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: | |
| Foundations of Biology I (Whole animal focus) | |
| Foundations of Biology II* (Neuroscience focus) | |
| Introductory Psychology Course | |
| Select one of the following: | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: The Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Animal Thinking* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Animal Thinking with Dolphin Lab* | |
| Introduction to Psychology Seminar: The Exotic Sensory World of Animals* | |
| Introductory Psychology Seminar: Thinking Neuro-Scientifically* | |
| Biological Psychology Course | |
| Biological Psychology | |
| Quantitative Reasoning or Statistics Course | |
| Select one from the following examples: | |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics | |
| Biostatistics | |
| Dealing with Data I* | |
| Dealing with Data II | |
| Research Methods Course | |
| Research Methods in Biology | |
or PSYC 4550 | Research Methods in Psychology |
| 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 | |
| Cognitive Laboratory in Parallel Approaches to Facilitating Wellbeing Across Species | |
| 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: | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| Molecular Neurobiology | |
| Intermediate or Advanced Electives | |
| Select three more intermediate or advanced electives, either whole animal-oriented or neuro-oriented: | |
Examples of Whole Animal-Oriented Electives: | |
| Animal Behavior | |
| Invertebrate Zoology | |
| Cognitive Psychology | |
| Humans and Other Animals: Exploration of a Complex Relationship | |
Examples of Neuro-Oriented Electives: | |
| Molecular Neurobiology | |
| Behavioral Endocrinology | |
| Neuroscience of Sport and Exercise | |
| Comparative Cognition | |
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Laboratory in Comparative Brain Connectivity | |
| Thesis Seminar | |
| Select at least one thesis-oriented seminar or tutorial: | |
| Psychology Senior Seminar | |
| Psychology Senior Seminar II | |
| 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)