Biopsychology

Biopsychology seeks to understand human and animal behavior through a biological lens, whether examining physiology, anatomy, sociality or ecology. Students design a flexible course of study to support their unique interests and emerge from the program ready to conduct innovative science in an interdisciplinary world.

About the Biopsychology Area of Concentration

Our faculty and students bring a wide range of theoretical and methodological tools to bear in uncovering what makes humans and other animals tick. Projects range from studying the sensory biology of fishes in Sarasota Bay or the behavior of clawed vs declawed cats at a shelter, to using advanced functional neuroimaging to examine the mechanisms of complex human thought. Students learn how to conceive, organize, conduct, and report real research projects. They also put together a toolkit of transferable skills, including critical thinking and information literacy, that will serve them well in graduate school, research jobs, and beyond.

The program emphasizes relationships outside the college, and students complete internships, serve as laboratory assistants, and work with veterinarians and other professionals in the community. Our students go on to graduate school, veterinary and medical school, public and private research positions, zoo and aquarium work, and conservation positions. Biopsychology is an excellent stepping stone for passionate young people who want to work on real world problems and make a real, measurable difference in the lives of humans and other animals.

Featured Course

PSYC 4200

Laboratory in Comparative Brain Connectivity

Students work with brain imaging data to map connective pathways in the brains of a diverse range of species. Previous projects have included looking at relative contribution of auditory and visual regions to memory centers in the common dolphin; comparing strength of connections between olfactory, hormone-controlling, and emotional arousal regions in the domestic dog and coyotes, and looking at vocal learning pathways in seals and sea lions.

Biopsychology Curriculum