Biology BS with Neurobiology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Georgia State University

Program Overview

The Biology B.S. with a Neurobiology concentration at Georgia State University combines a broad foundation in biological science with focused study of the nervous system, preparing students for careers and further study across neuroscience, biomedicine, research, healthcare, and related fields. Students build knowledge through biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and advanced biology coursework while exploring neurobiology through subjects such as brain function, behavior, neural development, and neurological disease.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by establishing the scientific foundation required for upper-level biology and neurobiology study, including BIOL 2107K Principles of Biology I, BIOL 2108K Principles of Biology II, and CHEM 1211K Principles of Chemistry I. The first stage also develops the mathematics, chemistry, and laboratory background needed for progression into advanced biological sciences.

Year 2: The curriculum progresses into the core biological sciences, with subjects such as BIOL 3800 Molecular Cell Biology, BIOL 3840 Animal Biology, and BIOL 3900 Genetics providing a deeper understanding of cells, organisms, heredity, and biological processes. Students also complete required supporting study in organic chemistry, physics, and mathematics as they prepare for specialized upper-level biology coursework.

Year 3: Students move further into specialized biology and begin developing the knowledge needed for neurobiology-focused study. Courses such as BIOL 4102 Neurobiology, BIOL 4094 Developmental Neurobiology, and BIOL 4115 Medical Neuroanatomy allow students to examine nervous-system development, brain and spinal-cord function, neurological conditions, and the biological mechanisms underlying behavior.

Year 4: Advanced study can take students deeper into the biological mechanisms of the nervous system through subjects such as BIOL 4180 Neurobiology Laboratory, BIOL 4114 Neural Mechanisms of Regulatory Behavior, and BIOL 4130 Sensation and Perception. The Neurobiology Laboratory provides particularly practical preparation through techniques including electrophysiology, computational methods, neuroanatomy, immunocytochemistry, and neuroethology, while the broader Biology degree also supports internships and research experiences.

Focus Areas

Neurobiology, neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, brain and behavior, developmental neurobiology, medical neuroanatomy, sensation and perception, and neurological disease.

Learning Outcomes

Scientific literacy, critical reading of peer-reviewed literature, interpretation of biological data, scientific communication, civic engagement with science-related issues, professional work practices, and preparation for biological research and career pathways.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Program accreditation: Not stated on Georgia State University’s official Biology B.S. program page; the university identifies the Biology B.S. as a program within the College of Arts & Sciences rather than listing a separate professional accreditation for the degree.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

University reputation: Georgia State University reported that the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings placed the university among the Top 100 public universities in the United States and ranked it No. 1 among public universities for undergraduate teaching for the seventh consecutive year. These are university-level rankings, not rankings specifically for the Biology B.S. or its Neurobiology concentration.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biology BS with Neurobiology concentration at Georgia State University combines biological science coursework with hands-on laboratory and research opportunities focused on the nervous system, behavior, and cellular processes. Students can build practical skills through laboratory courses, faculty-mentored undergraduate research, and access to research facilities and instrumentation across the Department of Biology and university research centers. The program’s location in downtown Atlanta also provides opportunities to engage with a major biomedical and neuroscience research environment. These experiences include:

Neurobiology laboratory experience: Students can develop practical skills through upper-level biology and neurobiology laboratory coursework, applying concepts such as cellular signaling, physiology, genetics, and neuroscience through experimental work.
Undergraduate research: Georgia State’s Department of Biology provides opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in faculty research. Students can work with faculty whose research areas include neuroscience, neurobiology, animal behavior, molecular biology, and cellular biology, allowing them to gain direct experience with scientific research.
Neuroscience research: Students interested in the neurobiology pathway can connect their undergraduate studies with research conducted through Georgia State’s neuroscience community, including research into brain function, neural development, behavior, and neurological processes.
Research facilities and instrumentation: Biology research at Georgia State uses specialized laboratory facilities and scientific equipment supporting areas such as molecular biology, microscopy, genetics, cell biology, and neuroscience.
Center for Behavioral Neuroscience: The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to study the biological bases of behavior. Biology students can benefit from the university’s interdisciplinary neuroscience environment and research activities.
Neuroscience Institute: Georgia State’s Neuroscience Institute supports interdisciplinary research into the nervous system and provides an environment connecting neuroscience with biology, psychology, chemistry, computer science, and related fields.
Research-based learning: Students can pursue independent research and directed-study opportunities, allowing them to work more closely with faculty and develop skills in experimental design, scientific analysis, laboratory methods, and communicating research findings.
Atlanta research environment: Studying biology and neurobiology at Georgia State places students in downtown Atlanta, where the university’s biomedical and neuroscience programs are connected to a broader research and healthcare ecosystem.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biology B.S. with a Neurobiology concentration at Georgia State University combines a broad biology foundation with focused study of the nervous system, preparing graduates for opportunities in neuroscience, biomedical research, healthcare, biotechnology, and related fields. Graduates can pursue roles such as research assistant, laboratory technician, clinical research coordinator, or pharmaceutical research associate, while the degree also provides a foundation for professional and graduate study.

Career and Employment Opportunities:

University career support: Georgia State’s University Career Services provides STEM-focused career resources, including career exploration and a Salary & Career Calculator, while Biology and Neuroscience faculty provide advising on career and academic pathways.
Internship experience: Students can gain career-specific experience through Biology internship courses, including BIOL 4915 Collaborative Internships in Biology and BIOL 4916 Internships in Biology. Neuroscience-related internships can also be completed for academic credit through NEUR 4920 or NEUR 4930, with placements available in laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and biotechnology startups.
Employment and salary figures: Georgia State’s STEM career resources list roles including research scientist, laboratory manager, clinical research coordinator, medical device specialist, and pharmaceutical research associate, with a published starting salary range of $48,000–$68,000 for the listed pharmaceutical research associate pathway.
Research opportunities: Biology students can participate in the Undergraduate Research in the Life Sciences (PURL) program, including course-based research and research in grant-funded faculty laboratories. The university also supports interdisciplinary research through the Molecular Basis of Disease and Brains and Behavior programs, which provide fellowships, seminars, and symposia for undergraduate and graduate researchers.
Industry and professional exposure: Biology students can access internship opportunities with organizations beyond the university, while Georgia State specifically identifies biotechnology startups, hospitals, clinics, public-health organizations, and government agencies as potential career environments for its biology graduates.
Accreditation value: Georgia State University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), providing institutional recognition for the university's academic programs.
Graduation outcomes: Georgia State reports biology graduates moving into academia and industry, including laboratory management, research science, microbiology, environmental sciences, biochemistry, biomedicine, neuroscience, quality assurance, public health sciences, forensic science, data analytics, and bioinformatics. Graduates also gain admission to professional programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, public health, law, and physician assistant studies, as well as master's and doctoral programs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biology B.S. with Neurobiology, students can continue into master's or doctoral study in biology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or related disciplines. Georgia State also offers a Biology B.S./Medical Sciences in Biology M.S. 4+1 dual-degree pathway, allowing eligible students to begin graduate-level study during their senior year; the university states that graduates of the Medical Sciences in Biology program are prepared for the medical-school application process.