Behavioral Neuroscience Sub-Plan
Behavioral Neuroscience, also known as biological psychology, biopsychology, or psychobiology, is the
study of the neural basis of behaviors. This includes the study of biology, pharmacology, physiology, and
genetics. This sub-plan is designed to give students a strong background in both psychology and
neuroscience. Graduates of this sub-plan will be prepared to pursue a career in neuroscience or biomedical research or apply to doctoral programs. One of the most important prerequisites needed for both
research careers or doctoral admission is research experience. Therefore, this sub-plan places a strong
emphasis on research participation. Students will be expected to be active members of research teams
that results in research presentations at professional conferences and culminates in capstone research
experience. Students must take a course in general biology before entering this sub-plan. To fulfill all
prerequisites for graduate courses, it is recommended that students additionally take courses in general
chemistry, anatomy and physiology, statistics, cognitive psychology, and physiological psychology.
For more information about applying for this sub-plan, please contact Drs. Chris Ward or David Malin.
Research and Statistics (6 hours)
PSYC 6036 and PSYC 6037
Research Design and Statistics I and II
Core Psychology Courses (Select 1 of 2) (3 hours)
PSYC 5031
Human Growth and Development
PSCY 5532
Advanced Social Psychology
Required Behavioral Neuroscience Courses (12 hours)
PYSC 5235
Learning Principles
PSYC 6134
Biological Basis of Behavior
PSCY 6832
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
BIOL 5635
Neuroscience
Elective Behavioral Neuroscience Courses a (Select 3) (9 hours)
PSYC 5432
Psychoactive Drugs
PSYC 5736
Behavioral Medicine
PSYC 6335
Behavioral Pharmacology Research
PSYC 6336
Behavioral Neuroscience Research
HLTH 5131
Applied Exercise Physiology: Neuromuscular
HLTH 5335
Exercise Principles for Special Populations
a
Other courses from the School of Science and Computer Engineering can be substituted with the
approval of the faculty of the Sub-Plan.
Master’s Option (6 hours)
PSYC 6739
PSYC 6839
PSYC 6939
b
Graduate Internship b OR
Master’s Project OR
Master’s Thesis
Choosing to complete a Graduate Internship and the internship placement must be approved by the
faculty of the Sub-Plan. Students that take internship must also take PSYC 5135 Professional Ethics (3
hours). If internship placement involves social services, PSYC 5134 Interviewing & Assessment (3
hours) is also required. If outside social services, student must choose an extra elective to complete the
42 required hours.
Master’s Degree in General Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Sub-Plan
Student Information
Desired course work at the undergraduate level:
Minimum:
General Biology, Research Methods, Statistics, Brain and Behavior (or Biopsychology, or
Physiological Psychology, or similar)
Ideal:
General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Research
Methods, Statistics, Brain and Behavior (or Biopsychology, or Physiological Psychology, or
similar), Cognitive Psychology, Learning
Example Master’s Curriculum Sequence
Fall 1st Year
PSYC 6036 Res Design And Statistics I a,d
PSYC 6134 Biological Basis of Behavior e
Elective f
Fall 2nd Year
PSYC 6832 Advanced Cognitive Psychology b
BIOL 5635 Neuroscience c
PSYC 6939 Master’s Thesis
Spring 1st Year
PSYC 6037 Res Design And Statistics II d
PSYC 5235 Learning Principles d
Elective f
Spring 2nd Year
PSYC 5532 Advanced Social Psychology – or –
PSYC 5031 Human Growth and Development
PSYC 5432 Psychoactive Drugs
PSYC 6939 Master’s Thesis
If student has NOT previously taken Anatomy and Physiology g
Fall 1st Year
Took chemistry:
BIOL 4435 Human Physiology
– or –
BIOL 3031/3011 Comparative
Animal Morph/Lab
Did not take chemistry:
BIOL 3031/3011 Comparative
Animal Morph/Lab
Spring 1st Year
BIOL 3733/3713 Human
Anatomy/Lab
– or 
CHEM 3030 Chemistry
Summer 1st Year
BIOL 4434 Comparative
Animal Physiology
BIOL 4434 Comparative
Animal Physiology
Modifications to this plan can be made with the approval of the student’s academic
advisor. Suggested curriculum is designed for a full time student. Student may choose to take
some classes during summer semesters or take more than two years to complete degree
requirements.
a
Undergraduate Statistics is a prerequisite
Undergraduate Cognitive Psychology is a prerequisite (this course is offered most Summers)
c
Anatomy and Physiology is a prerequisite of this course
d
Sections taught face to face at Clear Lake should be taken, unless otherwise approved
b
e
If student graduated from UHCL as an undergraduate, the same instructor that taught PSYC
4136 Brain and Behavior should not be chosen for PSYC 6134 if at all possible.
f
The student may elect to take an elective course from the School of Science and Computer
Engineering not on the elective list. Examples of applicable courses are: BIOL 5435 Principles
of Pharmacology, BIOL 5732 Advanced Molecular Biology, BIOL 5132 Cell Signaling, BIOL
5136 Physiology of Human Aging, BIOT 5011/5021Methods in Biotechnology, BIOT
5111/5121 Advanced Methods in Biotechnology I, BIOT 5112/5122 Advanced Methods in
Biotechnology II, BIOT 5231 Advanced Mammalian Tissue Culture, CSCI 5933 Computational
Bioinformatics, CENG 5634 Artificial Neural Networks. Faculty approval is needed.
g
Not applicable if student took Anatomy and Physiology as an undergraduate. Courses will not
count as hours toward the Master’s degree. If student took General Biology and Chemistry as an
undergraduate, then they may choose to either take the Human or Animal courses. If student did
not take General Chemistry as an undergraduate, Animal Morphology should be taken in the Fall
semester, Chemistry should be taken in the Spring semester, and Animal Physiology should be
taken in the Summer semester. Alternatively, General Chemistry and Biology can be taken at a
local community college the summer before starting graduate school. UHCL does not offer a
General Biology equivalent course. Anatomy and Physiology also are usually offered by local
community colleges during the summer.
Master’s Thesis/Project Timeline:
Fall 1st Year – Begin talking with professors about research ideas and reading background
literature
Spring 1st Year – Choose thesis/project advisor and develop research idea; begin writing
proposal
Summer 1st Year – Finish proposal
Fall 2nd Year – Data collection; begin writing thesis/project
Spring 2nd Year – Finish thesis/project
Graduate Internship:
Graduate internships are not recommended for students wishing to continue to a doctoral
program. Faculty approval is needed before choosing the internship option. Additionally, the
internship placement will also have to be approved by the faculty. Internship placements should
be related to the career goals of the student.
Applying to the Program
Students wishing to enroll in the Behavioral Neuroscience Sub-plan must formally apply. Additional
information can be obtained by contacting Drs. Chris Ward (wardchris@uhcl.edu) or David Malin
(malin@uhcl.edu).
Application requires both 1 and 2 below be completed.
1. UNIVERSITY ADMISSION
Applicants must complete a university Application for Admission and forward it and all required fees and
documents to the university Office of Admissions. Currently there is a $35 fee for the university
admission application. Forms and instructions may be requested from the UHCL Office of Admissions as
listed below. The university application should be completed as early as possible before the admissions
deadline to allow adequate time for the Office of Admissions to process the application and evaluate
transcripts. For further information regarding university admission and to request the necessary forms
contact:
Office of Admissions
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77058-1098
(281) 283-2500
http://www.uhcl.edu/admissions/index.html
2. SUB-PLAN ADMISSION
There are 5 components to the application for the Behavioral Neuroscience Sub-Plan:
a. An application form (available in the back of this packet).
b. A Curriculum Vitae (an expanded resume describing previous education; all work experience; relevant
course work and relevant volunteer activities; any honors, presentations, papers, avocations or other
relevant life experiences).
c. A brief essay of purpose and goals stating reasons for wanting this degree and how it fits into career
goals.
d. Two letters of recommendation, at least one from an academic source. The applicant should collect all
recommendations and return them in the application envelope along with other application documents (do
not mail separately). The recommender should place the letter in a sealed envelope; sign his/her name
across the envelope flap and onto the body of the envelope before returning the envelope to the applicant.
Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are
especially solicited.
e. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. These transcripts are in
addition to the transcripts sent directly to the university Office of Admissions. The applicant should
collect all transcripts and include them in the application envelope.
ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE SENT IN A SINGLE ENVELOPE TO:
Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Admissions Committee
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd. Box 22
Houston, TX 77058-1098
3. Deadline for Application and Notification of Admissions Decision:
Application to the Behavioral Neuroscience sub-plan plan can be made at any point during the year.
Currently, admission to the sub-plan only occurs for the Fall semester and the deadline to have an
application reviewed for admission is June 15th. It is the applicant’s responsibility to insure that his/her
application for university admission and supporting transcripts are received by the university Office of
Admissions and the application envelope containing all required documents is received by the Psychology
and Behavioral Neuroscience Admissions by the dates given.
4. Additional information regarding Applications:
Any evidence of tampering with recommendations or transcripts could result in disqualifying the
applicant from admission. Applicants should note that admission to graduate status at the university and
to the Master of Arts in Psychology is not equivalent to admission to the Behavioral Neuroscience subplan. In some cases, applicants may be notified of admission to the university and to the M.A. General
Psychology Program by the School of Human Sciences and Humanities Advising Office. Any such
communication refers only to acceptance into graduate status at the university and to the M.A. General
Psychology Program. Applicants are not admitted into the Behavioral Neuroscience sub-plan until they
receive formal notice from the Behavioral Neuroscience Admissions Committee that they have been
accepted. Students may take master’s courses before being formally accepted Behavioral Neuroscience
sub-plan.
University of Houston-Clear Lake
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE SUB-PLAN
Application for Admission
Please type the following information and include it with your application material. For an
electronic copy of this application, please email Dr. Chris Ward at wardchris@uhcl.edu.
Date:
Name:
Address:
City/State/ZIP:
Email:
Telephone
Home:
Work:
Indicate what degree(s) you hold or are completing:
Undergraduate
Major:
Graduation Date (or date expected):
Institution:
Graduate
Major:
Graduation Date (or date expected):
Institution:
Please indicate the following:
Overall GPA
Undergraduate:
Graduate:
GPA from last 60 hours
Undergraduate:
Graduate:
If you have taken the GRE, please indicate your GRE scores:
Verbal
Quantitative
Analytical Writing
Date of Exam:
Are you currently enrolled in the UHCL M.A. General Psychology Program? If not, have you
submitted a university Application for Admission and transcripts to the UHCL Admissions
Office? [You must apply for university admission in addition to and separate from this
application]
No
Yes
Please check the following psychology courses (or equivalent) you have completed:
Research Methods (PSYC 6036/4632/4731)
UG/ G Grade:
Statistics (PSYC 6037/4634/4730 or MATH 3038)
UG/ G Grade:
Learning (PSYC 5235/3231)
UG/ G Grade:
Cognitive (PSYC 6832/4832)
UG/ G Grade:
Neuroscience (PSYC 6134/4136 or BIOL 5635)
UG/ G Grade:
Pharmacology (PSYC 5432/3334)
UG/ G Grade:
Please check the following science courses (or equivalent) you have completed:
General Biology
Grade:
General Chemistry
Grade:
Anatomy or A&P I
Grade:
Physiology or A&P II
Grade:
List any advanced science courses and grade received:
List any laboratory/research experience, including class labs:
Other experience you would like the admissions committee to know about:
From whom are you requesting recommendations? Please list names and email
information:
1.
2.
Application Checklist:
Application
Curriculum vitae
Short essay
Two letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes
Unofficial transcripts
RETURN THIS FORM ALONG WITH ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS IN A SINGLE
ENVELOPE TO:
Behavioral Neuroscience Admissions
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd. Box 22
Houston, TX 77058