Program: Behavioral Neuroscience, B.S. - University of Virginia

Mar 29, 2025

Undergraduate Record 2024-2025

Return to: College of Arts & Sciences: Degree Programs

Universal Curriculum Requirements

To be awarded a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, students are required to complete universal curriculum requirements in addition to the program requirements provided below. The school universal curriculum requirements can be found on the school Degree Programs page .

Prerequisites: 16 credit hours

Students must earn at least a C in each prerequisite course.

PSYC 2005 - Research Methods and Data Analysis I Credits: 3
BIOL 2100 - Introduction to Biology with Laboratory: Cell Biology & Genetics Credits: 4
Students must select one of the following:
STAT 1602 - Introduction to Data Science with Python Credits: 3
STAT 1601 - Introduction to Data Science with R Credits: 3
Students must select one of the following:
PSYC 2200 - A Survey of the Neural Basis of Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 3200 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: 3
BIOL 3050 - Introduction to Neurobiology Credits: 3
Students must select one of the following:
APMA 1090 - Single Variable Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 1190 - A Survey of Calculus I with Algebra Credits: 4
MATH 1210 - A survey of Calculus I Credits: 3
MATH 1310 - Calculus I Credits: 4

Grade Standards

A grade of C or better is required in all majors courses.
All courses used to meet the requirements must be letter-graded. Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis do not count toward the major.
A 2.000 cumulative GPA in all major courses is required to complete the major.
Students who have less than a 2.0 GPA in all major coursework at the end of a semester will be put on probationary status in the major.
Students with two consecutive semesters with a major GPA below 2.0 will not be permitted to continue in the major.

Transfer Courses

Up to 12 credits of transfer coursework may be used toward the major requirements.

Requirements for Major in Behavioral Neuroscience

Required Courses: 16 credit hours

Students must complete each of the following:

PSYC 3006 - Research Methods and Data Analysis II Credits: 4
PSYC 3160 - Cognitive Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 3200 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 3235 - Introduction to Epigenetics Credits: 3
PSYC 3260 - Hidden Figures: Brain Science Through Diversity Credits: 3

Advanced Research Requirement: 3 credit hours

Students are required to take 3 credit hours of coursework in advanced research from the following:

PSYC 3210 - RM: Psychobiology Laboratory Credits: 3
PSYC 4260 - RM: Genetic and Epigenetic Research in Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 4420 - RM: Brain Mapping with MRI Credits: 3
PSYC 4215 - RM: Computational Methods in Psychology and Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 5270 - RM: Computational Neuroscience Credits: 3

Advanced Topics Requirements: 6 credit hours

Students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) in advanced topics in behavioral neuroscience from the following:

PSYC 3100 - Learning and the Neuroscience of Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 3240 - Animal Minds Credits: 3
PSYC 4100 - Neuroscience of Learning, Emotions and Motivation of Functional Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 4200 - Neural Mechanisms of Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 4265 - Developmental Neurobiology Credits: 3
PSYC 4245 - Development of Sensory Systems Credits: 3

Psychological Science Foundations Requirement: 3 credit hours

Students are required to take an additional 3 credit hours of coursework in psychological science from the following:

PSYC 1010 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 2150 - Introduction to Cognition Credits: 3
PSYC 2410 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 2600 - Introduction to Social Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 2700 - Introduction to Child Psychology Credits: 3

Science Foundation Requirement: 6 credit hours

Students are required to complete two graded courses (6 credit hours) of foundational scientific coursework at the level of the following courses or higher. The two courses may come from the same department.

ASTR 2110 - Introduction to Astrophysics I Credits: 3
BIOL 2200 - Introduction to Biology w/Laboratory: Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Credits: 4
CHEM 1410 - Introductory College Chemistry I Credits: 3
CS 1110 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 3
EVSC 1010 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences Credits: 3
MATH 2310 - Calculus III Credits: 4
PHYS 1425 - Introductory Physics 1 for Engineers Credits: 3
STAT 1100 - Chance: An Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
STAT 1120 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3
STAT 2020 - Statistics for Biologists Credits: 4

Electives: 6 credit hours

Students must complete two of the following courses. Student’s who did not take a 4000-level Advanced Topics course must select at least one 4000-level elective.

PSYC 3210 - RM: Psychobiology Laboratory Credits: 3
PSYC 3260 - Hidden Figures: Brain Science Through Diversity Credits: 3
PSYC 3559 - New Course in Psychology Credits: 1 to 4
Approved Topic: How to Build a Healthy Human Brain
PSYC 4155 - Autism: From Neurons to Neighborhoods Credits: 3
PSYC 4215 - RM: Computational Methods in Psychology and Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 4245 - Development of Sensory Systems Credits: 3
PSYC 4250 - Brain Systems Involved in the Neurobiology of Memory Credits: 3
PSYC 4255 - Behavioral Epigenetics Credits: 3
PSYC 4260 - RM: Genetic and Epigenetic Research in Behavior Credits: 3
PSYC 4290 - Memory Distortions Credits: 3
PSYC 4420 - RM: Brain Mapping with MRI Credits: 3
PSYC 4607 - Uniquely Human Social Cognition Credits: 3
PSYC 5270 - RM: Computational Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 5326 - The Neuroscience of Social Relationships Credits: 3
NESC 4245 - Neuroscience through the Nobels Credits: 3

Distinguished Majors Program: 6 credit hours

Students in the Distinguished Majors Program are required to complete each of the following courses.

PSYC 4970 - Distinguished Major Thesis I Credits: 3
PSYC 4980 - Distinguished Major Thesis II Credits: 3

Description of Thesis

Students enrolled in the Distinguished Majors Program will be required to complete a thesis paper based on two semesters of empirical or theoretical research. Honors students will prepare a thesis paper of approximately 25 pages. The thesis or research project will require students to demonstrate a high level of independent research and analysis. Throughout their fourth year, each Honors student will work closely with a chosen Psychology faculty advisor to sharpen the student’s guiding research question; construct and adhere to a timeline to completion; compile/synthesize research literature; and receive regular feedback on drafts of the thesis. Upon completion of the thesis/project, the faculty advisor will assign the work one of the following awards: Highest Distinction, High Distinction, Distinction. A student who does not earn an award will graduate without distinction.