Department of Psychology
Department of Psychology

BS Behavioral Neuroscience

The contemporary discipline of behavioral neuroscience is a starting point for diverse careers including health care, medicine, law, commerce, leadership, government intelligence, politics, education, and data sciences. Particularly, brain scientists who are trained in behavioral neuroscience, and acquire the background competencies for neuroimaging, neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience and computational approaches constitute a fast-growing workforce for basic science, artificial intelligence, and translational research and discoveries in every stage of the human lifespan, and for health science careers. 

Are you thinking about declaring Behavioral Neuroscience?  

  • Check back here in October for the schedule of Open Advising Sessions for Spring 25 course enrollment.

Questions?

  • Email: behavneuro_advising@virginia.edu

Walk-in advising office hours with Prof. Erisir for current and prospective majors:

  • Spring and Fall 2024 Fridays 12-1 pm, Gilmer Hall 380A,  or email behavneuro_advising@virginia.edu for alternate times.
  • Summer 2024 or transfer students:  email behavneuro_advising@virginia.edu.

BN-BS Course Planning Checklist (updated 06/24)

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Potential Career Paths

The BS-BN is an option for students considering:

  • pre-med, pre-nursing, pre-health science tracks
  • careers in government or intelligence
  • neuroscience and/or careers in brain sciences
  • careers in biotechnology and laboratory-based work
  • careers in higher education
  • careers in neuromodeling, artificial intelligence, brain imaging, robotics, virtual reality or human-brain interface
  • graduate degrees in psychology, neuroscience, data sciences, epidemiology, statistics, public health or health care
  • professional or physician-scientist careers in medicine, psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics, developmental and neurodegenerative disorders, ophthalmology, audiology, cognitive aging or age-related dementias
  • careers in patent law, health care or mental health care law.
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Major Checklist Course Plan / 4year sample plan

The program checklist can be used to keep track of prerequisites and your progress toward completing the requirements of the major.

​The 4 year sample plan can be used as a sample guide to complete the major and general BS requirements (120 credits hours total).

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Requirements for the BS-BN Major

See Undergraduate Academic Record for official requirements.  

Students must fulfill at least 55 credits of required coursework to earn the BS degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, including 5 prerequisite courses; 5 Core courses; an Advanced Research course; two Advanced Seminars; 2 electives; and 3 science foundation courses.  At least C grade must be obtained for all courses to fulfill the degree requirements.  

Students must fulfill at least 55 credits of required coursework to earn the BS degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, including 5 prerequisite courses; 5 Core courses; an Advanced Research course; two Advanced Seminars; 2 electives; and 3 science foundation courses.  At least C grade must be obtained for all courses to fulfill the degree requirements.  

PREREQUISITES: 16 CREDIT HOURS (5 COURSES)

Required, in any order, to declare the BS (equivalent AP, IB and transfer courses may be approved)

1) STAT 1602 - Introduction to Data Science with Python Credits: 3  -or- STAT 1601 Introduction to Data Science with R

2) PSYC 2005 - Research Methods and Data Analysis I Credits: 3

3) BIOL 2100 - Introduction to Biology with Laboratory: Cell Biology & Genetics Credits: 4

4) one of the following:

  • PSYC 2200 - A Survey of the Neural Basis of Behavior Credits: 3
  • PSYC 3200 Fundamentals of Neuroscience: 3 
  • BIOL 3050 - Introduction to Neurobiology Credits: 3

5) one of the following: 

  • APMA 1090 - Single Variable Calculus I Credits: 4
  • MATH 1190 - A Survey of Calculus I with Algebra Credits: 4
  • MATH 1210 - A Survey of Calculus I Credits: 3
  • MATH 1310 - Calculus I Credits: 4

REQUIRED CORE COURSES: 16 CREDIT HOURS (5 COURSES)

Students must complete each of the following:

  • PSYC 3006 - Research Methods and Data Analysis II Credits: 4
  • PSYC 3160 - Cognitive Neuroscience Credits: 3
  • PSYC 3200 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: 3
  • PSYC 3235 - Introduction to Epigenetics Credits: 3
  • PSYC 3250 - Forum in Ethical and Inclusive Science: 3 - or - PSYC 3260 Hidden Figures: Brain Science Through Diversity

ADVANCED RESEARCH REQUIREMENT: 3 CREDIT HOURS (1 COURSE)

Students are required to take 3 credit hours of coursework in advanced research from the following:

  • PSYC 3210 - RM: Psychobiology Laboratory Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4260 - RM: Genetic and Epigenetic Research in Behavior Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4420 - RM: Brain Mapping with MRI Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4215 - RM: Computational Methods in Psychology and Neuroscience Credits: 3
  • PSYC 5270 - RM: Computational Neuroscience Credits: 3

ADVANCED TOPICS REQUIREMENTS: 6 CREDIT HOURS (2 COURSES)

Students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) in advanced topics in behavioral neuroscience from the following: 

  • PSYC 3100  Learning and the Neuroscience of Behavior Credits: 3
  • PSYC 3240  Animal Minds Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4200  Neural Mechanisms of Behavior Credits: 3
  • NESC4265 Developmental Neurobiology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4265 Functional Neuroanatomy
  • PSYC 5280 Neuropsychopharmacology
  •  NESC 4245 Neuroscience through the Nobels  
  • PSYC 4250 Brain Systems Involved in Neurobiology of Memory

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS REQUIREMENT: 3 CREDIT HOURS (1 COURSE)

Students are required to take an additional 3 credit hours of coursework in psychological science from the following:

  • PSYC 1010 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 2150 - Introduction to Cognition Credits: 3
  • PSYC 2410 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 2600 - Introduction to Social Psychology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 2700 - Introduction to Child Psychology Credits: 3

SCIENCE FOUNDATION REQUIREMENT: 6 CREDIT HOURS (2 COURSES)

Students are required to complete two courses (6 credit hours) of foundational scientific coursework from the following:

  • ASTR 2110 - Introduction to Astrophysics I Credits: 3,  or any other ASTR course above 2110
  • BIOL 2200 - Introduction to Biology w/Laboratory: Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Credits: 4, or any other BIOL course above 2200
  • CHEM 1410 - Introductory College Chemistry I Credits: 3, or  any other CHEM course above 1410
  • CS 1110 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3 , or any other CS course above 2200
  • EVSC 1010 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences Credits: 3, any other EVSC course above 1010
  • MATH 2310 - Calculus III Credits: 4, or any other MATH course above 2310
  • PHYS 1425 - Introductory Physics 1 for Engineers Credits: 3, or any other  PHYS course above 1425
  • STAT 1100 - Chance: An Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3, or any other STAT course above 1100
  • STAT 1120 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
  • STAT 2020 - Statistics for Biologists Credits: 4

ELECTIVES: AT LEAST 6 CREDIT HOURS (2 COURSES)

Students must complete two of the following courses.  Student’s who did not take a 4000-level Advanced Topics course must select at least one 4000-level elective. 

Any course listed under Advanced Research or Advanced Topics and not used for satisfying those requirements may count as an elective.

Additional electives include

  • PSYC 3559 - New Course in Psychology Credits: 1 to 4
    Approved Topic: How to Build a Healthy Human Brain
  • PSYC 4155 - Autism: From Neurons to Neighborhoods Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4255 - Behavioral Epigenetics Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4290 - Memory Distortions Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4607 - Uniquely Human Social Cognition Credits: 3
  • PSYC 4290 Memory Distortions  
  • PSYC 5710 Machine Learning and Data Mining
  • PSYC 5326 Neuroscience of Social Relationships
  • Check the website each year for newly added courses 
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Planning Major requirements along with College Curriculum Requirements

Receiving a Bachelor degree at UVA requires 55 additional credits as College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirements, as posted here: https://gened.as.virginia.edu/requirements

Note that both the Disciplines and the Disciplines + Pathways provide flexibility for students who are enrolled in a Bachelor of Science major. In addition, most of the prerequisite courses for declaring the BS and the science foundation requirements also fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements. Students who are considering to declare BS in Behavioral Neuroscience as their major are encouraged to seek advising early on. Advising Open Office Hours will be available every semester before each enrollment period. Or, email:  behavneuroadvising@virginia.edu.

View the BS Behavioral Neuroscience  - 4 year sample plan of study

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Is it feasible to complete this major along with pre-med requirements? 

Yes. 

The BS-BN is designed with the newly-revised requirements of A&S general education curriculum in mind. The A&S requirements provide more flexibility for students pursuing a BS degree, so, with careful planning, students can comfortably complete the BS-BN prerequisites in their first three semesters. Transfer students may count 12 transferred credits toward the BS-BN.

Receiving a Bachelor degree at UVA requires 55 additional credits as College of Arts and Sciences General Education requirements. Note that both the Disciplines and the Disciplines + Pathways provide flexibility for students who are enrolled in a Bachelor of Science major. In addition, most of the prerequisite courses for declaring the BS and the science foundation requirements also fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements. Students who are considering declaring BS in Behavioral Neuroscience as their major are encouraged to seek advising early on. Advising open houses will be available every semester before each enrollment period. The BS-BN also provides flexibility for students to refine their BS focus as their career interests evolve. With courses from diverse science disciplines counting toward the degree requirements, students can tailor the program to their particular interests and strengths.

View the BS Behavioral Neuroscience  - 4 year sample plan of study

Visit UVA Pre-Heath Advising for guidance on pre-requisite course requirements for medical programs.

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Questions/Advising

 

Instructions to Declare 

This process will be completed using Docusign. Please follow all of the steps listed below:

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STEP 1: Sign up for notifications regarding the major

  • Join “Beh-Neuro-Majors” listserv. Students are welcome to join the list before they declare. 
  • (Optional) Join “Beh-Neuro-Majors-Underrep” listserv for notifications related to underrepresented groups (for example, historically underrepresented racial or ethnic group, first-generation college students, economically-disadvantaged background) 
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STEP 2: Complete your Course Plan

  1. Open and complete the Behavioral Neuroscience course plan form:
  2. Download and review your unofficial transcript from SIS to assist in completing the course plan form. 
  3. Start by filling in any courses you have already completed.
  4. Fill in the other courses that you would like* to take to satisfy all major requirements. *The courses you list are simply your “best guesses” about the courses you will likely take; these guesses are not binding and courses can be rearranged or substituted as necessary or desired in the future.  Visit our course planning page for view current course offerings.
  5. When finished, save your course form and your SIS unofficial transcripts as PDF documents. You will eventually attach these forms to the Docusign Major Form -or- if you are deferring the major, you will attach them to the Request to Defer Major Form.
  6. If you need help completing the Course Plan please contact psych-info@virginia.edu - or - Alev Erisir, erisir@virginia.edu
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​STEP 3. Start the Docusign Process

DECLARE: Have you completed all of the prerequisite courses? Then you are ready to declare...

(If not, then move down to the Defer section below)

  • You can access the form by going to the College web page here: https://college.as.virginia.edu/forms - scroll down to find the "Declaration of Major and Minor Form (DocuSign)".  

  • Make sure to designate the Declaration of Major Contact (DMC) as: 

  • Regarding the Docusign Course List:  You do not have to fill this part out with an advisor as it states on the form, because you should have already completed the courseplan on your own or with an advisors help (in STEP 2).  At this stage, you will simply attach your completed course plan file instead.  Instead of relisting your courses from the course plan, just add a filler course so the docusign form will allow you to submit it: “PSYC | 0000| Title: See Attached Course Plan | 40 Credits"

Don't forget...

Include your 2 attachments when you submit your Docusign form:

DEFER: Still working on prerequisite courses past your second year?

Then you will need to defer the major...

  • Use the Defer Declaring a Major (DocuSign) form if you are at the end of your second year and are missing prerequisite courses that you plan to take at the beginning of your third year. You can access the form by going to the College web page here: https://college.as.virginia.edu/forms, scroll down to find the "Defer Declaring a Major (DocuSign)" form.

  • Make sure to designate the Declaration of Major Contact (DMC) as: 

  • Complete the form and be sure to list out the prerequisite courses you are currently taking.

Don't forget...

Include your 2 attachments when you submit your Docusign form:

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STEP 4. Check SIS to ensure your major form was processed

We will try to process your form as soon as possible, however, there may be delays in processing your form depending on the time of the year (e.g. beginning of the semester, enrollment periods, graduation, and conferences).   After 10 days of submitting your form, your major should show up in SIS. If 10 days have passed, and you are not notified via docusign that your form has been processed and you have checked SIS and don't see your major, please contact Chris Mazurek, cjm5ma@virginia.edu.

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Questions/Advising