Biological Sciences (BS): Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology Concentration
The B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology泭(IPN)泭provides a comprehensive grounding in the principles of physiology and neuroscience, as well as in-depth exposure to the application of those principles in understanding whole-animal function, links between physiology and behavior, and the ways in which animals cope with challenges presented by their environments.
IPN students graduate with the skills to work in industry and government agencies. Graduates may also choose to continue their education by pursuing advanced degrees in many areas of the life sciences, including neuroscience, endocrinology, cell biology, and physiology. The IPN concentration also prepares students to pursue degrees in medicine, dentistry, and other health-related areas.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring the Life Sciences | |||
| 郭釦唬泭103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 | |
| Writing | |||
| Advanced Writing Requirement Elective 1 | 3 | ||
Cannot be double-counted for a GEP requirement. | |||
| Biological Sciences | |||
| 郭釦唬泭101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 | |
| 詁梆倏泭181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 | |
| 詁梆倏泭183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 | |
| 詁梆倏泭414 | Cell Biology 1 | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭詁梆倏泭416 | Cancer Cell Biology | ||
| 詁梆倏泭424 | Endocrinology 1 | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭488 | Neurobiology 1 | 3 | |
| 詁唬晨泭351 | General Biochemistry 1 | 3-4 | |
| 棗娶泭詁唬晨泭451 | Principles of Biochemistry | ||
| 勞捧泭311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 | |
| 勞捧泭312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory 1 | 1 | |
| Select one of the following Physiology courses: 1 | 4 | ||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems | |||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (B): Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems | |||
| Animal Anatomy and Physiology | |||
| Physical & Mathematical Sciences | |||
| 紼插泭131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭紼插泭141 | Calculus I | ||
| 紼插泭231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭紼插泭241 | Calculus II | ||
| 唬晨泭101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| 唬晨泭201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| 唬晨泭221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
| 唬晨泭223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | ||
| College Physics I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | ||
| College Physics II | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | |||
| 釦啦泭311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| Major Electives | |||
| IPN Electives 1 | 9 | ||
| Supraorganismal Elective 1 | 3 | ||
| Additional Science & Math Electives | 6 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| 楚捧勞泭101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Elective | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) | 10 | ||
| These electives cannot be taken at an elementary level after you have taken comparable coursework at a more advanced level. Students interested in graduate school or professional school should check the courses required for admission to the programs to which they plan to apply | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Advanced Writing Requirement Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 詁梆倏泭267 | Research in the Life Sciences I: Research Skills | 3 | |
| 唬倏紼泭211 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭214 | Introduction to Editing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭232 | Literature and Medicine | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭287 | Explorations in Creative Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭288 | Fiction Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭289 | Poetry Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭292 | Writing About Film | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭316 | Introduction to News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭323 | Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭332 | Communication for Business and Management | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭381 | Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭388 | Intermediate Fiction Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭389 | Intermediate Poetry Writing Workshop | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭416 | Advanced News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭417 | Editorial and Opinion Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭422 | Writing Theory and the Writing Process | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭425 | Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 | |
| 楚捧勞泭426 | Analyzing Style | 3 |
IPN Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students can use up to 3 hours of Experiential Learning (詁釦唬泭492, 詁釦唬泭493, 詁釦唬泭494, 詁釦唬泭497 or 詁釦唬泭498) toward IPN Electives. | |||
| 插楚唬泭515 | Fish Physiology | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭220 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭221 | Reproductive Physiology Lab | 1 | |
| 插捧釦泭415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭452 | Comparative Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭552 | Comparative Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭361 | Developmental Biology | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭418 | Cell Biology Research Lab | 2 | |
| 詁梆倏泭432 | Evolutionary Medicine | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭434 | Hormones and Behavior | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭444 | The Biology of Love and Sex | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭483 | Capstone Course in Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology | 3 | |
| 詁梆啦泭464 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| 詁梆啦泭466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| 詁梆啦泭471 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| 詁梆啦泭564 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| 詁梆啦泭566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| 詁梆啦泭571 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| 楚捧啦泭503 | Insect Morphology and Physiology | 3 | |
| 幛兜泭515 | Fish Physiology | 3 | |
| 勞捧泭434 | Genes and Development | 3 | |
| 勞捧泭441 | Human and Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| 勞捧泭453 | Personal Genomics | 3 | |
| 勞捧泭456 | Epigenetics, Development, and Disease | 3 | |
| 勞捧泭541 | Human and Biomedical Genetics | 3 | |
| 紼詁泭441 | Immunology | 3 | |
| 捧啦賊泭415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 捧啦賊泭419 | Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 3 | |
| 捧啦賊泭515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 捩晨喊泭452 | |||
| 捩晨喊泭503 | General Physiology I | 3 | |
| 捩晨喊泭504 | General Physiology II | 3 | |
| 捩晨喊泭524 | Comparative Endocrinology | 3 | |
| 捩晨喊泭552 | |||
| 捩倏泭415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 捩倏泭466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| 捩倏泭515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 | |
| 捩倏泭524 | Comparative Endocrinology | 3 | |
| 捩釦喊泭502 | Physiological Psychology | 3 | |
| 啦倏喘泭401 | Principles of Toxicology | 4 | |
| 啦倏喘泭501 | Principles of Toxicology | 4 | |
| Research/Professional Exp. | |||
| 詁釦唬泭492 | Professional Experience | 1-3 | |
| 詁釦唬泭493 | Research Experience | 1-3 | |
| 詁釦唬泭494 | Teaching Experience | 1-3 | |
| 詁釦唬泭497 | Biological Sciences Honors Project Part 1 | 3 | |
| 詁釦唬泭498 | Biological Sciences Honors Project Part 2 | 3 | |
Supraorganismal Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 插楚唬泭360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| 插楚唬泭419 | Freshwater Ecology | 4 | |
| 插楚唬泭441 | Biology of Fishes | 3 | |
| 插楚唬泭442 | Biology of Fishes Laboratory | 1 | |
| 插楚唬泭460 | Field Ecology and Methods | 4 | |
| 插楚唬泭501 | Avian Ecology | 4 | |
| 插楚唬泭519 | Freshwater Ecology | 4 | |
| 詁梆倏泭270 | Introduction to Evolution | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭330 | Evolutionary Biology | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭432 | Evolutionary Medicine | 3 | |
| 詁梆倏泭440 | The Human Animal: An Evolutionary Perspective | 3 | |
| 楚捧啦泭425 | General Entomology | 3 | |
| 幛倏賊泭565 | Plant Community Ecology | 4 | |
| 幛兜泭353 | Wildlife Management | 3 | |
| 紼楚插泭220 | Marine Biology | 3 | |
| 捧賊泭406 | Conservation of Biological Diversity | 3 | |
| 捩詁泭360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| 捩詁泭400 | Plant Diversity and Evolution | 4 | |
| 捩詁泭403 | Systematic Botany | 4 | |
| 捩詁泭503 | Systematic Botany | 4 | |
| 捩捩泭222 | Kingdom of Fungi | 3 | |
| 欽倏泭317 | Primate Ecology and Evolution | 3 | |
| 欽倏泭333 | Captive Animal Biology | 3 | |
| 欽倏泭350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity | 4 | |
| 欽倏泭402 | Invertebrate Biology | 4 | |
| 欽倏泭410 | Introduction to Animal Behavior | 3 |
Additional STEM Electives泭
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 插捧釦泭225 | Principles of Animal Nutrition | 3 | |
| 插捧釦泭230 | Animal Nutrition | 3 | |
| 插捧啦泭251 | Physical Anthropology | 3 | |
| 插捧啦泭421 | Human Osteology | 3 | |
| Take any courses at the 200 level and higher from the following prefixes: AEC, BCH, BEC, BIO, BIT, BSC, CH, DSC, ENT, ES, FW, GN, MA, MB, MEA, NTR, PB, PY, ST, TOX, ZO | |||
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 郭釦唬泭101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences | 2 |
| 詁梆倏泭181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| 唬晨泭101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 唬晨泭102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| 紼插泭131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 |
| 郭釦唬泭103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 詁梆倏泭183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| 唬晨泭221 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| 唬晨泭222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 1 |
| 楚捧勞泭101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| 紼插泭231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 | 3 |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 欽倏泭250 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| 唬晨泭223 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
| 唬晨泭224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 | 1 |
| 釦啦泭311 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 勞捧泭311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 |
| 勞捧泭312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 |
| 唬晨泭202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 捩喊泭211 | College Physics I 1 | 4 |
| 詁唬晨泭351 or 詁唬晨泭451 | General Biochemistry 1 or Principles of Biochemistry | 3-4 |
| 詁梆倏泭488 | Neurobiology 1 | 3 |
| 詁梆倏泭424 | Endocrinology 1 | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 捩喊泭212 | College Physics II 1 | 4 |
| Cell Biology Requirement | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 13 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| IPN Elective | 3 | |
| IPN Elective | 3 | |
| STEM Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2-3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Supraorganismal Elective | 3 | |
| IPN Elective | 3 | |
| STEM Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| 泭 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
IPN concentration students graduate with the skills to work in industry and government agencies. Graduates may also choose to continue their education by pursuing advanced degrees in many areas of the life sciences, including neuroscience, endocrinology, cell biology, and physiology. The IPN concentration also prepares students to pursue degrees in medicine, dentistry, and other health-related areas.
Career Titles
- Agricultural Sciences Professor
- Agronomist
- Allergists and Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist (MD)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Animal Breeder
- Animal Scientist
- Aquaculture Specialist
- Aquarium Curator
- Biochemist
- Biological Technician
- Biologist
- Biology Professor
- Biomedical Engineer
- Biophysicist
- Biopsychologist
- Botanist
- Cardiologist (MD)
- Clinical Dietitian
- Dentist (DDS)
- Dietitian and Nutritionist
- Environmental Disease Analyst
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Research Analyst
- Epidemiologists
- Family Practitioner (MD)
- Fish and Game Warden
- Fish Hatchery Specialist
- Food & Drug Inspector
- Food Science Technicians
- Food Technologist
- Forensic Science Technicians
- General Internists (MD)
- Genetic Counselors
- Geneticist
- Gynecologist (MD)
- Hazardous Waste Management Analyst
- Horticulturist
- Hospitalists
- Industrial Hygienist
- Industrial Waste Inspector
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
- Marine and Aquatic Biologist
- Medical and Scientific Illustrator
- Medical Equipment Technician
- Medical Technologist
- Microbiologist
- Obstetrician (MD)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
- Occupational Physician (MD)
- Oceanographer
- Optometrist
- Park Naturalist
- Pathologist (MD)
- Pediatrician (MD)
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacologist
- Phlebotomist
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Radiologist (MD)
- Sales Representative (Chemicals & Drugs)
- Soil Conservationist
- Soil Scientist
- Sports Physician (Orthopedist)
- Surgeons (MD)
- Toxicologist
- Urologists
- Veterinarian (VMD)
- Water Pollution Control Inspector
- Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Control Agent
- Winemaker / Vinter
- Zoologist
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