Psychobiology

This cross-disciplinary major emphasizes the physiological determinants and consequences of behavior. Consisting of a balance of psychology and biology course work, the program prepares students for graduate study in medicine. veterinary medicine, graduate programs in psychology, animal behavior, physiological, psychology, psychopharmacology, behavior genetics, and neuroscience, as well as research positions in industry, universities, hospitals, and government laboratories.

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science with a major in psychobiology

Required courses:

A rigorous study of basic biological principles, designed for science majors. Topics emphasized include basic biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, embryology, histology, and evolution.
This course, also rigorous and designed for science majors, covers concepts in animal and plant physiology, botany, and ecology.
Laboratory exercises include protein quantification, enzyme kinetics, isolation and identification of plant pigments, microscopy, and histological techniques.
Laboratory exercises include invertebrate dissections, sensory physiology, renal physiology, plant development in angiosperms, stomate response to environmental changes, and an ecological field study of predator-prey interactions.
A study of the basic concepts of invertebrate and vertebrate behavior with emphasis on the development, genetics, physiology and evolution of behavior. Laboratory exercises include ethogram construction, avian foraging, aggressive display analysis and estrous cycle regulation.
Each senior student is required to do independent library research on an assigned topic and to make an oral presentation to the biology faculty and students.
An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding.
A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry.
Laboratory course to accompany 111. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to instrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers.
Second semester laboratory course to accompany 112. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to intrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers.
This laboratory course is designed as an introduction to the conceptual and methodological foundations of psychological science. Through an exploration of several content areas in psychology, including physiological psychology, sensation & perception, learning, cognition, and states of consciousness, the course provides a conceptual background for understanding behavior, and active engagement with the scientific process (including theory building, hypothesis testing and critical analysis of empirical data).
This foundational laboratory course introduces students to scientific methodology and experiment design as it applies to psychology. Students learn how to identify research questions through literature reviews, develop hypotheses, appropriately design and conduct research projects, and draw conclusions from the findings. The course engages students in data-collection laboratory experiences that culminate in the development, execution, analysis and APA-style presentation of an original experiment on a behavior-related topic of their own choosing.
This laboratory course explores the basic quantitative and qualitative statistics and data-based analytical methods used by scientists to interpret and understand behavior. Topics include the logic of the scientific method applied to data analysis, descriptive statistics, the foundations and utility of inferential statistics, and the statistical methodologies of simple and advanced hypothesis testing. Students will also design, analyze, and present the results of their own original data-collection project.
This course surveys the most commonly used substances to treat mental disorders, such as antianxiety, antidepressant, antipsychotic, mood- stabilizer, psychostimulant, and cognitive enhancer medications. The course also discusses the brain and its most common neurotransmitters, how transmitting neurons send and receive electrochemical information, the pharmokinetics (metabolism and elimination) and pharmacodynamics (absorption, distribution, and effects) of each drug as well as the action sites, side effects, and mechanisms of each drug.
A study of the biological basis (substrates) of behavioral processes. The course focuses on the physiology of reflexes, sensation and perception, learning and memory, sleep, ingestive behaviors, emotion and psychopathology.
Students will be introduced to methods used in the study of the nervous system and its influence on behavior. Lab work will include collecting, analyzing, and reporting data from physiological studies, as well as sheep brain dissection. In addition, students must complete an APA style proposal for an individual research project.
† indicates a required course
One of
A study of the principles of vertebrate body function, with emphasis on the mechanisms by which cells and organs perform their functions and the interactions of the various organs in maintaining total body function.
A study of many of the invertebrate phyla, concentrating on the physiological mechanisms controlling movement, metabolism, information, and control and reproduction.

One of
A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications.
An introduction to elementary descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding.

Plus 8 additional credits in the sciences in consultation with advisor.