Psychobiology

The Major

Students generally complete 35-41 semester hours for the Psychobiology Major.

  • Majors are required to complete:

    • BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance

    • PSYC 238 Human Development

    • PSYC 239 Personality

    • PSYC 342 Experimental Psychology

    • PSYC 353 Physiological Psychology

    • PSYC 486 Comprehensive Research Project — project topic must integrate biology and behavior

  • At least one of the following:

    • BIOL 111 Ecological Biology

    • BIOL 226 Biological Diversity

    • BIOL 341 Cell Physiology

  • At least one of the following:

    • BIOL 345 Anatomy and Physiology: Excitable Cells and Systems

    • BIOL 347 Anatomy and Physiology: Metabolism and Endocrinology

  • At least three of the following:

    • BIOL 346 Vertebrate Zoology

    • BIOL 348 Ornithology

    • BIOL 357 Animal Behavior

    • BIOL 451 Evolutionary Biology

    • BIOL 464 Advanced Cell Physiology

    • CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry

    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I

  • A Comprehensive Examination which includes successful completion of PSYC 486 Comprehensive Research Project and its oral presentation. In Biology, students complete a long essay response to an integrative question, one short essay response from the Biology Comprehensive Examination (the Cell biology, Zoology or Population biology question). Students eligible for Honors must take the Biology Oral Comprehensive Exam as well.

These courses are also recommended depending on student interest, but not required:

  • BIOL 343 Immunology

  • BIOL 352 Invertebrate Zoology

  • BIOL 455 Population and Community Ecology

  • CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II

  • MATH 120 Elementary Statistics

  • MATH 180 Calculus A

  • MATH 220 Intermediate Statistics

  • PSYC 355 Research in Cognition

  • PSYC 363 Psychopathology