BS in Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Florida State University

Program Overview

The BS in Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience at Florida State University is an interdisciplinary four-year program examining brain function from biological, psychological, and human perspectives, with foundations in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics. It suits students interested in understanding how neural processes influence behavior, sensation, motivation, learning, memory, emotion, and neurological disorders, while preparing for research, health professions, education, and other STEM-related careers.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific and quantitative foundation through BSC 2010/L Biological Science I and Lab, BSC 2011/L Biological Science II and Lab, STA 2122 Intro to Applied Statistics, and PSB 2000 Introduction to Neuroscience. The first year introduces students to neuroscience alongside biology, mathematics, statistics, writing, and general education, establishing the groundwork for advanced study.

Year 2: Students progress into chemistry, mathematics, and research-oriented study, including CHM 1045/L General Chemistry I and Lab, CHM 1046/L General Chemistry II and Lab, MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, and PSY 3213C Research Methods. This stage strengthens quantitative and scientific reasoning while introducing students to formal research methods in psychology and neuroscience.

Year 3: The curriculum moves deeper into brain, behavior, and biological systems through PSB 3004C Physiological Psychology with Lab, PCB 3134 Cell Structure and Function, and PSB 4400 Neuroscience Methods: Molecules to Behavior, alongside organic chemistry, physics, and psychology or biology electives. Students begin connecting cellular and physiological mechanisms with observable behavior and develop laboratory-based understanding of brain function.

Year 4: Students complete advanced neuroscience and behavioral coursework such as PCB 4843 Fundamentals of Neuroscience, together with psychology electives such as PSB 4036 Cognitive Neuroscience, PSB 4040 Affective Neuroscience, PSB 4240 Neurobiology of Brain Dysfunction, or EXP 3604C Cognitive Psychology with Lab. The final year allows students to shape their studies around areas such as cognition, emotion, brain disorders, sensation and perception, learning, memory, or behavioral neuroscience.

Focus Areas: Brain and nervous-system function, sensory and social experience, learning and memory, cognition and emotion, human brain disorders and disease, neural and behavioral effects of drugs and hormones, behavioral genetics, cognitive neuroscience, affective neuroscience, and neurobiology of brain dysfunction.

Learning Outcomes: Interdisciplinary understanding of neuroscience, biological and psychological analysis of behavior, research-method skills, quantitative and statistical reasoning, understanding of neural mechanisms, laboratory-based scientific knowledge, and the ability to connect processes from molecules and cells to organismal and human behavior.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The BS in Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience is offered through FSU's College of Arts and Sciences and Program in Neuroscience; the official program materials do not state a separate professional accreditation specific to the Behavioral Neuroscience major.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The official FSU program information describes Behavioral Neuroscience as preparing graduates for STEM-related careers including scientific research and education, health professions, biomedical engineering, computer and cognitive science, law, and economics; an official program-specific QS, Guardian, or employability ranking is not stated.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Florida State University’s BS in Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience combines psychology, biology, and neuroscience with hands-on research opportunities focused on brain function and behavior. Students can gain practical experience through faculty research laboratories, directed individual study, honors research, and specialized neuroscience facilities, with opportunities to work with experimental data, behavioral research methods, brain imaging, and other research technologies.

Students can build practical skills through these program-specific opportunities:

Research methods: PSY 3213C Research Methods provides formal research-methods training, while PSB 3004C Physiological Psychology with Brain Anatomy Lab combines neuroscience coursework with laboratory experience.
Faculty research: Behavioral Neuroscience majors can participate in faculty research through Directed Individual Study (DIS), with up to 6 credit hours of letter-graded DIS eligible to count toward degree electives.
Honors research: Qualified junior and senior students with prior DIS experience can undertake independent research through the Honors in the Major (HITM) program and develop an honors thesis under faculty supervision. Up to 6 HITM credit hours can count toward electives.
Research mentoring: The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) pairs selected students with research mentors and approved research projects, providing an additional route into active neuroscience research.
Brain-imaging facilities: The FSU Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility includes a 3T Siemens Prisma MRI scanner, MR-compatible EEG and psychophysiology equipment, eye tracker, mock scanner, and TMS brain-stimulation equipment, supporting multidisciplinary neuroscience research.
Behavioral and cognitive research: FSU neuroscience research includes studies of learning, memory, attention, emotion, social behavior, stress, drug effects, and neurological disorders, allowing students to engage with research questions closely aligned with the Behavioral Neuroscience curriculum.
Specialized research cores: Neuroscience students have access to university research infrastructure including the Biological Science Imaging Resource, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, DNA Sequencing Facility, Analytical Lab and Research Facility, and Psychology Histology/Molecular Laboratories.
Laboratory research: FSU's Psychology Department occupies a 103,000-square-foot facility containing classrooms, computer labs, and state-of-the-art laboratories, supporting the department's undergraduate research environment.
Active undergraduate participation: FSU research laboratories specifically list Behavioral Neuroscience undergraduates among their research students; for example, the Dewan Laboratory includes current Behavioral Neuroscience undergraduate researchers.
Advanced neuroscience research: The Wilber Lab uses techniques including silicon-probe recordings, 3D-printed recording arrays, viral/genetic manipulation, brain-connectivity measures, and virtual-environment experiments in animal models, illustrating the advanced research environment available within the Program in Neuroscience.
Professional development and outreach: The Program in Neuroscience encourages students to participate in professional development and public outreach activities alongside their research experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

FSU’s BS in Neuroscience: Behavioral Neuroscience develops an interdisciplinary foundation in biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics, preparing graduates for STEM, health, research, education, and human-centered careers. The program also provides hands-on research opportunities that can strengthen preparation for graduate school, medical school, and other advanced professional pathways.

Career roles: Laboratory Technician, Clinical Research Associate, EEG Technologist, Psychometrist.

Career services: The FSU Career Center provides career advising, individualized action planning, and a dedicated career liaison for neuroscience students, helping students explore relevant industries and prepare for employment.
Employment and salary data: FSU’s neuroscience career guidance lists $30,000–$50,000 annual entry-level salaries for bachelor’s-level career options based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics information. FSU’s Career Center sample occupations show salary ranges of $28,500–$64,170 at the introductory level, $53,030–$110,210 at mid-career, and $79,920–$208,000 at the experienced level; these are sample-occupation ranges rather than guaranteed salaries for Behavioral Neuroscience graduates.
University–research connections: Neuroscience students can conduct research with faculty across FSU and participate through UROP, Directed Individual Study (DIS), and the Honors in the Major (HITM) program. Research areas include neural processes underlying behavior, sensation, motivation, and neurological disorders.
Specialized research experience: FSU’s Nee Lab for Cognitive Neuroscience offers undergraduate researchers exposure to fMRI, EEG, TMS, behavioral testing, data analysis, and coding, providing direct experience with contemporary neuroscience research methods.
Graduation outcomes: FSU maintains a Graduating Senior Survey and destination-data dashboards by college and major, covering students’ post-graduation plans and destinations. The university makes data available for the 2023–2024 and earlier graduating cohorts.
Accreditation value: Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and other degrees. SACSCOC reaffirmed FSU’s accreditation in December 2024, with the next reaffirmation scheduled for 2034, supporting the long-term institutional recognition of an FSU degree.

Further Academic Progression: After the BS, students can pursue advanced study in neuroscience, psychology, biology, biomedical sciences, medicine, or other health and life-science fields. FSU’s Neuroscience Program itself offers a doctoral degree in neuroscience, and the undergraduate research pathway is specifically designed to strengthen preparation for graduate school and medical school.