BA/BS in Biopsychology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Tufts University

Program Overview

Tufts University’s BA/BS in Biopsychology is an interdepartmental major offered jointly by the Departments of Psychology and Biology, designed for students interested in neurobiology and animal behavior. The program combines biological and psychological perspectives through 11 courses—six in Biology and five in Psychology—including laboratory, statistics, brain-and-behavior, genetics, physiology and behavioral science coursework.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The program begins by establishing the biological and psychological foundations needed for later study, with courses such as Biology 13: Cells and Organisms and Biology 15: Cells and Organisms Lab introducing cellular and organismal biology through linked lecture and laboratory study. Students can also begin developing quantitative and behavioral-science skills through Psychology 31: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences.

Year 2: Students progress into the mechanisms of inheritance and behavior through Biology 41: General Genetics and Biology 130: Animal Behavior, while Psychology 32: Experimental Psychology develops an understanding of experimental approaches used to investigate behavior. This combination strengthens the connection between biological processes, research methods and observable behavior.

Year 3: Students can deepen their understanding of biological mechanisms through an animal-physiology course such as Biology 134: Neurobiology, Biology 110: Endocrinology or Biology 116: Physiology – Endocrine, Neural, and Digestion. On the Psychology side, Psychology 103: Brain and Behavior explores neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms underlying behavior and introduces current research in biopsychology.

Year 4: The final stage allows students to tailor the major through advanced Biology and Psychology electives, with options including Psychology 129: Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology 123: Psychopharmacology, Psychology 117: Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Psychology 45: Laboratory in Functional Neuroimaging, Psychology 46: Laboratory in Animal Cognition, and Psychology 49: Laboratory in Psychophysiology. Tufts also encourages Biopsychology majors to take an advanced laboratory course in either Biology or Psychology, supporting deeper preparation for research and further study.

Focus areas:

Neurobiology, animal behavior, brain and behavior, genetics, animal physiology, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, behavioral science and experimental research.

Learning outcomes:

Students develop knowledge of biological and psychological mechanisms of behavior, quantitative and experimental research skills, understanding of genetics and physiology, and the ability to connect neurobiological processes with animal and human behavior.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

Institutional accreditation: Tufts University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university’s official accreditation listing does not identify a separate specialist accreditation specifically for the BA/BS in Biopsychology, so a program-specific professional accreditation is not stated.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.A./B.S. in Biopsychology at Tufts University gives students a strong hands-on foundation by combining biology and psychology, with practical work in laboratory-based courses, behavioral research and neuroscience. The major encourages students to take an advanced laboratory course and offers access to undergraduate research opportunities across both departments, allowing students to work with faculty and graduate researchers on real scientific questions.

Students can build practical experience through:

Laboratory courses: Students can take Biology 15: Cells and Organisms Lab, as well as psychology laboratories such as Laboratory in Functional Neuroimaging, Physiological Psychology Lab, Animal Cognition Lab, Psychopharmacology Lab, and Psychophysiology Lab.
Research laboratories: Tufts Psychology hosts specialized labs including the Addiction Neuroscience Lab, Emotion, Brain, & Behavior Lab, Integrative Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, NeuroCognition of Language Lab, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Neuroimaging Lab, and Psychopharmacology Lab, giving students opportunities to explore research related to brain, behavior and cognition.
Undergraduate biology research: The Biology Department has 24 research labs that offer undergraduate research opportunities, including laboratories studying developmental biology, genetics, behavior, neuroscience, ecology and sensory-motor systems.
Independent research: Biology research courses allow students to engage directly with scientific literature and design their own experiments, while students can also pursue research through other Tufts departments, Tufts Medical School or outside institutions.
Behavioral research: Students can gain experience with behavioral observation and data collection through research environments such as the Starks Lab, where undergraduate students participate in behavioral observation, field experiments and independent research projects.
Research assistant opportunities: Psychology research labs provide undergraduate opportunities to work directly with faculty and graduate students, giving students practical exposure to academic research.
Internships: PSY 99: Internship in Psychology allows students to undertake internships in settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools and non-Tufts laboratories, subject to relevant coursework and faculty approval.
Real-world internship experience: Tufts Career Center has documented Biopsychology students completing internships across different industries and organizations, demonstrating the range of practical experiences available to students in the major.
Research centers: Students are connected to research environments including the Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the Dennett Consortium for Brain and Cognitive Science, which support interdisciplinary work in brain and cognitive sciences.
Specialized research equipment: Tufts' broader biomedical research environment includes facilities such as Genomics, Imaging, Flow Cytometry, Preclinical Imaging, NMR, and Circuits & Behavior cores, although access and eligibility vary by program and research placement.
Course-based practical focus: The major's combination of Experimental Psychology, Brain & Behavior, Animal Behavior, Neurobiology, and laboratory courses allows students to connect biological mechanisms with observable behavior and psychological processes.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.A./B.S. in Biopsychology at Tufts University gives students an interdisciplinary foundation in neurobiology, behavior, psychology and biology, preparing them for roles across research, healthcare, behavioral science and health-related industries. The program combines required coursework such as Experimental Psychology, Brain and Behavior, General Genetics and Animal Behavior with advanced laboratory and research opportunities, creating a strong foundation for employment or further professional study.

Career roles: Research Assistant, Behavioral Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Health Economics & Outcomes Research Analyst. Tufts specifically identifies Biopsychology as relevant preparation for health economics and outcomes research careers, including HEOR Analyst/Associate and Outcomes Researcher roles.
Career support: Tufts Career Center provides students with career advising, Career Fellows who help strengthen resumes and cover letters, internship guidance, Handshake job and internship listings, career fairs, employer information sessions and networking opportunities. The university also funds 40–50 undergraduate students each summer with $4,000 internship grants for eligible unpaid internships.
Employment outcomes: Tufts reports that 86% of the Class of 2025 completed at least one internship and 65% completed two or more, with the university defining internships broadly to include research, study abroad, volunteer service, summer employment and traditional internships.
Salary figures: A Biopsychology-specific undergraduate salary figure is not stated on the official Tufts sources reviewed, so no program-specific salary figure is provided.
Industry connections: Tufts employers can recruit students through career fairs, interviews, coffee chats and workshops, while the Career Center also facilitates employer site visits and industry-focused Jumbo Employer Thursdays (J.E.T. Days).
Biopsychology internships: Tufts' Career Center has documented internships undertaken by Biopsychology students across different industries and organizations, demonstrating that the major can support varied professional directions rather than restricting graduates to one career field.
Research progression: The Psychology Department provides undergraduate research opportunities where students can work with faculty and graduate students, while the Biology Department offers research courses in which students engage with scientific literature and design their own experiments.
Accreditation value: Tufts University is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), with its accreditation encompassing the university; the latest comprehensive evaluation occurred in 2023, with the next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for 2033. The official accreditation list does not identify Biopsychology as having a separate specialist professional accreditation, so no program-specific accreditation should be assumed.
Graduation outcomes: Biopsychology graduates can apply their interdisciplinary background to research, healthcare, behavioral science and health-related careers, while the program also provides preparation for graduate and professional education. Tufts' broader undergraduate outcomes data shows strong participation in experiential activities, and the university notes that more than 98% of enrolling students expect to pursue graduate or professional studies.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.A./B.S. in Biopsychology, students can pursue graduate or professional education in areas such as psychology, neuroscience, biology, public health, medicine, dentistry, social work or related health and research fields. Tufts itself offers graduate pathways including Ph.D. programs in Psychology and Cognitive Science, while the university's interdisciplinary research environment allows students to build undergraduate research experience relevant to advanced study.