Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 University Catalog 
    
2014-2015 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Brain and Behavioral Sciences, BS


About the Program

The Brain and Behavioral Sciences Major (BBS) is especially appropriate for students interested in the more science or math-oriented areas of psychology. This program is also popular with students who want careers in medicine.

Summary of Program Requirements

The Summary of Program Requirements for Brain and Behavioral Sciences  is a comprehensive list of those categories which a student must fulfill in order to earn their degree. Unlike the full Detailed Program Requirements listed below, complete lists of selectives for any given category are not shown. These summaries are intended to be printer-friendly and less expansive in detail.

Detailed Program Requirements

Please see below for detailed program requirements and possible selective fulfillments.

PSYSCI-BS
BBS
120 credits

Brain and Behavioral Sciences Core (University Foundational Learning Outcomes) (12-30 credits)


Written Communication


select from University list

Recommend:

Information Literacy


select from University list (IF one of the following is selected for Written Communication core, this requirement is fulfilled)

Oral Communication


select from University list

Recommend:

Science


select from University list (IF course is also on Foundations or Additional Study in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology list, will partially fulfill Area E or F)

Science


select from University list (IF course is also on Foundations or Additional Study in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology list, will partially fulfill Area E or F)

Humanities


select from University list

Behavior/Social Science


***fulfilled by

Quantitative Reasoning


Science, Technology & Society


select from University list (IF course is also on Foundations or Additional Study in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology list, will partially fulfill Area E or F)

University Foundational Learning Outcomes List


https://www.purdue.edu/provost/initiatives/curriculum/course.html

Selective Requirements (9-28 credits)


  • 10100 Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Foreign Language - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 10200 (Proficiency through 20200 in one language) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • 20200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - semester of study abroad or select from list - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management and Leadership Selective - select from list - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Social Ethics Selective - select from list - Credit Hours: 3.00

Note


Courses that fulfill major requirements (Areas A-D) may also be used to fulfill Selective requirements, if applicable.

Courses that fulfill Brain & Behavioral Sciences Core requirements may also be used to fulfill Selective requirements, if applicable.

A grade of “C-” or better is required for all courses used to fulfill the requirements of Areas A-D


A minimum 2.50 GPA for pre-major courses is required for admission to the Brain and Behavioral Sciences major


Students may attempt each pre-major course twice for admission purposes. Withdrawals with a grade of “W” do not count as an attempt; withdrawals with a grade of “WF” do count as an attempt.

Distance Learning (online) courses not originating on the Purdue-W.L. campus (i.e. not taught by Purdue W.L. faculty) cannot be used toward the pre-major or major requirements, and at least 75% of the courses in Areas A-D for the major must be taken on the Purdue-W.L. campus.

A) Courses required to satisfy pre-major requirements (12 credits)


Note


*These courses must be taken at Purdue University-West Lafayette.

B) Select three additional courses from the following groups (9 credits)


Including the Area B course used to fulfill pre-major requirements, two courses must be from Group B1 and two from Group B2.

C) Select five courses from the Advanced Content List (15 credits)


  • PSY - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • PSY - Credit Hours: 3.00

D) Select two additional 3-credit psychology courses numbered 20000-59900 (6 credits)


The following courses may not be used to fulfill the Area D requirement.

E) Select two courses for a total of 5-9 credits from FOUNDATIONS in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List (5-9 credits)


Courses selected must be from two different groups. At least one course from Areas E or F must be a lab natural science course.

  • Group #1
  • Group #2

F) Select 9 credits from ADDITIONAL STUDY in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List (9 credits)


At least one course from Areas E or F must be a lab natural science course.

Electives (2-43 credits)


At least 32 credits of coursework required at 300 level or higher


120 semester credits required for Bachelor of Science degree


Brain and Behavioral Sciences Selective Requirements Lists


Cultural/International Diversity (3-16 CR)


Proficiency through Level IV in one language (3-16 cr)
American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

AND one semester study abroad OR 3 credits from:

(E) FOUNDATIONS in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List


(F) ADDITIONAL STUDY in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List


Note


BSS = Human Cultures: Behavior/Social Sciences Core
H = Humanities Core
• = Lab Course
QR = Quantitative Reasoning Core
S = Science Core
STS = Science, Technology & Society Core

Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


15 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • BBS Area B2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Written Commun. Core - Credit Hours: 4.00 (ENGL 10600  recommended)
  • Foreign Language Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 **
  • BBS Area F + Science Core - Credit Hours: 3.00 ***
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 2.00

15 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • BBS Area B1 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area F + Science, Tech, & Society Core*** - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Humanities Core - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area F + Science Core - Credit Hours: 3.00 ***
  • Social Ethics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 ****
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area D - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 ****
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • BBS Area D - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management & Leadership Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 ****
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Note


* Typical credits shown, but will vary with specific course selections; 120 total credits required. At least 32 of these credits must be courses taken at Purdue and numbered 30000 or higher.

** Depending on placement, requirement might require fewer than 4 semesters to complete.

*** Assumes BBS Area F and Core requirement will be fulfilled with one appropriately selected course. Requirements can be separated, if student prefers.

**** Includes course option that can cover two or more requirements concurrently.

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical. A Critical Course is one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.

Expired Course


Any course without a link to its description is one that has been expired.  However, this course could fulfill the degree requirement historically.

Foreign Language Courses


Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.  For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor:

American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish