Program Overview

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Introduction to the Physiology and Behavior Option

The Physiology and Behavior option is a rigorous foundation in the comparative physiology and behavior of animals, available within the Biology major at Oregon State University. This option is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the biological sciences, including biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and organismal biology.

Overview of the Program

The Biology major with a Physiology and Behavior option is coupled with coursework in behavior, physiology, and organismal biology. Undergraduate research or internship experience is strongly recommended for option students, and three credits can be applied to the electives for the option. This option provides excellent preparation for graduate programs in animal behavior, physiology, and other areas of organismal biology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Explain and apply the fundamental concepts of the biological sciences, including biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and genetics; physiology and organismal biology; and ecology and evolution.
• Identify and access information (from primary literature and other relevant works) for a particular topic and evaluate the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Generate relevant and testable scientific questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and identify measurable predictions based on observations or previous research.
• Design and implement observational or experimental investigations to collect relevant data, and employ appropriate analytical methods to analyze that data.
• Interpret data and/or observations to support or refute hypotheses, draw conclusions, put findings in the context of current scientific knowledge and literature, and/or suggest future avenues of research.
• Use effective formal and informal communication (i.e., written, oral, graphical, multimedia) to convey scientific information in ways that are appropriate for scientific and non-scientific audiences for a particular topic and evaluating the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Integrate and analyze information within and across spatial and temporal scales as well as levels of biological organization.
• Identify, reflect upon, and evaluate assumptions, biases, and alternative hypotheses or interpretations for their own scientific claims or those of others.
• Justify the importance of science and science literacy for individuals and society.
• Integrate biology with other disciplines to make evidence-based decisions on socio-scientific issues.
• Explain how biases and societal factors affect the processes of science (and vice versa), access to participation in science, and the differential outcomes and impacts (both positive and negative) of science on individuals.
• Explain and justify the ethical standards of their discipline, evaluate the ethics of published science, and articulate their personal code of ethics.
• Use effective and appropriate forms of collaboration.
• Produce a self-assessment of interpersonal and academic behaviors needed to achieve their individual career goals.

Program Requirements

Options in the Biology major require 15 or fewer additional credits (one term) beyond the basic Biology major, and most students can complete the additional coursework in the Physiology and Behavior option in four years. Courses used to satisfy the Physiology and Behavior option requirements also satisfy the Organismal Biology, Physiology, Writing Intensive Course, and Experiential Learning or Integrative Biology Elective requirements for the Biology major.

Course List

The following courses are required for the Physiology and Behavior option:

• Core:
  • PSY 201: General Psychology (4 credits)
  • BI 319: Theory, Practice and Discourse in the Life Sciences (3 credits)
  • Z 350: Animal Behavior (3 credits)
  • Z 425: Embryology and Development (5 credits)
  • Z 431: Vertebrate Physiology I (4 credits)
  • Z 432 & Z 442: Vertebrate Physiology II and Vertebrate Physiology Laboratory (5 credits)
  • Z 438: Behavioral Neurobiology (3 credits)
• Organismal Biology:
  • Select one course from the following:
    • Z 361 & Z 362: Invertebrate Biology and Invertebrate Biology Laboratory
    • Z 371 & Z 372: Vertebrate Biology and Vertebrate Biology Laboratory
    • Z 461: Marine and Estuarine Invertebrate Zoology (Taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center)
• Experiential Learning of Physiology and Behavior Electives:
  • Select one of the following tracks:
    • Track I Experiential Learning:
      • Select any combination of three credits from the following:
        • BI 309: Teaching Practicum
        • BI 401: Research and Scholarship (by approval)
        • BI 406: Projects: Curatorial Assistant
        • BI 409: Advanced Teaching Practicum
        • BI 410: Internship (by approval or international internships approved by the Integrative Biology Lead Advisor)
    • Track II Physiology and Behavior:
      • Select one course from the following:
        • ANS 441: Topics in Animal Learning
        • BB 360: Introduction to Neuroscience
        • BI 358: Symbioses and the Environment
        • BI 485: Monster Biology
        • PSY 330: Brain and Behavior
        • ANS 341: Animal Behavior and Cognition
        • Z 422: Comparative/Functional Vertebrate Anatomy
        • Z 423: Environmental Physiology

Total Credits

The total credits required for the Physiology and Behavior option range from 34 to 37 credits.

Option Code

The option code for the Physiology and Behavior option is 743.

Location

The Physiology and Behavior option is available at the Corvallis location.

Dual Combinations

Students may not pursue either the Physiology and Behavior, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, or Pre-Veterinary Medicine options with the Biology majorno dual combinations are permitted.

Recommendations

It is recommended that Physiology and Behavior option students take PH 201-PH 203. Students should also consider taking PSY 202, which is optional but required for some of the Psychology elective courses.