Oct 08, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Brain and Behavioral Sciences, BS


About the Program


The Brain and Behavioral Sciences major (BBS) is 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.

Department of Psychological Sciences

Brain and Behavioral Sciences Major Change (CODO) Requirements   

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Course Requirements (36 credits)


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

A) Brain and Behavioral Sciences Required Courses (9 credits)


C) Advanced Content Courses (15 credits)


Select five 3-credit courses from the following options. Only one PSY 39000, PSY 39800, or PSY 49800 may count towards this requirement.

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.

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (40-76 credits)


  • ♦ (satisfies Oral Communication for core)
  •  

  • ♦ (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Written Communication and Information Literacy for core)
  •  

  • ♦ (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) or
  • ♦ (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core)
  •  

  • Cultural/International Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 0.00-16.00
  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures: Humanities Core - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00 (If a foreign language is chosen for Cultural/International Diversity Selective, this requirement is satisfied.)
  • Management & Leadership Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00; (If PSY 27200 is selected for BBS Major Area B, this requirement is satisfied.)
  • Science Core - Credit Hours: 2.00-5.00 (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 satisfied.)
  • Science Core - Credit Hours: 2.00-5.00 (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 satisfied.)
  • Science, Technology & Society Core - Credit Hours: 1.00-3.00 (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 satisfied.)
  • Social Ethics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00 (If PSY 46400 or PSY 58100 is selected for BBS Major Area C, this requirement is satisfied.)

D) Foundations in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology Selective (5-9 credits)


  • Select two courses for a total of 5-9 credits from FOUNDATIONS List. 
  • 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) Additional Study in Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology (9-13 credits)


  • Select at least 9 credits from ADDITIONAL STUDY List. 
  • At least one course from Areas D or E must be a lab natural science course.

Electives (8-44 credits)


GPA Requirements


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

Course Requirements and Notes


  • 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-C) and Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Information Technology requirements (Areas D-E) may also be used to fulfill Core requirements.

Pass/No Pass Policy


  • A student may elect the Pass / Not-Pass grading option for elective courses only, unless an academic unit requires that a specific departmental course/s be taken Pass / Not-Pass.  Students may elect to take University Core Curriculum courses Pass / Not-Pass; however, some major Plans of Study require courses that also fulfill UCC foundational outcomes.  In such cases, students may not elect the Pass / Not-Pass option.  A maximum of 24 credits of elective courses under the Pass / Not-pass grading option can be used toward graduation requirements. For further information, students should refer to the College of Health and Human Sciences Pass / Not-Pass Policy.

Transfer Credit Policy


  • Courses numbered 30000 or higher from locations other than Purdue-WL cannot be used to fulfill major requirement Area 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

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course).

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information


  • Students may NOT major in both Brain & Behavioral Sciences and Psychological Sciences.

Sample 4-Year Plan


15-17 Credits


Spring 1st Year


15 - 16 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • BBS Major Area B2 ♦ - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Major Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Major Area E + Science, Tech, & Society - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures: Humanities core  - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • BBS Major Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Major Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Major Area E + Science #2 - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Social Ethics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • BBS Major Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • BBS Major Area C - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 9.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Economics/Finance Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Management & Leadership Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours: 9.00

15 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


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

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

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