Psychology and Neuroscience

Department Website: Psychology
Department Website: Neuroscience

The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience offers courses that focus on the scientific study of human and animal behavior and decision-making. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (with an optional research concentration), a minor in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience.

Psychology Program Overview

PSYC 101 General PsychologyPSYC 202 Statistics for Psychology and PSYC 206 Scientific Principles of Psychology are pre-requisites for most upper division courses. These courses provide students with an initial understanding and appreciation of the scientific method in psychology. General Psychology, Statistics, and Scientific Principles of Psychology constitute the lower division requirements for both the major and the minor. Students must earn a B- or better in Scientific Principles of Psychology to complete the major in Psychology.

After taking the three lower division requirements, Psychology minors are required to complete 12 credits of upper-division psychology coursework. Majors are required to complete 24 credits of upper-division coursework, 18 of which must be selected from particular cluster areas as described below. As will be discussed below, students declaring the research concentration are required take 27 credits of upper-division coursework, 18 of which must be selected from cluster areas and 9 of which are specified courses for the concentration. Finally, majors must either pass a comprehensive examination (PSYC 499 Comprehensive) or complete independent research under faculty supervision, the results of which must be presented at a regional or national conference (PSYC 498 Comprehensive Alternate). Students usually complete the comprehensive exam or independent research during their final year-once they have completed the majority of their coursework.

Psychology Research Concentration:The Research Concentration is a special pathway within the Psychology major. This concentration is for students planning to advance onto doctoral level graduate degrees (Ph.D.) upon completing their undergraduate degree at Gonzaga. Students who declare this concentration are required to receive an A- in PSYC 206 Scientific Principles of Psychology. For upper division classes, students in the concentration will take PSYC 450 Advanced Statistics in Psychology and a two-semester advanced methods course:

  1. PSYC 488 Advanced Research Design.
  2. PSYC 489 Advanced Research Analyses. 

Students in the concentration must present their research at a local, regional, or national conference. Finally, students in the concentration will register for PSYC 498 Comprehensive Alternate during the semester in which they are presenting their research at a conference.

Neuroscience Program Overview

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system, encompassing aspects of biology, psychology, chemistry, physics and medicine to understand the complex mechanisms that underlie behavior, cognition, and disease. To prepare students for neuroscience-oriented careers in fields such as medicine, research, biotechnology, neuropsychology, and education, we offer a curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. Through rigorous coursework and hands-on laboratory training, students develop a deep understanding of neural function, from molecular and cellular levels to systems and behavior.

Students earning a Neuroscience degree at Gonzaga obtain:

  • A comprehensive liberal arts education (through the university core curriculum)
  • A foundational understanding of neuroscience principles (through core neuroscience courses)
  • Interdisciplinary knowledge supporting neuroscience research (including courses in biology, chemistry, physics, human physiology, and psychology)
  • The opportunity to explore specialized topics in depth through upper-division electives
  • Practical skills and research experience, preparing them for graduate or professional programs, careers in healthcare, laboratory research, or combining their scientific training with other fields such as law, business, or the arts