Bachelor of Arts
Behavioral Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field exploring the anatomical, neurological, and genetic processes underlying human thinking and behavior. The bachelor’s degree emphasizes practical training in the foundations of neuropsychological research as it applies to human subjects, preparing students for careers in neuroscience research and applied settings, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and social policy. Students engage in theoretical work and practical research addressing neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and their connections to behavior and cognitive processes.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-1210 & 1210Z | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO-1220 & 1220Z | General Biology II and General Biology II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHM-1310 & 1310Z | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHM-1320 & 1320Z | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| NEU-2500 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 4 |
| NEU-3600 | Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| NEU-4700 | Behavioral Neuroscience Capstone | 4 |
| PSY-1100 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSY-3500 | Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| PSY-3520 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Choose One Elective (4 hours) | 4 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Biochemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Animal Science | ||
| Research Methods and Biostatistics | ||
| Choose One Elective (4 hours) | 4 | |
| Learning and Motivation | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Psychological Disorders | ||
| Psychology Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
A student who graduates from Aurora University with a baccalaureate degree will have met the following requirements:
- Completion of all requirements for an approved major (with no grades lower than “C”).
- Overall completion of at least 120 semester hours of coursework with a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (a course may be utilized only once in application toward a degree requirement, unless otherwise noted in the academic regulations). The 120 semester hours of coursework must include:
- At least 52 semester hours completed at a senior college.
- Residency Requirement - At least 30 semester hours completed at Aurora University, including the last 24 semester hours in the degree, and including at least 18 semester hours in the major. (Portfolio assessment credit, life and vocational experience credit, off-campus experience credit, examination credit, participation credit, and block credit, shall not count toward the residency requirement).
- Upper-Division Requirement - A minimum of 30 semester hours numbered 3000 or above. Of these 30 semester hours, 15 semester hours must lie within the major and 15 semester hours must be completed at Aurora University.
- Completion of all General Education requirements (with no grades lower than “C”), as follows:
- Quantitative and Formal Reasoning competency requirement
- ENG-1000 Introduction to Academic Writing
- IDS-1200 Discover What Matters or IDS-3040 Global Justice
- IDS-1150 First Year Experience - Not required for Transfer or AU Online students)
- Satisfactory participation in the junior-year mentoring and assessment process designed to guide students to successful completion of their degree and to encourage planning for next steps beyond graduation. (IDS-3500 Junior Mentoring Program I and IDS-3550 Junior Mentoring Program II - Not required for ADC or AU Online students but may be designated electives for AU Online students admitted with fewer than 15 hours of transfer credit.)
- Distribution Requirements
Students will complete one approved course1 from each of the following categories:- Artistic Literacy
- Cultural Literacy
- Human Inquiry
- Scientific Inquiry
In addition to the above, ADC and Online students will also complete one approved course1 from the following category:
- Discovery and Reflection
- 1
Only courses that are approved to meet the distribution requirement can be used toward this requirement. See the list of approved courses for available options. Courses taken to meet distribution requirements are 4 semester hours apiece, with the following exceptions:
- An approved transfer course of at least 2.50 semester hours can be used to satisfy a distribution requirement.
- Courses with co-requisite laboratory components may be used to satisfy a distribution requirement, provided that the student successfully complete both the three-credit-hour course and the single-credit-hour lab component.
Learning Outcomes
Outcome 1: Knowledge Base in Behavioral Neuroscience
1.1 Describe key concepts and principles
1.2 Describe applications of behavioral neuroscience
Outcome 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking
2.1 Use scientific reasoning to interpret behavioral neuroscience phenomena and engage in integrative thinking and problem solving
2.2 Demonstrate neuroscience information literacy
2.3 Interpret, design, and conduct basic neuroscience research
2.4 Demonstrate ethical standards to evaluate science and practice
2.5 Demonstrate proficiency in probabilistic reasoning and statistical analysis
Outcome 3: Professional Development
3.1 Demonstrate effective writing in the field
3.2 Exhibit effective presentation skills in the field
3.3 Develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation