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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Behavioral Neuroscience and Design, BS

Behavioral Neuroscience and Design, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
      • Behavioral Neuroscience
        • Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Behavioral Neuroscience and Design, BS
        • Behavioral Neuroscience and Philosophy, BS
        • Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Behavioral Neuroscience, Minor
      • Biochemistry
      • Biology
      • Chemistry and Chemical Biology
      • Linguistics
      • Marine and Environmental Sciences
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Psychology
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The behavioral neuroscience and design combined major engages students in an interdisciplinary study across the biology, psychology, and Art + Design departments to integrate fundamental design courses with a strong foundation in the physiological brain mechanisms that give rise to behavioral functions. The latest research in neuroscience and psychology enables designers to maximize the impact of their designs and, conversely, complex neuroscientific concepts can be made intelligible to a wider public through creative visual works. Students in this major have the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the brain and how its various structures interact to enhance their approach to design methodologies. Students can then apply these principles to biomimetic medical devices as well as data and network visualization.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Behavioral Neuroscience Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Behavioral Neuroscience Overview
BNSC 1000Behavioral Neuroscience at Northeastern 1 1
EESC 2000Professional Development for Co-op 21
COS Foundations
PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
Foundations of Biology
and Lab for BIOL 1107
5
BIOL 2299Inquiries in Biological Sciences4
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
Genetics and Molecular Biology
and Lab for BIOL 2301
5
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
and Recitation for CHEM 1161
5
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311
5
Mathematics Foundation
MATH 1251Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 14
or MATH 1341 Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering
Statistics Foundation
Complete one of the following:
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500
4-5
or PSYC 2320 Statistics in Psychological Research
Behavioral Neuroscience Foundations
PSYC 3200Clinical Neuroanatomy4
PSYC 3452Sensation and Perception4
PSYC 3458Biological Psychology4
Behavioral Neuroscience Core Courses
Complete two of the following:8
BIOL 3403
Animal Behavior
BIOL 3415
Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
BIOL 3601
Neural Systems and Behavior
BIOL 3605
Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 4705
Neurobiology of Cognitive Decline
BIOL 4709
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
BIOL 5595
Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
BIOL 5601
Multidisciplinary Approaches in Motor Control
PSYC 3506
Neuropsychology of Fear
PSYC 3508
Behavioral Endocrinology
PSYC 3510
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
PSYC 4510
Psychopharmacology
PSYC 4512
Neuropsychology
PSYC 4514
Clinical Neuroscience
PSYC 4570
Behavioral Genetics
1

Students entering through CAMD may take Art and Design at Northeastern (ARTF 1000).

2

Students entering through CAMD may take Professional Development for Co-op (EEAM 2000).

Design Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundations
ARTF 1122Color and Composition (with optional ARTF 1123)4
Complete one of the following:4-5
ARTF 1121
Conceptual Drawing
ARTF 1124
and ARTF 1125
Form and Structure
and Form and Structure Tools
ARTF 2220
Movement and Time (with optional ARTF 2221)
ARTF 2223
Experience and Interaction (with optional ARTF 2224)
Design Courses
ARTG 1250Design Process Context and Systems4
ARTG 2250Typography 1 (with optional ARTG 2251)4
ARTG 3350Typography 24
ARTG 3451Information Design 14
or ARTG 5330 Visualization Technologies 1: Fundamentals
Art + Design History
Complete one of the following:4
ARTH 1400
The Science of Art, the Art of Science
ARTH 2210
Modern Art and Design History
ARTH 2211
Contemporary Art and Design History
ARTH 2213
Nineteenth-Century Art
Degree Capstone Project
ARTG 4550Design Degree Project 14

Design Options

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete one of the following options:8
Interaction Design Option
ARTG 2400
Interaction Design 1: Responsive (with optional ARTG 2401)
ARTG 3700
Interaction Design 2: Mobile
Graphic and Information Design Option
ARTG 2252
Graphic Design 1
ARTG 3450
Graphic Design 2
Experience Design Option
ARTG 3462
Experience Design 1
ARTG 3463
Experience Design 2

Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Integrative Courses
BIOL 5587Comparative Neurobiology4
ARTG 5310Visual Cognition4
Upper-Division Elective
Complete one course that is not already taken as long as prerequisites have been met: 4
Any 2000-level or higher ARTG, ARTE, ARTD, ARTH, or ARTS course
BNSC 4970 or higher
BIOL 3403 or higher
PSYC 3404 or higher

Writing Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
College Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
ENGW 3307Advanced Writing in the Sciences4
or ENGW 3314 Advanced Writing in the Arts, Media, and Design
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Required General Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete 16 credits of general electives.16

Major Credit Hour Requirement

104 semester hours in the major.

Program Requirements

133 total semester hours required

Sample Patterns:

Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BNSC 1000 or ARTF 10001BIOL 22994ARTG 22504PSYC 34524
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5MATH 12514PSYC 23204General elective4
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5ARTG 12504  
PSYC 11014ENGW 11114  
ARTF 11224   
 19 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PSYC 34584Co-opCo-opARTG 33504
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5  General elective 4
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5   
A+D foundations 24   
EESC 2000 or EEAM 20001   
 19 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PSYC 32004Co-opCo-opENGW 33154
ARTG 3451 or 53304  General elective4
Design option level 14   
BNS core course4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
BIOL 55874ARTG 45504  
ARTG 53104BNS core course4  
Design option level 24Upper-division elective4  
A+D history course4General elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 134

Five Years, Three Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BNSC 1000 or ARTF 10001BIOL 22994VacationVacation
PSYC 11014MATH 12514  
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5ARTG 12504  
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5ENGW 11114  
ARTF 11224   
 19 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PSYC 34524Co-opCo-opPSYC 23204
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5  ARTG 33504
ARTG 22504   
A+D foundations 24   
EESC 2000 or EEAM 20001   
 18 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PSYC 32004Co-opCo-opVacation
PSYC 34584   
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5   
Design option level 14   
 17 0 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ARTG 3451 or 53304Co-opCo-opENGW 33154
Design option level 24  General elective4
BNS core course4   
General elective4   
 16 0 0 8
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
BIOL 55874ARTG 45504  
ARTG 53104BNS core course4  
A+D history course4Upper-division elective4  
General elective4General elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 134
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