Psychology and Biological Sciences, B.S.
Psychology and Biological Sciences Unified Major
Gordon Rule, Department Head, Biological Sciences
Susanne Ferber, Department Head, Psychology
Overview
This major is intended to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of current research in the fields of biology and psychology, as well as the national trend in some professions to seek individuals broadly trained in both the social and natural sciences.
Note: Students entering from the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences will earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences. Students in the Mellon College of Science will earn a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology.
Depending on a student's home college (DC or MCS), General Education (GenEd) requirements will be different. GenEd requirements for DC and MCS are found on their respective Catalog pages.
As a note, students who completed psychology courses under the old numbering system will still have those courses count towards the requirements previously specified. New course numbers will take effect starting Fall 2025. Spring 2026 courses will be updated once course scheduling begins. The old course numbers remain in use until then, with catalog updates reflecting the changes beginning Fall 2026.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation recipients of this degree will:
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Foundational Breadth Across Psychology & Biological Sciences: Demonstrate core knowledge in genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, behavioral science, and research methods.
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Acquire a Deep Understanding in at least One Area in Psychology & Biological Sciences: Apply foundational knowledge to advanced concepts (e.g., cognitive science/neuroscience; cellular/molecular; systems/behavior), typically through 300-level+ coursework.
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Scientific Inquiry & Problem Solving: Apply the scientific method to formulate questions and hypotheses; design studies/experiments on behavior and biological systems; collect, manage, analyze, and interpret data using appropriate tools and statistics; and draw conclusions.
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Information Literacy & Scholarly Communication: Locate, critically evaluate, and synthesize primary and secondary literature; communicate clearly, logically, and accurately in written, oral, and visual formates for scientific and lay audiences.
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Professionalism, Ethics, & Collaboration: Demonstrate curiousity, critical thinking, teamwork, and the responsible conduct of research (ethics, rigor, reproducibility, and integrity).
Degree Requirements
| Biological Sciences | Units | |
| 03-151 | Honors Modern Biology | 10 |
| or 03-121 | Modern Biology | |
| 03-201 | Undergraduate Colloquium for Sophomores *Only required for MCS Students | 2 |
| 03-231 | Honors Biochemistry | 9 |
| or 03-232 | Biochemistry I | |
| 03-320 | Cell Biology *New course number (03-240) starting Fall 2027 | 9 |
| 03-220 | Genetics *New course number (03-330) starting Fall 2027 | 9 |
| or 03-221 | Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis | |
| 03-343 | Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology | 12 |
| 03-411 | Topics in Research *Only required for MCS Students | 1 |
| 03-412 | Topics in Research *Only required for MCS Students | 1 |
| 03-xxx | General Biology Elective 1 | 9 |
| 03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective 1 | 18 |
| Total Biology units | 80 | |
- 1
Please see description and requirements for electives under the B.S. in Biological Sciences section of this Catalog.
| Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Computer Science | Units | |
| 21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus (prerequisite: 21-090) | 10 |
| 21-122 | Integration and Approximation | 10 |
| 36-200 | Reasoning with Data | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences | 9 |
| or 85-309 | Statistical Concepts and Methods for Behavioral and Social Science | |
| 33-121 | Physics I for Science Students | 12 |
| or 33-141 | Physics I for Engineering Students | |
| 33-122 | Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students *Only required for MCS Students | 9 |
| or 33-142 | Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students | |
| 15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10-12 |
| or 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | |
| or 02-120 | Programming for Scientists | |
| Total Science units | 69-71 | |
| Chemistry | Units | |
| 09-105 | Introduction to Modern Chemistry I | 10 |
| 09-106 | Modern Chemistry II | 10 |
| 09-217 | Organic Chemistry I | 9 |
| 09-218 | Organic Chemistry II | 9 |
| 09-207 | Techniques in Quantitative Analysis | 9 |
| 09-208 | Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis | 9 |
| Total Chemistry units | 56 | |
| Psychology Courses | Units | |
| 85-100 | Introduction to Psychology | 9 |
| 85-170 | Foundations of Brain and Behavior | 9 |
| 85-1xx | Survey Psychology Course | 9 |
| 85-300 | Introduction to Research Methods | 9 |
| 85-4xx | Advanced Psychology Electives | 18 |
| Total Psychology units | 54 | |
Additional Advanced Elective9 units
| (Choose one of the following courses) | ||
| 85-4xx | Advanced Psychology Elective | 9 |
| 03-3xx | Advanced Biology Elective | 9 |
Additional Laboratory or Research Methods9-12 units
| (Choose one of the following courses) | ||
| 03-344 | Experimental Biochemistry | 12 |
| 03-345 | Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology | 12 |
| 03-346 | Experimental Neuroscience | 12 |
| 85-310 | Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology | 9 |
| 85-330 | Developmental Research Methods | 9 |
| 85-350 | Social Research Methods | 12 |
| 85-370 | Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Methods | 9 |
| Elective Units | Units | |
| Free Electives | 33-36 | |
| MCS Nontechnical Breadth or DC General Education requirements | 36-48 | |
| Total Elective units | 69-84 | |