Objectives:

The educational goals of the Biopsychology program are as follows:

1. Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in biology, chemistry and psychology;
2. Students will understand and apply basic research methods in biology, chemistry and psychology including research design, data analysis and interpretation;
3. Students will respect and use critical and creative thinking, and skeptical inquiry;
4. Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats;
5. Students will develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental process;
6. Students will emerge from the major with realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of positions and settings, especially leadership positions and entrepreneurial settings;
7. Students will demonstrate an understanding concerning the “vitalistic,” as opposed to the mechanistic, perspective on human functioning in which the mind, body, and spirit operate dynamically to create quality of health and wellbeing; and
8. Students will demonstrate an understanding of personal integrity and how to manage it effectively to promote excellence in the personal and professional realm.

Areas I, II, III

Core Curriculum Offerings   

Biopsychology students must take ENG 121 in Area I B, MAT 101 in Area II A and BIO 111, BIO 112 and CHM 111 in Area II B. A grade of “C” or better is required for the above courses.

Area IV: Natural Science Core

50 Quarter Credit Hours

• BIO 312 - Cell Biology
• BIO 316 - Principles of Genetics
• CHM 112 - General Chemistry II
• CHM 211 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHM 212 - Organic Chemistry II
• PHS 111 - General Physics I

Area V: Psychology Requirements (35 Quarter Credit hours)

• MSC 201 - Introduction to Statistics
• PSY 242 - Research Methods in Psychology
• PSY 320 - Health Psychology
• PSY 359 - Health Practitioner/Patient Relationship
• PSY 456 - Biopsychology
• PSY 466 - Psychology of Mind/Body

Area VI: Biopsychology Electives

25 Quarter Credit Hours

• BIO 302 - Embryology
• BIO 431 - Microbiology I
• BIO 433 - Microbiology II
• BIO 435 - Physiology Laboratory
• BIO 437 - Immunology and Disease Patterns
• BIO 445 - Endocrinology
• BIO 515 - Musculoskeletal Gross Anatomy
• CHM 315 - Biochemistry I
• CHM 316 - Biochemistry II
• NTR 300 - Fundamentals of Nutrition
• Any 250 level or above Psychology Course not previously used

Area VII: General Electives

13 Quarter Credit hours

• Any undergraduate course, 100 level or above, not used previously

Additional Completion Requirements

1. Completion of at least four years of prescribed study, of which a student must earn a minimum of at least 25% of coursework in residence at Life University, with at least 25 hours of biopsychology courses in residency.
2. Satisfactory completion of all Biology and Psychology courses with a minimum grade of C.
3. Satisfactory completion of all courses with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.0.
4. A recommendation for graduation and completion of an exit interview with General Education faculty.
5. File a petition to graduate.
6. Administrative and student reviews of records
   1. Registrar Office – Complete a formal academic records review
   2. Financial Aid Office – Exit interviews with a Counselor
   3. Student Accounting – “Perkins” Exit interview and rectify account balance
7. Confirm CLP 090, FYE 101  and FYE 103  completion status requirements.