Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 University Catalog 
    
2017-2018 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. Like the Psychological Sciences major, this major includes a foundation in both basic and applied areas of psychology and offers substantial opportunity to explore other areas of interest. The advanced coursework emphasizes behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and quantitative areas of psychology

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Major Requirements (50-54 credits)


A cumulative GPA of 2.3 is required for all PSY courses used to meet major (Areas A-C) requirements

B) Select two courses from each of the following groups (12 credits)


C) Select five 3-credit 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

Courses numbered 30000 or higher from locations other than Purdue-WL cannot be used to fulfill requirement C unless the outside course has been officially designated as equivalent to an approved Purdue-WL PSY course numbered 30000 or higher; other courses will be reviewed for approval on an ad hoc basis.

D) Select two courses 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 D or E must be a lab natural science course.

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


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

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (26 - 58 credits)


Cultural/International Diversity Selective 0-16 credits

The Cultural/International Diversity requirement may be met by completing ONE of the four options listed below:

The Cultural/International Diversity Selective requirement may be waived for international students. See academic advisor for guidelines and approval

  • Option 1: Proficiency through level IV in any one foreign language. Select from American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.
    • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • 20200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00

 

  • Option 2: Proficiency through level III in any one foreign language AND a course from Cultural/International Diversity Selective list.
    • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • 20100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
    • Select a course from Cultural/International Diversity Selective List - credit hours: 3.00

 

  • Option 3: Two courses in any one foreign language AND an approved study abroad experience of at least 6 weeks in duration, which
    • a)  Must take place outside the United States
    • b)  Have significant immersion in the local culture and language independent of any U.S.-based program in which the student may be participating.
      • 10100 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
      • 10200 - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00
      • Study Abroad Experience

 

  • Option 4: An approved semester length (Fall/Spring) study abroad experience which satisfies the following criteria:
    • a)  Must take place outside the United States
    • b)  Have significant immersion in the local culture and language independent of any U.S.-based program in which the student may be participating.
      • Study Abroad Experience

Select from lists for each


  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management & Leadership Selective (IF PSY 27200  is selected for BBS Major Area B, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Social Ethics Selective (IF PSY 46400  is selected for BBS Major Area C, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours:  3.00
  • Humanities Core (IF a foreign language is chosen for Cultural/International Diversity Selective, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 4.00
  • Information Literacy Core (IF ENGL 10600  or 10800  is chosen for Written Communication core, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 4.00
  • Oral Communication Core (Recommend COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication ) - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning Core  MA 15300 - College Algebra  OR higher from University list except MA 15555  and MA 19000. (IF a Group 2 course is chosen for BBS Major Area D, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 5.00
  • Science Core (Recommend course from Area D or E that is also on University Science Core list. IF course chosen for BBS Major Area D is also on University Science Core list,  this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00
  • Science Core (Recommend course from Area D or E that is also on University Science Core list. IF course chosen for BBS Major Area E is also on University Science Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 2.00 - 5.00
  • Science, Technology & Society Core (Recommend course from Area D or E that is also on University Science Technology & Society Core list. IF course chosen for BBS Major Area D or E, or for Social Ethics Selective, is also on University Science Technology Society Core list, this requirement is fulfilled.) - Credit Hours: 1.00 - 3.00
  • Written Communication Core (Recommend ENGL 10600 - First-Year Composition  or ENGL 10800 - Accelerated First-Year Composition ) - Credit Hours: 3.00 - 4.00

Note


Courses that fulfill Core requirements may also be used to fulfill Selective requirements, if applicable.

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

Courses that fulfill major requirements (Areas A-E) may also be used to fulfill Core requirements.

Electives (8 - 44 credits)


University Core Requirements


  • Human Cultures Humanities
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
  • Information Literacy
  • Science #1
  • Science #2
  • Science, Technology, and Society
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.

Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.

Brain and Behavioral Sciences Selective Requirements Course Lists


Cultural/International Diversity (3 credits if required)


(D) FOUNDATIONS in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List (5 - 9 credits)


(E) ADDITIONAL STUDY in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology List (9 credits)


Program Requirements


Fall 1st Year


  • (Behavior/Social Science Core) ♦
  • Oral Communication Core - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 **
  • or higher (Quant Reasoning Core) except for MA 15555 and MA 19000 ♦
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 2.00
  • Information Literacy Core - Credit Hours: 1.00 (PSY 10000  recom)

15 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • BBS Area B2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Written Commun. Core - Credit Hours: 4.00 (ENGL 10600  recommended)
  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 **
  • BBS Area E + 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 B2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Area E + 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 E + 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
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


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

15 Credits


Notes


At least 32 credits of coursework from Purdue University required at 300 level or higher.

* 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 language placement and Option selected, requirement might require fewer than 4 semesters to complete, potentially creating opportunities for additional electives to be taken.

*** Assumes BBS Area E 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.

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

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.

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.