The neuroscience studies and psychobiology majors are interdisciplinary programs of study in the behavioral and biological sciences. They are designed for students interested in such fields as animal behavior, behavior genetics, cognitive or behavioral neuroscience, physiological psychology, psychopharmacology, neurobiology, and developmental psychobiology.


Kalyn Otzelberger ’24

A Research assistant in the Dynamic Imaging of Cognition and Neuromodulation (DICoN) laboratory at the Institute for Human Neuroscience in Boys Town, Nebraska.

“The content from these courses really interested me a lot and has helped me understand the research done at IHN,” says Kalyn.
She also credits her summer in the Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research program. “The project I did in SOAR was one of my largest projects. The program allowed me to be fully involved in the research process and exposed me to things that I otherwise might not have been able to do in the classroom setting,” she says. “I was able to gain skills conducting research, present my findings at multiple conferences and improve my writing skills. Everything that I did with SOAR has been helpful to what I am doing now and will be helpful in the future.”
Although she admits her career goals may change, for now she would like to become a college professor. “Throughout my time at Ripon College, I was a peer tutor, and I really enjoyed being able to help other students learn and better understand the content from various courses.”

Achieve More

Latest News

Calysta Kurz ’24

Psychobiology student Calysta Kurz ’24 presents poster at national conference

Calysta Kurz ’24 of Oconto, Wisconsin, joined Associate Professor of Psychology Julia Manor in attending the recent Comparative Cognition Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kurz […]

Mica Rivera '21

Mica Rivera ’21 earns prestigious research fellowship from National Science Foundation

Mica Rivera ’21 of River Falls, Wisconsin, has received a prestigious award from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The highly competitive award, […]

Photos, clockwise from top left: Chelsea Grahn Andrews, Rebecca Leuenberger and Kristine Kovack-Lesh

Kovack-Lesh, two alumnae contribute to article published in journal

Professor of Psychology Kristine A. Kovack-Lesh had an article published this summer with Ripon College alumnae and other collaborators. “Inconsistent flanker congruency effects across stimulus […]

Faculty

Forbes-Lorman, Robin

Associate Professor of Biology

Khan, Memuna

Professor of Biology, Chair of Economics and Business Management

Kovack-Lesh, Kristine

Professor of Psychology and Chair of Psychology

Manor, Julia

Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Assessment

Advising

Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.

As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.

Advising at Ripon

Requirements

Requirements for a Major in Neuroscience
Core Credits The basic core of required courses includes BIO 123, PSC 110, PSC 180, PSC 211, 212, CHM 111, CHM 112, one or two credits of Independent Study or Internship related to neuroscience, and either (a) BIO 501, 502 or (b) PSC 523. Beyond the core requirements, students are required to take at least four elective courses, two from Biology, one from Psychology, and one from the other courses or a further Psychology or Biology elective.

Biology

(Choose Two) Genetics (BIO 219), Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIO 266), Sex and Gender (BIO 313), Developmental Biology (BIO 329)

Psychology

(Choose One)Learning and Behavior (PSC 317), Behavioral Neuroscience (PSC 324), Sensation and Perception (PSC 328), Cognitive Processes (PSC 339)

Other Possible Electives

Drugs and Society (PSC 240), Introduction to Programming (CSC 101), Mathematical Modeling (MTH 206), Introduction to Philosophy (PHL 120)

Topics courses in any department relating to Neuroscience may be substituted for an elective with the program director's approval.

Career Tracks

Medical Fields- Neurology, Psychiatry, etc.
Research Scientists- Academic and Pharmaceutical positions
Medical Writer
Videogame design
Health Education
Applied Behavior Analysis

Unique Opportunities

We participate in the Kids Judge Neuroscience Fair which teaches kids in 3-5th grade about neuroscience each year.
SOAR students in neuroscience each summer
Rat Challenge