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Behavioural Neuroscience

Admission to the Major and Minor in Behavioural Neuroscience is suspended until further notice.

The Department of Psychology offers opportunity for study leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. For information on the Bachelor of Arts, see Arts Psychology. For information on graduate degrees, see graduate Psychology.

Students who are entering second year and wish to pursue a Behavioural Neuroscience Major or Honours specialization, including students who have applied to enter the Faculty of Science and expect to have second-year standing upon admission, must apply using the online coordinated admissions process administered by the Faculty of Science. Students can check the Student Service Centre to see if they are eligible to register as a second-year BSc student (and thus able to use the online coordinated admissions process) in June.

Students who are entering third year and wish to pursue a Behavioural Neuroscience specialization must apply online through the Department of Psychology’s website for admission in June.

Students registered in Behavioural Neuroscience specializations must take 6 credits of Faculty of Arts courses other than psychology. Science electives may not be psychology courses. All psychology courses numbered 60 to 89 in the last two digits have science credit. Students may not earn more than a combined 12 credits of Directed Studies in Psychology or Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC 340, 348, 388, 440, 448, and 488).

Co-operative Education Program in Behavioural Neuroscience

Co-operative Education is a process of education which integrates academic study with related and supervised work experience in co-operating employer organizations.

An optional Co-operative Education Program is available for students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specializations. The Program, which is intended to help prepare interested and qualified students for research careers in industry, university, or government settings, includes at least 16 months of work placement (i.e., at least four work terms) supervised by scientists in industrial, academic or governmental positions. Co-op advisors visit students at their place of work and provide advice on work term reports required of all students in the program. The four work terms are normally taken consecutively beginning in Summer Session after third year and ending in Summer Session after fourth year.

To be eligible, students must be in a Behavioural Neuroscience specialization, and they must have completed at least one academic term in this program. Admission is by application to the Science Co-op Office. Selection of students is based on academic performance and general suitability to the work environment, as determined by resumé and interview. The total enrolment is subject to the availability of appropriate work placements. The work placements are arranged by mutual agreement between students and employing organizations. Participating students register for PSYC 398, 399, 498, or 499, as appropriate, and pay the Cooperative Education program fee per course as well as Co-operative Education Program Fees.

Graduation in the Co-operative Education Program for Behavioural Neuroscience requires a student to complete PSYC 398, 399, 498, and 499, in addition to the normal academic requirements. Students may choose appropriate timing of their work terms, but some of the four work placements required should not be in the summer.

Detailed information on the program can be obtained from the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization advisors or from the Co-operative Education Program.

Specializations

Admission to the Major in Behavioural Neuroscience is suspended until further notice.

Students interested in neuroscience should consider applying to the new Neuroscience specialization.

Major (3502): Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC)

First Year1
Communication Requirement2 6
BIOL 1113 or 1123 3
BIOL 1213, 140 5
CHEM 110 or 111 or 120 or 1214 4
CHEM 123 or 1305 4
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 1846)7 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 1216) 3
PHYS 106 or PHYS 107 or PHYS 117 or 1318 3
Total Credits 31
Second Year
CHEM 233, 235 4
PSYC 101, 1021 6
PSYC 270 3
PSYC 277, 278 8
Two from: BIOL 200,9 BIOL 201 (or BIOC 202), BIOL 204, BIOL 2056 6
Electives4-7,10 3
Total Credits 30
Third Year
PSYC 300 or 301 3
PSYC 370, 371 6
6 credits from one of the following three lists: 6
PSYC 302, 315, 319, 320, 322, 325, 412, 413, 414  
PSYC 305, 307, 308, 321, 358, 403, 407, 408, 415, 418  
PSYC 311, 314, 331, 350, 401, 402, 420  
Electives10 14
Total Credits 29
Fourth Year
12 credits from PSYC 348, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 388, 448, 460, 461, 462, 463, 466, 469, 472, 48810 12
Electives9 18
Total Credits 30
Credits for Degree 120
1 PSYC 101 and 102 are recommended in first year if a student has credit for Biology 12 and Chemistry 12.
2 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
3 Students without Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 as a prerequisite for BIOL 121.
4 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. If a student takes either CHEM 100 or CHEM 120, they will have one additional elective credit.  
5 If a student takes CHEM 130, they will have one additional elective credit.  
6 Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH or more than 6 credits of second year BIOL should count these extra credits as electives and reduce the number of second year elective credits accordingly.
7 MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by reducing the number of elective credits by 3.  
8 Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking PHYS 106, 107, 117 or 131.
9 The preferred prerequisite for this course is BIOL 112, but students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization are allowed to register without it.
10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
 
11 No more than 6 credits of PSYC 348, 388, 448 or 488 can be used towards this 12-credit requirement.  

Honours (3503): Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC)

Admission to the Honours specialization requires at least a 76% average in second year and at least 80% in PSYC 277 and 278. Students failing to meet either of these criteria may petition for admittance into the program. All students enrolling in the Honours program must consult with the chair of the Psychology department’s Honours committee.

Graduation requires an average of at least 80% in 12 credits of Psychology courses numbered 300 or above.

In addition to meeting the Honours specialization course requirements, and the Faculty of Science Honours requirements, Honours candidates must maintain a minimum overall 68% average in each academic session.

 

First Year1
Communication Requirement2 6
BIOL 1113 or 1123 3
BIOL 1213, 140 5
CHEM 110 or 111 or 120 or 1214 4
CHEM 123 or 1305 4
MATH 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 1846)7 3
MATH 101 or 103 or 105 (or 1216) 3
PHYS 106 or 107 or 117 or 1318 3
Total Credits 31
Second Year
CHEM 233, 235 4
PSYC 101, 1021 6
PSYC 270 3
PSYC 277, 278 8
Two from: BIOL 2009, BIOL 201 (or BIOC 202), BIOL 204, BIOL 2056 6
Electives4-7,10 3
Total Credits 30
Third Year
PSYC 312 3
PSYC 349 6
PSYC 370, 371 6
PSYC 300 or 301 3
6 credits from one of the following three lists: 6
PSYC 311, 314, 331, 350, 401, 402, 420  
PSYC 302, 315, 319, 320, 322, 325, 412, 413, 414  
PSYC 305, 307, 308, 321, 358, 403, 407, 408, 415, 418  
Electives10 11
Total Credits 35
Fourth Year
PSYC 449 6
12 credits from PSYC 348, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 388, 448, 460, 461, 462, 463, 466, 469, 472, 48811 12
Electives10 18
Total Credits 36
Minimum Credits for Degree 132
1 PSYC 101 and 102 are recommended in first year if a student has credit for Biology 12 and Chemistry 12.
2 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
3 Students without Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 as a prerequisite for BIOL 121.
4 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. If a student takes either CHEM 100 or CHEM 120, they will have one additional elective credit.  
5 If a student takes CHEM 130, they will have one additional elective credit.  
6 Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH or more than 6 credits of second year BIOL should count these extra credits as electives and reduce the number of elective credits accordingly.
7 MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed reducing the number of elective credits by 3.  
8 Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking 106, 107, 117 or 131.
9 The preferred prerequisite for this course is BIOL 112, but students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization are allowed to register without it.
10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
 
11 No more than 6 credits of PSYC 348, 388, 448 or 488 can be used towards this 12-credit requirement.  

Faculty of Science Departmental Guidelines for the Minor

B.Sc., Science Minor in Behavioural Neuroscience

Admission to the Minor in Behavioural Neuroscience is suspended until further notice.

Students interested in neuroscience should consider applying to the new Neuroscience specialization.

For a Behavioural Neuroscience minor, students are required to take PSYC 100 or both of PSYC 101 and 102, and at least 18 credits of 300- or 400-level psychology courses numbered 60 to 87 in the last two digits.

B.Sc., Arts Minor in Psychology

For a PSYC Arts minor, students are required to take PSYC 100 or both of PSYC 101 and PSYC 102; 6 credits of 200-level psychology, preferably PSYC 207 and 208 in second year; and at least 18 credits of 300-/400-level psychology courses, excluding PSYC 340, 348, 388, 440, 448, or 488.

 


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