Program Overview

Neuroscience and Behavior Major (B.S.)

The major in neuroscience and behavior (NSB) offers an interdisciplinary approach to human and non-human behavior, focusing on the evolution and adaptiveness of certain behaviors, as well as their underlying neural mechanisms. Students who have always been fascinated by how the brain functions will be well served by this major, as will those who love wild animals and wish to better understand their behavior.

Description

The B.S. in neuroscience and behavior is based on a solid foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and genetics (foundation courses). These are followed by a two-semester course sequence that covers the fundamentals of neuroscience and behavior. Students can then pick five or more electives focusing on areas of interest.

Requirements

• Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
• Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
• Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral
• Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
• Foreign Language Requirement: No

Major Requirements

• Students majoring in NSB are required to take foundation courses in basic science, core courses, and five electives from an extensive list of courses, including some offered by other departments including biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and natural resources.
• Minimum grade of D- or better is required in CHEM 403, CHEM 404, CHEM 545/CHEM 546, and PHYS 401; minimum grade of C- or better is required in all other courses.
• A capstone experience is required. This may be independent research, an advanced seminar, or other special student activity. It is meant to integrate prior experience and take the student to a new level in an area of special interest.

Course List

• Foundation Courses
  • NSB 400: Topics Neuroscience & Behavior (1 credit)
  • BIOL 411 & BIOL 412: Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular and Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology (8 credits)
  • CHEM 403 & CHEM 404: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II (8 credits)
  • CHEM 545 & CHEM 546: Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory (5 credits)
  • BMCB 658 & BMCB 659: General Biochemistry and General Biochemistry Lab (5 credits)
  • PHYS 401: Introduction to Physics I (4 credits)
  • PSYC 402 or BIOL 528: Statistics in Psychology or Applied Biostatistics I (4 credits)
  • GEN 604: Principles of Genetics (4 credits)
• Core Courses
  • NSB 500 & NSB 501: Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Behavior I and Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Behavior I Laboratory (5 credits)
  • NSB 502 & NSB 503: Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Behavior II/Systems Neuroscience and Fundamentals of Neuroscience and Behavior II Laboratory (5 credits)
• Electives
  • Select five courses from the following list (20-22 credits)

Elective Courses

• BIOL 541W: Ecology
• BIOL 714W: Model Organisms in Biological and Medical Research
• BIOL 775: Plant Rx
• BMCB 605: Principles of Cell Biology
• BMCB 760: Pharmacology
• BMS 507 & BMS 508: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• BMS 702: Endocrinology
• BMS 711
• BMS 718: Mammalian Physiology
• COMM 798: Special Topics (C)
• GEN 706: Human Genetics
• KIN 706 & KIN 707: Neurology and Neurology Lab
• MEFB 714: Field Animal Behavior (SML, C)
• NSB 727: Animal Communication (C)
• PHIL 630: Neuroscience and Philosophy
• PSYC 511: Sensation and Perception
• PSYC 512: Psychology of Primates
• PSYC 513: Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC 521: Behavior Analysis
• PSYC 710: Visual Perception (C)
• PSYC 720: Animal Cognition (C)
• PSYC 731: Brain and Behavior (C)
• PSYC 733: Drugs and Behavior (C)
• PSYC 735: Neurobiology of Mood Disorders (C)
• PSYC 736: Attention Disorders (C)
• PSYC 741W: Special Topics (C)
• ZOOL 613W: Animal Behavior
• ZOOL 625 & ZOOL 626W: Principles of Animal Physiology and Animal Physiology Laboratory
• ZOOL 690: Evolution
• ZOOL 726: Conservation Behavior (C)
• ZOOL 733W: Behavioral Ecology (C)
• ZOOL 736: Genes and Behavior (C)
• ZOOL 740: Acoustic Ecology (C)
• ZOOL 777W: Neuroethology (C)
• 795/796 or 799: Independent Study (C)

Capstone

• Select from the following options (4 credits)
  1. Complete a Capstone designated course (C) from above
  2. One semester of Capstone Research
  3. Honor's Thesis
  4. Advisor approved alternative

Sample Degree Plan

A sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students demonstrate that they understand basic principles of neuroscience and behavior.
• Students demonstrate that they can undertake scientifically valid methods of inquiry.
• Students demonstrate that they can think critically and analytically.
• Students demonstrate that they can communicate effectively.

Additional Information

Students transferring into the NSB program from other UNH majors must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 at the time of requested major change.