BA Behavioral Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Johns Hopkins University

Program Overview

The BA in Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University is an interdisciplinary program that examines human and animal behavior through biology, psychology, and neuroscience, making it well suited to students interested in how biological and social factors shape behavior. Students build a foundation in mathematics, chemistry, biology, and statistics before progressing into behavioral science, neuroscience, animal behavior, research, and communication.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the scientific foundations needed for behavioral biology, including Calculus I & II, Chemistry I & II with lab, and introductory Biology & lab. These courses establish quantitative, chemical, and biological knowledge for understanding behavior at later stages of the degree.

Year 2: Students move into the interdisciplinary core with courses such as Foundations of Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Human Origins, and Animal Behavior. The curriculum connects biological mechanisms with cognitive, evolutionary, and behavioral perspectives while students begin selecting courses across the program's biobehavioral and social-science areas.

Year 3: Students deepen their understanding through advanced study and laboratory work, including Neuroscience Lab and either Animal Behavior and Communication Lab or Behavioral Evolution Lab. Electives can extend into areas such as Genetics, Neuroscience of Learning and Memory, Behavioral Endocrinology, and Evolution and Human Behavior.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced integration, scientific communication, and independent preparation for future careers or postgraduate study. Students complete the Senior Seminar: Behavioral Biology, Connections in Behavioral Biology, and a required semester of research, internship, or intersession study abroad, bringing together the knowledge and practical experience developed throughout the program.

Focus Areas: Biology of behavior, neuroscience, animal behavior, human behavior, evolutionary biology, psychology, behavioral science, scientific communication, data analysis.

Learning Outcomes: Students develop an in-depth understanding of animal behavior, foundational knowledge of neural systems and human behavior, scientific communication skills, statistical data-analysis competence, and preparation for careers in basic science and medical or veterinary fields.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The official Johns Hopkins Behavioral Biology program page identifies the degree as a BA but does not state a separate professional accreditation for the Behavioral Biology major. The program is designed to support postgraduate work in biology and psychology and can also be integrated with premedical or pre-veterinary preparation.

Reputation (Employability & University Outcomes): Johns Hopkins reports that 91% of graduates are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation, while 85% of students have at least one internship experience. The university also reports that 100% of Fortune 100 companies employ Hopkins graduates, highlighting the broad reach of the university's graduate network. Johns Hopkins' 2026 reporting on U.S. News rankings also places its biological sciences programs No. 6 nationally (tie) among ranked graduate biological sciences programs, with several biological-science specialties in the top 10.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA in Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University is designed around hands-on exploration of animal and human behavior through biology, neuroscience, psychology, and related fields. Students complete laboratory-based coursework, gain direct research or internship experience, and can participate in an intersession field-research trip, allowing them to apply scientific concepts to real behavioral questions. The program also includes Connections in Behavioral Biology, which gives students direct experience and feedback in communicating science.

Research & Laboratory Experience:

Neuroscience Lab: Students complete the required Neuroscience Lab, developing practical experience investigating the biological basis of behavior.
Behavioral Research Labs: Students can conduct hands-on Behavioral Biology research with faculty and must produce a research-style paper summarizing their work.
Animal Behavior & Communication Lab: The program offers AS.290.303 Animal Behavior and Communication Lab as a core laboratory option, providing practical study of animal behavior and communication.
Behavioral Evolution Lab: Students can take AS.290.306 Behavioral Evolution Lab, combining behavioral biology with evolutionary analysis and writing-intensive work.
Field Research: Students can fulfill the experiential requirement through an intersession field-research trip, providing an opportunity to study behavior and biology outside the classroom.
Research or Internship: Every Behavioral Biology major must complete 3 credits, equivalent to 120 hours, of approved research or internship related to both behavior and biology.
Independent Research: Students undertaking Behavioral Biology research develop research questions, conduct experiments or observations, analyze data, and prepare scientific papers; honors students can take this further through an independent research thesis.
Scientific Communication: Connections in Behavioral Biology provides direct experience and feedback in communicating scientific ideas, complementing the program's laboratory and research training.
Research Facilities: Students have access to research opportunities across Johns Hopkins laboratories in biology, biophysics, chemistry, engineering, and the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Research Community: The Johns Hopkins Department of Biology includes 27 research laboratories investigating biological problems using quantitative and molecular approaches, expanding the research environment available to undergraduate students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BA in Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins combines biology, neuroscience, psychology, and the study of animal and human behavior, giving graduates a foundation for research, healthcare, conservation, and other life-science pathways. The program also requires a semester of research, internship, independent study, or a department-sponsored field experience, helping students build practical experience before graduation.

Typical Job Roles: Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Behavioral Researcher, Conservation Scientist.

Career & Employment Opportunities:

Life Design Lab: Supports Krieger students with career exploration, resume development, networking, job searching, interview preparation, internships, research opportunities, alumni connections, and employer connections.
Pre-Professional Advising: Students interested in medicine and health professions can receive guidance on course selection, internships, applications, and professional development; eligible students can also access the Johns Hopkins Health Professions Committee process and Committee Letter.
Research & Internships: The major requires 3 credits, equivalent to approximately 120 hours, of Behavioral Biology research or internship experience. Students can use platforms including SMILE and Handshake to find opportunities.
Field Experience: Official program examples include internships at the National Aquarium, Maryland Zoo, and San Diego Zoo, while a Hopkins student has also completed an internship at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Employment Statistics: Johns Hopkins' published First Destination Survey for the Class of 2016 reported 51% in full-time employment or paid public service and 35% in graduate or professional school, with an average starting salary of $52,987. These are university-wide historical figures and are not specific to Behavioral Biology.
Salary Information: A current Behavioral Biology-specific salary figure is not stated on the official Johns Hopkins program pages reviewed, so no major-specific salary has been added.
University–Industry Connections: The program provides access to employer and experiential opportunities through Handshake, the Life Design Lab, and organizations such as the National Aquarium, Maryland Zoo, San Diego Zoo, and Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Accreditation Value: Johns Hopkins University has been continuously accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1921. The university's official accreditation information does not identify a separate specialized accreditation specifically for the BA in Behavioral Biology.
Graduation Outcomes: The program specifically identifies preparation for careers in basic science and medical/veterinary fields, as well as postgraduate work in biology and psychology-related areas. Recent program opportunities also include the NIH Post-baccalaureate IRTA and graduate pathways at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into medical, veterinary, public health, biological sciences, psychology, neuroscience, and other graduate or professional programs. Johns Hopkins specifically identifies the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Bachelor’s/Master of Health Science pathway, and post-baccalaureate research opportunities among options for Behavioral Biology students, while the major can also be integrated with premedical or preveterinary preparation.