Program Overview

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Introduction to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program

The Behavioral Neuroscience program at Western Washington University explores the role of the nervous system in normal and abnormal behavior, thought, and emotion. This major emphasizes an understanding of nervous system structure and function from the molecular/cellular level to the systems level. Behavioral neuroscientists study the neurobiological basis of normal learning and memory, psychiatric illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and drug abuse, and neurological illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Why Consider a Behavioral Neuroscience Major?

This interdisciplinary field provides students with the specialized preparation and technological sophistication critical for success in a variety of graduate-training programs, including neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, mental health, and neurobiology; and in health care, including medicine and dentistry. For those students who do not anticipate pursuing post-graduate education, the degree program provides an excellent platform for entry-level positions in such areas as biomedical research and the pharmaceutical industry.

Program Requirements

Basic Requirements

• BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 206 - Introduction to Organismal Biology w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 327 - Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 328 - Cell Biology (4 credits)
• CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
• CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II (5 credits)
• CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III (5 credits)
• CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• Choose one course from:
  • PHYS 114 - Principles of Physics I (5 credits)
  • PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I (5 credits)
• PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology (5 credits)
• PSY 220 - Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
• BNS 301 - Statistics for Neuroscience (5 credits)
• BNS 302 - Experimental Methods and Neuroscience Communication (5 credits)
• BNS 305 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (5 credits)
• BNS 306 - Systems Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PSY 323 - Psychopharmacology (5 credits)
• One course from:
  • BNS 327 - Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (4 credits)
  • BNS 328 - Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience (4 credits)
  • BNS 428 - Advanced Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience (4 credits)
• Choose two courses from:
  • PSY 319 - Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
  • PSY 321 - Learning (5 credits)
  • PSY 322 - Motivation (5 credits)

Seminar Requirements

• BNS 401 - Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)

Electives Under Advisement

Choose two courses from the following list. Credits from BNS 330, BNS 327, BNS 328, BNS 428, PSY 319, PSY 321, and PSY 322 can only be applied once.

• BIOL 321 - Genetics (4 credits)
• BIOL 322 - Methods in Genetics w/lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 324 - Methods in Molecular Biology w/lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 325 - Ecology (4 credits)
• BIOL 401 - Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration (3 credits)
• BIOL 410 - Animal Behavior (4 credits)
• BIOL 432 - Evolutionary Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 476 - Structure and Physiology of Membrane Transport Proteins (3 credits)
• BIOL 482 - Developmental Biology of Animals (4 credits)
• BIOL 484 - Cell Microscopy w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 486 - Topics in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodevelopment (3 credits)
• BNS 327 - Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (4 credits)
• BNS 328 - Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience (4 credits)
• BNS 330 - Behavioral Neuroscience Medical Internship (2 credits)
• BNS 428 - Advanced Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience (4 credits)
• CHEM 352 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 353 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 375 - Elements of Biochemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 471 - Biochemistry I (4 credits)
• CHEM 472 - Biochemistry II (4 credits)
• CSCI 482 - Computational Neuroscience (4 credits)
• MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
• PHYS 115 - Principles of Physics II (5 credits)
• PHYS 116 - Principles of Physics III (5 credits)
• PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II (5 credits)
• PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III (5 credits)
• PSY 210 - Cognition (5 credits)
• PSY 310 - Sensation and Perception (5 credits)
• PSY 319 - Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PSY 321 - Learning (5 credits)
• PSY 322 - Motivation (5 credits)
• PSY 324 - Comparative Psychology (5 credits)
• PSY 410 - Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PSY 420 - Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PSY 421 - Seminar in Learning (5 credits)
• PSY 422 - Seminar in Motivation (5 credits)
• PSY 424 - Seminar in Comparative Psychology (5 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

Admission and Declaration Process

Students interested in the BNS major declare a BNS pre-major while they are completing the required prerequisite courses for application to the major. Students must have a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.90 or higher. In the absence of a Western GPA, a GPA of 2.90 or higher from an equivalent four-year institution (based on at least 12 credits) or a cumulative GPA from a completed associate's degree may substitute for the Western GPA. Students meet with the BNS advisor to declare a BNS pre-major. The BNS pre-major is required for applying to the BNS major, but admission to the BNS pre-major does not guarantee admission to the BNS major.

Insufficient Progress Policy

Declared BNS pre-majors who fail to make progress towards applying to the BNS major based on one or more of the following criteria, may have their pre-major status removed.

1. When a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.9 for more than a single quarter.
2. When, after completing all possible prerequisite courses (including allowed course repeats), a student does not meet the requirements for applying to the major.
3. When a student has not applied to the major or taken a class required by the BNS major for at least two consecutive quarters.

Major Application Process

Students are eligible to apply to the BNS major once they have completed the following requirements:

• Successfully declared a BNS pre-major
• Complete at least 75 undergraduate credits.
• Complete at least 12 credits at WWU.
• Complete the following courses with an average grade point of 2.9 or higher: CHEM 161, CHEM 162, CHEM 163; BIOL 204, BIOL 205, BIOL 206; PSY 101, PSY 220.
• You may retake one of these classes previously passed (C- or above), once in an attempt to raise your average GPA. If you retake more than one, we will only use the new GPA of the first class you retook. Repeating classes not passed with a C- or above, do not count as the one allowed repeat. If you have any questions, please contact the major advisor.
• After completing the above, submit an online application via the Behavioral Neuroscience program website. The online application includes written responses to a number of questions. For assistance with your application, contact the BNS advisor. This is a competitive application process. Admission to the BS-BNS major is space-limited.

Application Deadlines

Students can declare a BNS pre-major at any time. The application deadline for consideration of BNS major status is the end of the second full week of classes fall, winter, and spring quarters.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major courses.