Psychobiology
Program Components
The BS major in psychobiology offers the student a firm basis in biology, psychology and chemistry, along with courses in a variety of other disciplines. The program provides the breadth and depth necessary for the interdisciplinary study of the biological bases of behavior. The major is offered in two tracks.
In order to declare their major, students must first meet with the psychobiology program’s academic adviser for a brief advising session to discuss major requirements.
For more information, e-mail the undergraduate psychobiology program at psybio@binghamton.edu.
Molecular Track
This track places emphasis on a cellular and molecular analysis of brain/
behavior interrelationships. Topics include neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, neurochemical, neuroendocrine and genetic analyses of behavior and physiological function. Students contemplating graduate study in psychobiology/physiological psychology, neuroscience or related disciplines are encouraged to select this track.
Organismic Track
This track places emphasis on an organismic approach to the study of the biological bases of behavior. Topics include animal social behavior, behavioral ecology, sociobiology, orientation systems, biorhythms and information processing (perception, learning, memory, communication). Students considering graduate study in these areas should select this track.
Requirements for Either Track
• CORE COURSES: The following 12 core courses (48 credit hours) are required (if CHEM 111 is taken, the total is 11 courses for 44 credit hours): PSYC 111, PSYC 243, PSYC 344, PSYC 362, BIOL 117 and 118, BIOL 356/375 or 453 or BIO 483V or PSYC 327, CHEM 111 or CHEM 107 and 108, CHEM 231 and 332, and a Psychobiology Seminar (PSBL 480 or PSYC 473 or BIOL 480 — see “Psychobiology Seminar Requirement” below);
• CHEM/MATH/PHYS ELECTIVES: six to 10 credit hours of electives in chemistry, math and physics selected from CHEM 221, 335, 434, MATH 221, 222, 323, CS 140, 240, PHYS 121 or 131, PHYS 122 or 132;
• RELATED SUBJECTS ELECTIVES: four to six credit hours of electives in related subjects selected from ANTH 111, 168, 337, 338, BIOL 431, BIOL 479, CLAS 121[TD2], HIST 333, PHIL 121, 122, 148, 200, 423, SOC 251 and CS 100 and 105.
Additional Requirements and Important Notes
• Laboratory Requirement: Among the electives, three courses (two to four credit hours each) at the 200 level or above must be taken that are either laboratory courses or courses that contain a weekly laboratory or field experience. Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 335), as well as laboratory courses in the biology and psychology electives, meets this requirement.
• Upper-Level Requirement: At least 20 credit hours of the elective courses for the major must be taken at the 300 level or above.
• Psychobiology Seminar Requirement: The Psychobiology Seminar (PSBL 480) may be fulfilled by taking a four-credit seminar that covers a psychobiology-related area. These are offered each semester in both biology and psychology. A list of approved seminars is made available prior to advance registration each semester. Any upper-level psychology or biology seminar (400 level or above) may be used as a psychology or biology elective, but the same seminar may not be used to fulfill both the PSBL 480 requirement and a psychology or biology elective requirement.
• Pass/Fail: No courses for the major may be taken Pass/Fail, other than independent research.
• Minimum Grade: Students must earn a passing grade (D or better) for course credit.
• A Single Course May Fulfill Multiple Requirements: Some courses may fulfill multiple elective requirements. For example, PSYC 352 satisfies one course for the laboratory requirement, two credits for the upper-level requirement and two credits for the psychology electives category. However, no courses can count toward both the core and the elective requirements.
• 32 Credits of Electives Required: In order to fulfill degree requirements, students need to have 32 credits of electives (in addition to the 44 or 48 credits of core courses. Taking the minimum amount of credits for each elective category does not meet this requirement. Students need to take two more four-credit elective courses to fulfill the correct credit amount.
Additional Elective Requirements (dependent upon track selected)
In addition to the electives in CHEM/MATH/PHYS and related subjects described above, the major also requires electives in Biology Type A, Biology Type B and Psychology. The number of credits required in these elective categories depends on the track that is chosen (organismic or molecular), as outlined below:
|
|
Molecular |
Organismic |
|
Elective Category |
Track |
Track |
|
|
credits |
credits |
|
Biology Type A |
10-14 |
2-6 |
|
Biology Type B |
2-6 |
6-10 |
|
Psychology |
2-6 |
6-10 |
Type A Biology Electives
Select from BCHM 301, 302, 425, 426, BIOL 301, 302, 311, 313, 314, 326, 327, 331, 402, 405, 425, 426, 427, 480 (requires adviser approval), 496/7 (requires adviser approval).
Type B Biology Electives
Select from BIOL 251, 252, 324, 330, 351, 352, 355, 356*, 371, 373, 375*, 450, 453*, 454, 456, 458, 471, 472, 473, 475, 476, 477, 4803V*, 480/496/497 (require adviser approval).
Psychology Electives
Select from PSYC 220, 223, 327*, 330, 351, 352, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 385, 386, 406, 473, 392/397/499 (require prior adviser approval).
* BIOL 356, BIOL 453, BIOL 383V and PSYC 327 may be used as an elective only if they are not used as a core course. You cannot receive credit for both BIOL 356/375 and PSYC 327.
With the advance consent of the psychobiology program’s academic adviser, up to eight credits of independent research may substitute for eight hours of elective credit under either the Biology Type A, Biology Type B or Psychology elective category as determined by the adviser. In order for the full eight credits to count toward the major, one independent study must be in psychology and one in biology. Only independent study with a Psychobiology faculty member can count as a lab elective and it can only count as one of the three lab electives required by the major. If a student has two independent studies in one department (psychology or biology), only one counts toward the major. Independent research experience is recommended for students planning post-graduate studies.
Independent Study Courses
• PSYC 392. Introduction to Psychology Research*
• PSYC 397. Independent Study*
• PSYC 499. Advanced Independent Study*
• BIOL 496. Independent Study*
(BIOL 496 may not fulfill laboratory requirement)
• BIOL 497. Independent Research*
*Credit varies; requires prior adviser approval
Honors Program in Psychobiology
Outstanding students in psychobiology are encouraged to participate in the honors program in psychobiology. Participation requires the preparation of an honors thesis that consists of a proposal, data collection, written analysis and an oral defense of the final thesis. Successful completion of the honors program results in graduation with distinguished independent work in psychobiology.
Prerequisites and Requirements
To gain acceptance to the honors program in psychobiology, a student must:
• have declared psychobiology as a major (with “molecular” or “organismic” track specified);
• have achieved at least junior standing;
• have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.3 in those courses taken toward the major; and
• be accepted by a supervising faculty member whose research is in the field of psychobiology.
Appeals
Any student who fails to meet one or more of the requirements listed above may petition the director(s) of the psychobiology program for a waiver of a particular requirement. No waiver will be granted without the written support of the supervising faculty member. Such appeals must be requested before the thesis project is begun.
Procedures
Formation of Honors Committee
Prior to the end of the seventh semester, a student must form an honors committee, consisting of three faculty members: the student’s supervising faculty member (who acts as chair) and two other faculty members, at least one of whom must be from a department other than that of the supervising faculty member. These additional faculty members should be chosen in consultation with the supervising faculty member. When appropriate, post-doctoral staff or faculty members from other universities may be appointed.
Written Research Proposal
During the semester prior to the semester in which the honors project is to be completed, the student must submit a written research proposal to the members of the honors committee at least two weeks before a scheduled meeting. At this meeting, the honors committee must assess the practicality of the proposal and the candidate’s ability to do the work. Approval of the proposal by the honors committee is required before acceptance into the honors program and before initiation of the honors research (preliminary work only may be completed prior to the submission of the proposal). A copy of the approved proposal signed by all members of the committee and a completed Honors Program Application Form (available from the director[s] of psychobiology) must be filed with the director(s) no later than the end of the semester prior to receiving honors.
Academic Credit for Honors Work
Honors work per se carries no academic credit. Ordinarily, the candidate signs up for four credit hours of independent research in the department in which the student’s supervising faculty member resides. A student who drops out of the honors program, or who fails to meet the thesis deadlines, still receives a grade for his or her research activities.
Honors Thesis
A well-edited draft of the honors thesis must be given to the members of the honors committee at least two weeks before the defense, which must take place before the examination period of the semester in which the student wishes to receive honors. An honors thesis should follow the format of a scientific paper. The thesis should include background information and the rationale for the proposed work, a detailed description of the methods and results, and a discussion of the results in the context of the relevant scientific literature.
Defense of the Thesis
A defense of the honors thesis is conducted in the presence of the committee and any other interested parties. The student is responsible for notifying the director(s) of the time and place of the defense. The defense consists of a brief (15 to 20 minutes) presentation of the research, followed by questions from the committee.
Procedures for Final Certification
Determination of the student’s receipt of the distinguished independent work in psychobiology designation resides solely with the student’s honors committee, assuming the student has met all the requirements described above. Such certification must be conveyed to the director(s) by the supervising faculty member so that timely notification of the designation may be transmitted to the Dean’s Office and the Registrar’s Office. A copy of the final honors thesis, signed by all members of the honors committee, must be filed with the director(s) to certify completion of the honors program.