Behavioral Biology Major Requirements
(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.)
The core program of the behavioral biology major provides background and breadth in:
- The life sciences (e.g., biology and neuroscience)
- The natural sciences (e.g., chemistry and physics) and mathematics (e.g., calculus and statistics)
- The social and behavioral sciences (e.g. psychology and anthropology)
The exact courses to be taken are determined by the student in conjunction with the faculty advisor. A grade of C- or better is required for courses fulfilling major requirements and courses may not be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Hopkins undergraduates may enter the Behavioral Biology Program at any time, provided all requirements can be completed before graduation.
Additional information regarding the Behavioral Biology Program is available through our website at http://krieger.jhu.edu/behavioralbiology. You may also contact our Academic Program Administrator, Linda White, linda.m.white@jhu.edu or 410-516-6196.
Requirements for the behavioral biology major are as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics Courses | ||
| AS.110.106 | Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) | 4 |
| or AS.110.108 | Calculus I (Physical Sciences & Engineering) | |
| AS.110.107 | Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science) | 4 |
| or AS.110.109 | Calculus II (For Physical Sciences and Engineering) | |
| or AS.171.113 | Subatomic World | |
| AS.030.101 & AS.030.105 | Introductory Chemistry I and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| AS.030.102 & AS.030.106 | Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| or AS.030.103 | Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity w/lab | |
| AS.171.101 | General Physics: Physical Science Major I | 4 |
| or AS.171.103 | General Physics I for Biological Science Majors | |
| or AS.171.107 | General Physics for Physical Sciences Majors (AL) | |
| AS.173.111 | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| AS.171.102 | General Physics: Physical Science Major II | 4 |
| or AS.171.104 | General Physics/Biology Majors II | |
| or AS.171.108 | General Physics for Physical Science Majors (AL) | |
| AS.173.112 | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Biology Courses 1 | ||
| Students must have 2 of the following Biology Options. Students can use any combination of the following: | ||
| AS.020.151 & AS.020.153 | General Biology I and General Biology Laboratory I | 4 |
| AS.020.152 & AS.020.154 | General Biology II and General Biology Lab II | 4 |
| AS.020.303 & AS.020.340 | Genetics and Developmental Genetics Lab | 5 |
| AS.020.305 & AS.020.315 | Biochemistry and Biochemistry Project lab | 5 |
| AS.020.306 & AS.020.316 | Cell Biology and Cell Biology Lab | 5 |
| AS.020.374 & AS.020.377 | Comparative Animal Physiology and Comparative Physiology Lab | 4 |
| Introductory Statistics | ||
| EN.553.211 | Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| EN.553.311 | Probability and Statistics for the Biological Sciences and Engineering | 4 |
| or EN.553.310 | Probability & Statistics for the Physical Sciences & Engineering | |
| EN.553.111 & EN.553.112 | Statistical Analysis I and Statistical Analysis II | 8 |
| Behavioral Biology Core Courses (Offered "F" = Fall, "S" = Spring) | ||
| AS.200.141 | Foundations of Brain, Behavior and Cognition (F & S) | 3 |
| AS.290.101 | Human Origins (S) | 3 |
| AS.200.208 | Animal Behavior (F) | 3 |
| AS.080.250 | Neuroscience Laboratory (F & S) | 3 |
| Behavioral Biology Elective Courses 2 | ||
| Three courses (3 credits each) designated "biobehavioral (BEHB-BIOBEH) | 9 | |
| Two courses (3 credits each) designated "social science" (BEHB-SOCSCI) | 6 | |
| AS.290.490 | Senior Seminar: Behavioral Biology | 1 |
| Behavioral Biology Research/Internship Courses | ||
| Three credits (one semester) of Research, Internship or Intersession Galapagos trip | 3 | |
| AS.290.500 | Connections in Behavioral Biology | .50 |
| Total Credits | 100.5 | |
| 1 | For students with AP Biology credit, they may use only one course and its lab from those credits towards this requirement. Therefore, these student must take at least one biology course and its lab at JHU. Students who elect to take General Biology I or II with its lab will lose the corresponding AP credits. Students should also refer to AP credit policies for additional details around the use of AP Biology credits. |
| 2 | Students should refer to the program website or the schedule of classes to identify elective choices. |
Sample Program
This is only one of many possible course sequences that students may elect to follow.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.200.141 | 3 | AS.290.101 | 3 |
| AS.110.106 | 4 | AS.110.107 | 4 |
| AS.030.101 | 3 | AS.030.102 | 3 |
| AS.030.105 | 1 | AS.030.106 | 1 |
| 11 | 11 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.200.208 | 3 | Biology Option 2 | 3-4 |
| Biology Option 1 | 3-4 | Biology Lab Option 2 | 1-3 |
| Biology Lab Option 1 | 1-2 | BB Elective (BEHB-SOCSCI) | 3 |
| EN.553.211 | 4 | ||
| 11-13 | 7-10 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.080.2503 | 3 | AS.171.104 | 4 |
| AS.171.103 | 4 | AS.173.112 | 1 |
| AS.173.111 | 1 | BB Elective (BEHB-SOCSCI) | 3 |
| BB Elective (BEHB-BIOBEH) | 3 | ||
| Research or Internship | 3 | ||
| AS.290.500 | .50 | ||
| 14.5 | 8 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.290.4904 | 1 | BB Elective (BEHB-BIOBEH) | 3 |
| BB Elective (BEHB-BIOBEH) | 3 | ||
| 4 | 3 | ||
| Total Credits 69.5-74.5 | |||
| 3 | AS.080.250 Neuroscience Laboratory can be taken anytime afterAS.200.141 Foundations of Brain, Behavior and Cognition |
| 4 | AS.290.490 Senior Seminar: Behavioral Biology can be taken either Fall or Spring of senior year. |
Honors in Behavioral Biology
Students receive recognition at graduation and notation on their JHU transcripts.
Requirements:
- Cumulative and Major GPA of at least 3.5
- Two semesters of research (6 credits).
- Presentation of research findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (Fall semester) or DREAMS (Spring semester).
- A letter of recommendation from the research mentor attesting to the student’s significant contribution to the research process.
During the semester prior to graduation, students must submit verification of their research presentation, along with their research mentor’s letter of recommendation, to Linda M. White, the Behavioral Biology Program Administrator in 434 Dunning Hall by 4PM on the assigned day.