The Neuroscience and Behavior major provides undergraduate preparation for students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in psychobiology, neuroscience and/or behavioral biology, or in pursuing professional degrees in medicine or veterinary medicine. Qualified students are strongly encouraged to become involved in neuroscience and behavior research projects (normally via a Directed Independent Study or special research course). An optional Honors Thesis, PSY 4970, is available to those students who meet the academic requirements (Minimum of 120 credits required).
Prerequisite Coursework for Transfer Students
Students transferring to Florida Atlantic University must complete both lower-division requirements (including the requirements of the Intellectual Foundations Program) and requirements for the college and major. Lower-division requirements may be completed through the A.A. degree from any Florida public college, university or community college or through equivalent coursework at another regionally accredited institution. Before transferring and to ensure timely progress toward the baccalaureate degree, students must also complete the prerequisite courses for their major as outlined in the Transition Guides .
All courses not approved by the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System that will be used to satisfy requirements will be evaluated individually on the basis of content and will require a catalog course description and a copy of the syllabus for assessment.
B.S. Neuroscience and Behavior Core Requirements
In addition to the University and College requirements, students are expected to complete all of the following courses. A minimum of 24 of the upper-division credits in the B.S. Neuroscience and Behavior program must be taken at Florida Atlantic University.
| Biological Principles | BSC 1010 | 3 |
| Biological Principles Lab | BSC 1010L | 1 |
| Biodiversity | BSC 1011 | 3 |
| Biodiversity Lab | BSC 1011L | 1 |
| Comparative Animal Behavior | CBH 4024 | 3 |
| General Chemistry 1 | CHM 2045 | 3 |
| General Chemistry 1 Lab | CHM 2045L | 1 |
| General Chemistry 2 | CHM 2046 | 3 |
| General Chemistry 2 Lab | CHM 2046L | 1 |
| Math through Calculus | MAC 2233, 2281, 2282, 2311, 2312 or 2313 | 3 |
| Genetics | PCB 3063 | 4 |
|
Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 or General Physics 1 and 2* or College Physics 1 and 2*
|
CHM 2210 and CHM 2211 or PHY 2048 and PHY 2049 or PHY 2053 and PHY 2054
|
6 |
| Biological Bases of Behavior 1 | PSB 3002 | 3 |
| General Psychology | PSY 1012 | 3 |
| Research Methods in Psychology | PSY 3213 | 3 |
| Experimental Design and Statistical Inference | PSY 3234 | 3 |
| Intermediate Statistics Lab | STA 3163L | 1 |
*This degree program does not require that students take Physics lab courses. However, students considering medical school should take the lab sequences. The Physics Department may require labs as corequisites for lecture courses.
B.S. Neuroscience and Behavior Elective Requirements
Students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 credits of elective courses. Students are free to choose their elective courses from those listed below. Special Topics laboratory courses with the words "Research in (neuroscience-related topic)" or "Laboratory in (neuroscience-related topic)" can be substituted for one elective course, with permission of the program coordinator.
| Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Cognition | EXP 3505 | 3 |
| Auditory Perception | EXP 4120 | 3 |
| Human Perception | EXP 4204 | 3 |
| Practical Cell Neuroscience | PCB 4843C | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology | PCB 4723 | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology Lab | PCB 4723L | 1 |
| Laboratory in Psychobiology | PSB 4004L | 3 |
| Biological Bases of Behavior II | PSB 4006 | 3 |
| Neuropsychology | PSB 4240 | 3 |
| Human Psychophysiology | PSB 4323 | 3 |
| Psychopharmacology | PSB 4444 | 3 |
| Developmental Psychobiology | PSB 4504 | 3 |
| Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | PSB 4810 | 3 |
| Biopsychology of Language | PSB 4833 | 3 |
| Special Topics | BSC 4930 | 1-3 |
| Special Topics | PSY 4930 | 1-3 |
| Special Topics in Neuroscience and Behavior | PSB 4930 | 3 |
| Developmental Neurobiology | PSB 6515 | 3 |
| Principles of Human Neuroanatomy | ZOO 4742 | 3 |
| Cellular Molecular Neuroscience | ||
| Biochemistry (2) | BCH 3033 | 3 |
| Organic Chemistry Lab (3) | CHM 2211L | 2 |
| Cellular Neuroscience and Disease | PCB 4842 | 3 |
| Practical Cell Neuroscience | PCB 4843C | 3 |
| Human Morphology and Function 1 | PCB 3703 | 3 |
| Human Morphology and Function 1 Lab | PCB 3703L | 1 |
| Human Morphology and Function 2 | PCB 3704 | 3 |
| Human Morphology and Function 2 Lab | PCB 3704L | 1 |
| Cell Biology | PCB 3023 | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology | PCB 4723 | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology Lab | PCB 4723L | 1 |
| Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | PSB 4810 | 3 |
| Special Topics (1) | BSC 4930 | 1-3 |
| Special Topics (1) | PSY 4930 | 1-3 |
| Special Topics in Neuroscience and Behavior | PSB 4930 | 3 |
| Ethology/Comparative Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Motivation | EXP 4304 | 3 |
| Marine Biology | OCB 4043 | 2 |
| Marine Biology Field Studies and Lab | OCB 4043L | 2 |
| Principles of Ecology | PCB 4043 | 3 |
| Evolution | PCB 3674 | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology | PCB 4723 | 3 |
| Comparative Animal Physiology Lab | PCB 4723L | 1 |
| Computer Laboratory in Psychobiology | PSB 3002L | 3 |
| Laboratory in Psychobiology | PSB 4004L | 3 |
| Developmental Psychobiology | PSB 4504 | 3 |
| Invertebrate Zoology | ZOO 2203 | 3 |
| Invertebrate Zoology Lab | ZOO 2203L | 2 |
| Functional Biology of Marine Animals | ZOO 4402 | 3 |
| Functional Biology of Marine Animals Lab | ZOO 4402L | 1 |
| Ornithology | ZOO 4472 | 2 |
| Ornithology Lab | ZOO 4472L | 2 |
| Vertebrate Structure Development and Evolution | ZOO 4690 | 3 |
| Vertebrate Structure and Development Lab | ZOO 4690L | 2 |
(1) Applies to Special Topics courses that are relevant to the neurosciences. Interested students should confirm with the B.S. degree program faculty advisors.
(2) CHM 2210 and CHM 2211 are prerequisites for BCH 3033.
(3) CHM 2210 is a prerequisite for CHM 2211L.
