Undergraduate Degree Programs
B.S. Biological Sciences
Concentration in Animal Physiology and Behavior
What can I do with a degree in Animal Physiology and Behavior?
The Concentration in Animal Physiology and Behavior is intended for students interested in a broad, integrated education in the principles and mechanisms governing animal function and behavior. This concentration will prepare students for graduate level study in physiology, neuroscience and animal behavior, professional school in health professions, or careers in basic and biomedically-oriented research. The requirements include upper division courses in the related fields of behavior, physiology and neuroscience. Electives are designed to provide flexibility and ensure exposure to multiple levels of analysis. The major in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Animal Physiology and Behavior consists of a minimum of 41 semester hours in required life science courses, and a minimum of 16 semester hours in related fields, a three-semester-hour statistics course, plus a three-semester-hour advanced mathematics course included in the General Studies Requirement. A minimum grade of “C” (2.00) is required in all course work in the major and related fields. Required courses are as follows:
Core requirements (15 hours)
- BIO 187 General Biology I (4)
- BIO 188 General Biology II (4)
- BIO 340 General Genetics (4)
- BIO 345 Organic Evolution (3)
Concentration requirements (15 hours)
- BIO 331 Animal Behavior (3)
- BIO 360 Introduction to Animal Physiology (3)
- BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)
--- or --- BCH 461/462 General Biochemistry (3/3)
Choose at least two from the following (6 hours):
- BIO 436 Sociobiology and Behavioral Ecology (3)
- BIO 461 Comparative Animal Physiology (3)
- BIO 462 Endocrine Physiology (3)
- BIO 467 Neurobiology (3)
Electives (11 hours minimum):
Selected from the list of approved electives (list follows), at least one Laboratory/Research Oriented
course, one course in Comparative Structure and Functions, and one course from Other Approved Electives
Requirements in Related Fields (16 hours):
- CHM 113 General Chemistry I (4)
- CHM 116 General Chemistry II (4)
Organic Chemistry Options
- CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ 1 (3)
- CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory SQ 1 (1)
--- or --- - CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)
- CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)
- CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
Physics Options
- PHY 101 Introduction to Physics SQ (4 hours)
--- or --- - PHY 111 General Physics SQ 2 (3)
- PHY 112 General Physics SQ 2 (3)
- PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory SQ 2 (1)
- PHY 114 General Physics Laboratory SQ 2 (1)
Math Proficiency (6 hours; 3 as a General Studies Requirement):
- STP 226 Elementary Statistics (3)
--- or --- STP 231 Statistics for Biosciences (3) - MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences (3)
Elective credit options (will not appear in catalog):
Laboratory/research oriented:
- BIO 342 General Genetics Laboratory (2)
- BIO 435 Research Techniques in Animal Behavior (3)
- BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology Laboratory (4)
- BIO 352 Laboratory in Vertebrate Developmental Anatomy (2)
- BIO 453 Animal Histology (4)
- BIO 361 Animal Physiology Laboratory (2)
- BIO 466 Neurophysiology Laboratory (2)
- BIO 469 Computational Neuroscience – Case Studies in Neuroethology (4)
- MIC 421 Experimental Immunology (2)
Comparative Structure and Function:
- BIO 351 Developmental Anatomy (3)
- BIO 370 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
- BIO 385 Comparative Invertebrate Zoology (4)
- ASM 341 Human Osteology
--- or --- ASM 454 Comparative Primate Anatomy - KIN 335 Biomechanics (3)
- PSY 426 Neuroanatomy (4)
Other Approved Electives:
- BIO 320 Fundamentals of Ecology (3)
- BIO 353 Cell Biology (3)
- BIO 386 General Entomology (4)
--- or --- BIO 471 Ornithology (3)
--- or --- BIO 472 Mammalogy (4)
--- or --- BIO 473 Ichthyology (3)
--- or --- BIO 474 Herpetology (3) - BIO 425 Animal Ecology (3)
- BIO 431 Genes, Development, and Evolution (3)
- BIO 464 Photobiology (3)
- BIO 465 Neurophysiology (3)
- BIO 494 Behavioral Neuroendochrinology (3)
- KIN 440 Exercise Biochemistry (3)
--- or --- KIN 443 Exercise Endocrinology (3) - KIN 442 Fuel Metabolism (3)
- KIN 340 Physiology of Exercise (3)
- KIN 443 Exercise Endocrinology (3)
- MIC 420 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations (3)
- PSY 425 Biological Bases of Behavior (3)
- PSY 470 Psychopharmacology (3)
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