Biopsychology
Overview
Biopsychology sits at the interface of biology and psychology. It uses principles of evolution, genetics, physiology, neurobiology, and endocrinology and integrates information from these areas of study to explain perception, cognition, motivation, behavior, memory, and other aspects of the psychology of whole organisms.
Students concentrating in Biopsychology at New College typically emphasize biology or psychology but take a significant number of courses in the second discipline. Working closely with faculty, students have the flexibility to choose courses based on their interests and needs. Course selection should be made so that students acquire the skill sets most relevant for doing their own research work in their areas of interest, typically animal behavior and cognition, sensation and perception, neuroscience, and/or neuroendocrinology. Common paths for students who graduate in biopsychology include animal training, lab animal study and care, veterinary school, medical school, zoo or aquarium management, and graduate school in biology or psychology.
Faculty in Biopsychology
Peter Cook, Associate Professor of Psychology
Jayne Gardiner, Associate Professor of Biology (On Leave)
Heidi Harley, Professor of Psychology/Peg Scripps Buzzelli Chair/Director of Environmental Studies Program
Athena Rycyk, Associate Professor of Biology and Marine Science
Requirements for the AOC in Biopsychology
A minimum of twelve (12) academic units.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Introductory Biology Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
BIOL 2100 | (Whole animal focus) |
BIOL 2200 | (Neuroscience focus) |
| Introductory Psychology Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
PSYC 2135 | |
PSYC 2140 | |
PSYC 2145 | |
PSYC 2170 | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Thinking Neuro-Scientifically* | |
| Biological Psychology Course | |
PSYC 3560 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning or Statistics Course | |
| Select one from the following examples: | |
| Introduction to Applied Statis | |
| Biostatistics | |
| Dealing with Data I* | |
| Dealing with Data II | |
| Research Methods Course | |
BIOL 4960 | |
or PSYC 4550 | |
| Laboratory Course | |
| Select one from the following examples: | |
| Neurobiology Laboratory | |
| Animal Behavior Laboratory | |
| Fish Biology Laboratory | |
| Organismic Biology Laboratory | |
| Animal Behavior Processes Laboratory: Goldfish Learning and Cognition | |
PSYC 4400 | |
| Internship or Research Experience | |
| On- or off-campus credit-bearing internship or participation in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program of the National Science Foundation | |
| Intermediate Electives | |
| Select one intermediate elective from the following examples: | |
PSYC 3000 | |
BIOL 3200 | |
| Intermediate or Advanced Electives | |
| Select three more intermediate or advanced electives, either whole animal-oriented or neuro-oriented: | |
Examples of Whole Animal-Oriented Electives: | |
BIOL 2360 | |
| Invertebrate Zoology | |
PSYC 4800 | |
Examples of Neuro-Oriented Electives: | |
BIOL 3200 | |
PSYC 3000 | |
PSYC 4100 | |
| Comparative Cognition | |
PSYC 4475 | |
PSYC 4200 | |
| Thesis Seminar | |
| Select at least one thesis-oriented seminar or tutorial: | |
| Psychology Senior Seminar | |
PSYC 4999 | |
| Additional Requirement | |
| Senior Thesis in Biopsychology and Baccalaureate Exam | |
Click here for a checklist of requirements.
Representative Senior Theses in Biopsychology
- Optimal Metacontrast Masking of Chromatic Stimuli with and without Luminance Cues
- Sex and Age-based Differences in the Hunting Behaviors of Schizocosa Spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)
- Whistle Production Rates in a Group of Male Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Over Changes in Composition
- Tool Use in River Otters (Lutra Canadensis)
- Vocal Productions of Rhythms by the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)