Academics Neurobiology and Behavior

Neurobiology and Behavior

The Program of Study in neurobiology and behavior covers a range of topics, all concerned in some way with what animals do and the neural mechanisms that enable them to do it. Students are required to take the introductory courses in neurobiology and behavior. Most of the faculty members associated with this Program of Study participate in these courses. The student then has a choice of many different second- and third-level courses that permit further exploration of areas of special interest, including social evolution, behavioral neurophysiology, animal communication, and cellular and molecular neurobiology.

Neurobiology and behavior is a synthesis of many disciplines, such as physiology and anatomy, ecology, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, biological psychology and anthropology, genetics, developmental biology, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students in this Program of Study are encouraged to build broad and strong academic foundations and are urged not to specialize too heavily as undergraduates. The course requirements beyond the required introductory sequence are left unspecified, so that courses may be selected from a wide range of possibilities, including not only the required upper-level course in neurobiology and behavior but also courses in the other subject areas mentioned above. Faculty advisers will help their students plan programs of study, keeping in mind the students' interests and goals.

The variety of courses offered in the Program of Study in neurobiology and behavior reflects the breadth of research interests of its faculty. These interests range from field and laboratory work and modeling in behavioral ecology, ontogeny and evolution of behavior, human social behavior, animal communication and language acquisition, and animal orientation; through sensory physiology, developmental neurophysiology, and electron microscopy of neural and muscular tissue; to cellular and molecular neurobiology.

The majority of students in the neurobiology and behavior Program of Study plan further study in graduate, medical, nursing, or veterinary school. Still others enter the work force immediately following graduation in the areas of research, business or teaching.

Required Courses for Program of Study in Neurobiology and Behavior:

The two-semester introductory course sequence, Neurobiology and Behavior I and II (BIONB 2210 and 2220) with discussion section (4 credits per semester), and 7 additional credits. The 7 additional credits must include at least one ADVANCED COURSE from the BIONB offerings. "Topics" courses (BIONB 4200's and 7200's), independent study (BIOG 4990), BIONB 3210, and PSYCH 4230 may be used as supplemental credits, but do not qualify as ADVANCED courses.

Note: Students who declare the Program of Study in Neurobiology and Behavior after taking BIONB 2210 or 2220 for only 3 credits must take 1 credit discussion in BIONB 2210 and 2220. To arrange this, the student should consult the professors in charge of the two courses.