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Behavioral Neuroscience Bachelor of Science

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Psychology is to offer the highest quality academic experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the professional and local communities. A major focus of the Department is to work toward equipping students with the critical skills and knowledge necessary for continued occupational, educational, and personal advancement in Psychology and related disciplines. In addition, the Department strives to foster program relevance by creating an environment in which students are encouraged to assess their values and apply their knowledge to their increasingly complex world and thus promote the recognition of the importance of their roles in society as members of a vital citizenry.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

Content/Discipline-Specific Knowledge/Skills

  • Explain the organization and function of the human nervous system at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels and identify the neural correlates of both normal and abnormal human behaviors and cognition.
  • Apply ethical standards to evaluate behavioral neuroscience research and practice and incorporate sociocultural and diversity factors in scientific inquiry and practice.
  • Describe a range of techniques used by behavioral neuroscientists in the laboratory.

Communication Skills

Articulate behavioral neuroscience concepts clearly and concisely by accurately interpreting and reporting research findings in written and oral formats.

Critical Thinking Skills

Use scientific reasoning and critical thinking to interpret, evaluate, design, and conduct research.

Assessment Approaches

Numerous direct and indirect measures of student learning are employed to assess mastery of the expected student learning outcomes. These measures include reviewing course assignments, rubrics, and exams; the use of measures recommended by professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA); student publications and conference presentations; intern and practicum supervisor ratings of students' performance; and graduate school and job placement rates.