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: Bachelor of Science with a major in psychobiology.
I. Psychology Courses:
PSY 111 General Psychology I| 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. |
II. Biology Courses:
BIO 111 General Biology I| 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. |
One of:
BIO 322 Vertebrate Physiology| 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. |
III. Chemistry Courses:
CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I| 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. |
IV. Math Courses:
One of:
MAS 161 Calculus I| A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. |
| An introduction to elementary descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on conceptual understanding. |
V. Seminar Courses:
One of:
BIO 499 Seminar| 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. |
| Readings, discussions, and reports on selected topics in psychobiology. |
VI. Electives:
Each student will also be required to take at least 8 additional credits in the
sciences or mathematics (in consultation with his or her advisor), from the courses
appearing below; consult the College Catalog for prerequisites. Furthermore, depending
upon students' interests and career goals, individuals are strongly encouraged to
become involved in independent research by working with individual faculty members
on campus or by participating in some type of off-campus internship experience.
It is also helpful to and competitive for students to complete as many of the following
courses as manageable.
BIO 201 Genetics| A study of the principles, mechanisms and concepts of classical, molecular, and population genetics. The laboratory stresses key concepts of genetics utilizing both classical and molecular approaches. Laboratory exercises include analysis of nucleic acids, genetic crosses, and studies of bacteria and plasmids. |
| Comparative anatomy with special attention to the structure and function of mammalian systems and special references to humans. Intensive laboratory work involves dissections and demonstrations using the cat as a model. |
| An organismal and molecular approach to the study of animal development using typical invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. The laboratory includes the study of slides as well as experiments on fertilization, regeneration and metamorphosis. |
| A study of cell ultrastructure and the microscopic anatomy of vertebrate tissues, including the structure and function of membranes and organelles, cell motility and excitability, and vertebrate tissue similarities and specialization in relation to function. Laboratory includes the preparation and staining of sections using selected histochemical and histological procedures as well as a variety of microscopic techniques. |
| A study of the morphology, physiology and biochemistry of representative microorganisms. The laboratory emphasizes basic bacteriological techniques and procedures. |
| An introduction to the anatomical, physiological and biochemical factors underlying the immune response. The course begins with a discussion of non-specific immunity, cellular immunity and antibody-mediated immune responses. The course then moves into a study of contemporary immunological topics which are discussed with respect to major research papers in each area. Topics include autoimmunity, histocompatibility, immunogenetics and acquired immune deficiencies. |
| An introduction to the use of techniques for scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies. Through laboratory experience the students will learn the proper use, application and limitations of the appropriate instruments. |
| An introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| Second semester of an introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. |
| An introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| Second smester of an introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. |
| An introduction to the fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. |
| A continuation of PHY 103. Fundamental concepts and laws of the various branches of physics, including mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear structure, with laboratory work in each area. |
| Surveys structures and functions of, and research strategies to examine, the various sensory systems with particular emphasis on the visual system. Physiological and philosophical aspects of perception are discussed. |
| This course is an approach to psychology in which knowledge and principles from evolutionary biology are used to research the structure of the human mind. Topics will include the adaptive problems of survival, mating, parenting, kinship, cooperation, warfare, and conflict between the sexes. |
| This course serves as an introduction to the content areas and methodology of neuropsychology, the study of the relationships between brain function and behavior. Topics include basic communication in the nervous system, organization and function of sensory and motor systems, hemispheric specialization, localization of function, brain injury and plasticity, and issues associated with neuropsychological assessment. |
| This course explores the human mind by integrating philosophical, psychological, and biological perspectives on the nature of thought processes. Specific topics discussed in this framework include attention, perception, consciousness, memory, language, reasoning, intelligence, and thought-related dysfunctions. |
| This is an advanced, hands-on seminar in cognitive science, which will allow students to explore a preferred interest in human thinking via laboratory research. Students will review the literature on their chosen topic, design an experiment addressing this issue, and then collect and analyze the data from their experiment. The course culminates with an oral and written presentation of their research. |
| This course focuses on practical and professional work experience related to the student's work or research interests or graduate school plans. Internships are limited to off-campus sites only. Students should not take more than six credits per semester. |
| This advanced seminar allows students to explore their own research-based interests in psychology via the completion of a laboratory experiment on a psychological topic of their choosing. Students will review the literature on their topic in an integrative manner, formulate a novel experiment that addresses some aspect(s) of their chosen discipline, collect and analyze data for their experiment, and then present their findings in the form of an oral presentation and a complete APA-style research manuscript. Students may enroll in a maximum of 3 credit hours per independent laboratory research in any one semester. A maximum of 6 credit hours in independent laboratory research may be used toward the graduation requirements. |