Biopsycholgy is the study of the biological bases of behavior. This is a broad definition, and includes human and animal studies dealing with brain structures involved with specific behaviors, chemical factors involved in behavior, and hormonal control of behavior. Biopsycholgy is synonymous with psychobiology, and neuroscience and covers a broad range of specific topics. Examples include drug studies to determine the effects of drugs and how they act; the biological basis of learning, studies of behavioral problems associated with specific brain damage, anatomical and chemical problems associated with specific mental disorders, and detailed behavioral studies associated with specific brain damage in animals.

George Mason University now offers students in their junior year the opportunity to apply for admission to the M.A. in Biopsychology in their senior year.  8 hours of approved courses, such as 558 and 559 may be used towards the undergraduate degree. These courses will be waived in the M.A. program.  Thus, students in this program will only be required to take 24 hours in the M.A. beyond the undergraduate degree.  For further information, please contact Dr. Jane Flinn at jflinn@gmu.edu.
 
 

Careers in this area usually include a strong research component. Employment might include university faculty positions, research for drug companies, work with government organizations, and work in contract research firms.

At the Ph.D. level, biopsychologists teach in colleges and universities and serve as scientists in research organizations. Individuals with bachelors and master's degrees serve in middle-level technical positions. Premedical students often complete their undergraduate course work in Biopsychology. The GMU Psychology Department has M.A. and a Ph.D. programs in Biopsychology.

Biopsychology with lab is the basic undergraduate course for students with this interest area. It is also recommended that students take courses in drugs, hormones & behavior, animal learning, neural basis of learning and memory, and statistics. For students who are interested in this area, laboratory research is highly recommended in the junior and senior year. Outside of psychology, the most helpful courses are in biology and chemistry or physics.