BA.BBAC - Brain, Behavior & Cognition (Major)

Total credit requirements for a Brain, Behavior & Cognition major: 53-59 (18 in Biology, 18 in Psychology, 4 in BBAC, and 13-18 in supporting Science and Interdisciplinary courses)

• Required Biology Courses

  • Biology 101, 101L, 102, and 102L

  • 3-4 credits in Biology 320, 323, or a Biology special topic in neuroscience at the 300-level

    • Note 300-level Biology courses require completion of a 200-level course as a prerequisite; Biology 320 requires Biology 205 as a prerequisite.

  • A minimum of 7 additional credits chosen from:

    • An additional neurobiology course (Biology 320, 323, or 200-to-300-level Biology special topic in neuroscience)

    • Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology: Biology 205, 206, 224, 227, 319, and 329

    • Anatomy and Physiology: Biology 209, 221, 222, and 315

    • Other Biology courses as noted in the course description or approved by the Program Director

• Required Psychology Courses

  • Psychology 110

  • 8 credits chosen from Psychology 215, 225, 229, and 290

  • 4 additional credits chosen from:

    • Clinical/Personality foundation area: Psychology 216, 260, or 270

    • Developmental foundation area: Psychology 218, 219, or 240

    • Psychology 217 or 220 (note Psychology 220 requires instructor consent, Psychology 210 as a prerequisite, and Psychology 210L as a pre- or corequisite)

  • 3 credits chosen from the following 300-level seminars: Psychology 308, 309, 310, 315, 317, 318, 335, 339, or 349; or another Psychology seminar as approved by the Program director

  • Other Psychology courses as noted in the course description or approved by the Program Director

• Required Brain, Behavior & Cognition Courses

  • 3 credits of BBAC 490 or 498

  • BBAC 499

• Required Supporting Science Courses

  • 3-4 credits of statistics, chosen from:

    • Mathematics 128 or 247

    • Psychology 210

    • Economics 227

  • Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136; or 140

    • Students interested in going to graduate school for neuroscience are recommended to also take Chemistry 245.

• Required Interdisciplinary Courses

  • 6 additional credits, chosen from any of the following:

    • Anthropology 217, 228, 358, and 360

    • Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology 325, 326, and 430

    • Chemistry 245, 246, and 305

    • Computer Science 167, 215, and 267

    • Economics 315 and 325

    • Philosophy 200, 210, 217, 261, 262, 315, and 332

    • Psychology 410

    • Rhetoric, Writing & Public Discourse 225 and 325

    • Other courses as approved by the Program Director

• Senior Requirements

  • BBAC 490 or 498; and 499

  • Senior assessment

    • Research-based thesis

    • Oral examination

• Honors

  • Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.

  • Accumulated at least 87 credits

  • Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman

  • Major GPA of at least 3.500

  • Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis.

  • Pass the senior assessment with distinction.

  • Chair of the program will notify the Registrar of students who are candidates for honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.

  • An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.

• Notes

  • No more than 4 credits in independent study may be applied toward the major.

  • No courses taken P-D-F may be applied toward the major.