Neurobiology, B.S.

Program Description

Neurobiology is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, and how they control behavior, cognition, and all physiological processes in animals. Neurobiology includes study of the nervous system from the molecular, cellular, functional, evolutionary, computational, and medical perspectives. Hands-on experiences, from designing and conducting lab experiments to using different techniques and instruments to recording and analyzing data, play an important role in gaining neurobiology knowledge. Research in neurobiology is revealing the difference between healthy and diseased nervous systems. Faculty study many aspects of the nervous system, including its role in development, learning and memory, sleep, aging, addiction, autism, and stress.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You are interested in the brain and the nervous system more generally.
• You are interested in neurological disorders.
• You enjoy a dynamic field of study, with new discoveries being made daily.
• You are interested in hands-on experiences, including courses with integrated laboratories and conducting research with faculty.
• You plan to pursue a career in Neurobiology research, education or outreach, or attend professional school in areas including medicine and dentistry.

Entrance to Major

​In order to be eligible for entrance to the Neurobiology major, a student must have:

1. attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average; and
2. completed BIOL 110, BIOL 230W, CHEM 110, and MATH 140, and earned a grade of C or better in each of these courses.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology, a minimum of 122 credits is required:

18 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GS courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
BIOL 162	Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Laboratory	1
BIOL 470	Functional and Integrative Neuroscience	3
CHEM 111	Experimental Chemistry I	1
CHEM 210	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 212	Organic Chemistry II	3
PHYS 250	Introductory Physics I	4
PHYS 251	Introductory Physics II	4
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BIOL 161	Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture	3
BIOL 469	Neurobiology	3
Additional Courses
BIOL 222	Genetics	3
or BIOL 322	Genetic Analysis
BMB 211	Elementary Biochemistry	3
or BMB 401	General Biochemistry
CHEM 113	Experimental Chemistry II	1
or CHEM 113B	Experimental Chemistry II--Bioscience
CHEM 213W	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry - Writing Intensive	2
or CHEM 213M	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry - Honors, Writing Intensive
PSYCH 100	Introductory Psychology	3
or PSYCH 100H	Honors Introductory Psychology
PSYCH 260/BBH 203	Neurological Bases of Human Behavior	3
or PSYCH 260A	Neurological Bases of Human Behavior
Groups
Select a minimum of 15 credits of 400-level biology courses, with at least 6 credits from Group A (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience), 3 credits from Group B (Behavioral, Structural, and Cognitive Neuroscience) ), 3 credits from Group C (Additional Coursework on Topics Highly Relevant to Neuroscience), and 3 credits from Group D (Laboratory Requirement).		15
Group A: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Select 6 credits from the following:
BIOL 404	Cellular Mechanisms in Vertebrate Physiology
BIOL 413	Cell Signaling and Regulation
BIOL 430	Developmental Biology
BIOL 467	Molecular Basis of Neurological Diseases
Group B: Behavioral, Structural, and Cognitive Neuroscience
Select 3 credits from the following:
ANTH 466	The Skull
BBH 468	Neuroanatomical Bases for Disorders of Behavior and Health
BIOL 426	Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 478	HUMAN NEUROANATOMY
KINES 465	Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation
KINES 471	MOTOR CONTROL
PSYCH 452	Learning and Memory
PSYCH 455	Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYCH 458	Visual Cognition
PSYCH 462	Physiological Psychology
PSYCH 478	Clinical Neuropsychology
Group C: Additional Coursework on Topics Highly Relevant to Neuroscience
Select 3 credits from the following:
BBH 451	Pharmacological Influences on Health
BIOL 418	Biology of Human Infectious Diseases
BIOL 422	Advanced Genetics
BIOL 434	Pathobiology of Emerging Infectious Disease
BIOL 439	Practical Bioinformatics
BIOL 455	Stem Cell Biology and Therapy
BIOL 460	Human Genetics
BIOL 465	Network analysis of biological systems
BIOL 472	Human Physiology
BIOL 475	Human Pathophysiolog
BIOL 479	General Endocrinology
NUTR 460	Nutritional Neuroscience
Group D: Laboratory Requirement
Select 3 credits from the following:
BIOL 421	Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates
BIOL 437	Histology
BIOL 473	Laboratory in Mammalian Physiology
BIOL 476	Advanced Human Anatomy - cadaver based
BIOL 477	Biology Cadaver Dissection
BIOL 478	HUMAN NEUROANATOMY
BIOL 494	Research Project
BIOL 496	Independent Studies
SC 295	Science Co-op Work Experience I
SC 395	Science Co-op Work Experience II
SC 495	Science Co-op Work Experience III
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
BIOL 110	Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity	4
or BIOL 110H	Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity
BIOL 230W	Biology: Molecules and Cells	4
or BIOL 230M	Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells
CHEM 110	Chemical Principles I	3
or CHEM 110H	Chemical Principles I - Honors
CHEM 112	Chemical Principles II	3
or CHEM 112H	Chemical Principles II - Honors
MATH 140B	Calculus and Biology I	4
or MATH 140	Calculus With Analytic Geometry I
STAT 250	Introduction to Biostatistics	3-4
or STAT 200	Elementary Statistics
or STAT 240	Introduction to Biometry
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 19-20 credits from department list		19-20

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Barbara DeHart
Associate Teaching Professor & Director of Biology Advising
227 Ritenour Building
208 Mueller Lab
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-9948
bzd2@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Neurobiology, B.S. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

BIOL 161 requires a grade of C or better for the major and satisfies General Education and degree requirement

²

BIOL 469/BBH 469 requires a grade of C or better for the major

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Program Notes:

• Group A (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience): Select a minimum of 3 credits
  • BIOL 404 – Cellular Mechanisms of Vertebrate Physiology
  • BIOL 413 – Cell Signaling
  • BIOL 430 – Developmental Biology
  • BIOL 467 – Molecular Basis of Neurological Diseases
• Group B (Behavioral, Structural, and Cognitive Neuroscience): Select a minimum of 3 credits
  • BBH 468 – Neuroanatomical Bases for Disorders of Behavior and Health
  • BIOL 426 – Developmental Neurobiology
  • BIOL 478 – Comparative Neuroanatomy
  • BIOL XXX – Jega's Sensory Biology course (Not an active course yet)
  • PSYCH 452 – Learning and Memory 
  • PSYCH 462 – Physiological Psychology
  • PSYCH 478 – Clinical Neuropsychology
  • ANTH 466 – The Skull
  • KINES 465 – Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation
  • KINES 471 – MOTOR CONTROL
• Group C (Additional Coursework on Topics Highly Relevant to Neuroscience): Select a minimum of 3 credits
  • BIOL 418 – Biology of Human Infectious Diseases
  • BIOL 422 – Advanced Genetics
  • BIOL 434 – Pathobiology of Emerging Infectious Disease
  • BIOL 439 – Practical Bioinformatics
  • BIOL 455 – Stem Cell Biology and Therapy
  • BIOL 460 – Human Genetics
  • BIOL 465 – Network Analysis of Biological Systems
  • BIOL 472 – Human Physiology
  • BIOL 475 – Human Pathophysiology
  • BIOL 479 – General Endocrinology
  • BBH 451 – Pharmacological Influences on Health
  • NUTR 460 – Nutritional Neuroscience
• Group D (Laboratory Requirement): Select a minimum of 3 credits
  • BIOL 421 – Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
  • BIOL 437 – "Histology"
  • BIOL 473 – "Laboratory in Mammalian Physiology"
  • BIOL 476 – "Advanced Human Anatomy - cadaver based"
  • BIOL 477 – "Biology Cadaver Dissection"
  • BIOL 478 – Comparative Neuroanatomy
  • BIOL 496 – Independent Studies (maximum of 3 credits can be applied to this group)
  • BIOL 494 – Internship (maximum of 3 credits can be applied to this group)
  • SC 295, SC 395, SC 495 – (maximum of 3 credits can be applied to this group)
• Electives: Any course may count as an elective EXCEPT for courses on the disallowed course list.
• Disallowed Courses: Duplicated courses and BMB 1, BISC 1, 2, 3, 4, BIOL courses below 110, CHEM courses below, ENGL 4, 5, ESL 4, CAS 126, MATH courses below 21, MICRB 106, 107, PHYS 1, 150, 151, more than 9 credits of SC 295, 395, 495.

Career Paths

A degree in Neurobiology is excellent preparation for a career in:

• Neuroscience research
• Medicine, Dentistry
• Pharmacology
• Education
• Outreach
• Physician assistant programs
• Occupational or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Biomedical Research

It is also a good route to prepare for attending graduate school or professional school.

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
208 Mueller Lab Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2329
bioadvising@psu.edu

https://science.psu.edu/bio/contact-us