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Semester Credit Hours
BIOL 111	Introductory Biology I	4
CHEM 119	Fundamentals of Chemistry I	4
ENGL 104	Composition and Rhetoric	3
PBSI 105	Psychology as a Major and Profession 1	1
PBSI 107	Introduction to Psychology 1	3
General elective		2
	Semester Credit Hours	17
Spring
BIOL 112	Introductory Biology II	4
CHEM 120	Fundamentals of Chemistry II	4
PBSI 235	Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience 1	3
Select one of the following:		4
MATH 147	Calculus I for Biological Sciences
MATH 151	Engineering Mathematics I
MATH 171	Calculus I
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
PBSI 311	Psychology of Animal Behavior 1	3
PHYS 201	College Physics	4
POLS 206	American National Government	3
Select one of the following:		3-4
MATH 148	Calculus II for Biological Sciences
MATH 152	Engineering Mathematics II
MATH 172	Calculus II
STAT 201	Elementary Statistical Inference
General elective		2
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Spring
PBSI 332	Neuroscience of Learning and Memory 1	3
PHYS 202	College Physics	4
POLS 207	State and Local Government	3
Communication		3
General elective		2
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Third Year
Fall
PBSI 336	Drugs and Behavior 1	3
PBSI 350	Cognitive Neuroscience 1	3
Select one of the following:		3
PBSI 301	Elementary Statistics for Psychology
STAT 302	Statistical Methods
STAT 312	Statistics for Biology
Creative arts		3
Language, philosophy and culture		3
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Spring
American history		3
Social and behavioral sciences 2		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
PBSI 471	Research Writing in Neuroscience 1	1
American history		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
General elective		2
	Semester Credit Hours	15
Spring
PBSI 475	Communicating Neuroscience Concepts 1	1
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
Prescribed elective 1,3		3
	Semester Credit Hours	13
	Total Semester Credit Hours	120

¹

Must make a grade of C or better.

²

Except PBSI 107.

³

Select from BICH 409; BICH 410; BIOL 213; BIOL 319; BIOL 320; BIOL 413, BIOL 428; BIOL 434/NRSC 434; BIOL 435; BIOL 444/NRSC 444; BIOL 485, BIOL 491; CHEM 227, CHEM 228, CHEM 237, CHEM 238; CHEM 257; CHEM 258;  GENE 301; NRSC 200-499; PBSI 320, PBSI 333, PBSI 340, PBSI 345, PBSI 360, PBSI 408; PBSI 440, PBSI 483, PBSI 484, PBSI 485, PBSI 491; VIBS 277; VIBS 401/NRSC 401; VIBS 407/NRSC 407; VIBS 450. Of the 30 hours from the prescribed electives, 6 hours must be from PBSI 320, PBSI 333, PBSI 336, PBSI 340, PBSI 345, PBSI 360, PBSI 440, PBSI 483, PBSI 484, PBSI 485, PBSI 491. No more than 3 hours PBSI 483, no more than 3 hours of PBSI 484, and no more than 12 hours of PBSI/NRSC/BIOL 483, 484, 485 and 491 combined.