Course Detail :

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale :

This course is designed to provide an advanced exploration of the major concepts, theories, methodologies, and empirical findings in the field of behavioral neuroscience. Students will develop the skills needed to design original scientific research and communicate in the scientific community. Finally, students will learn to integrate basic and applied neuroscience theory and practice with a Biblical perspective and a Christ-centered approach to the role of the researcher in professional psychology.

Measurable Learning Outcomes :

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Explore the physiological foundations of behavior, cognition, motivation, and emotion.
2. Evaluate current research in the field of neuroscience/biopsychology as it relates to real-world applications.
3. Examine the scientific methods used by psychologists, neuroscientists, and neurobiologists to investigate the complex relationship between the brain and behavior.
4. Develop the skills needed to create original scientific research and communicate in the scientific community.
5. Examine a biblical worldview as it relates to critical issues surrounding topics of brain and behavior.

Course Assignment Description :

Textbook readings and lecture presentations (MLOs: A – E) :

Course Requirements Checklist :

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2) :

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences.

• Therefore, the student is required to post an original thread of at least 450 words using course-related knowledge to address the assigned topic as well as to post replies of at least 250 words to two other classmates’ threads.
• Each thread and reply must contain at least 1 unique scholarly citation and 1 unique biblical citation.
• The current APA format must be used. (MLOs: A – E)

Discussion: Virtual Conference Presentation :

• The student will create a 5 to 7-minute narrated PowerPoint presentation that provides a comprehensive overview of his/her Research Proposal.
• Next, the student will post his/her presentation in the Virtual Conference Discussion for the professor and his/her classmates to view.
• Finally, each student will view his/her classmates’ presentations, and post replies of at least 250 words to two other classmates’ presentation threads that address the prompts identified in the assignment instructions.
• Each reply must contain at least 1 unique scholarly citation and 1 unique biblical citation
• The presentation will be graded based on its content, aesthetics, and adherence to current APA formatting guidelines.
• The replies will be graded based on the criteria delineated in the associated grading rubric. (MLOs: A – E)

Research Proposal Assignments (5) :

Throughout the course, the student will complete 5 cumulative writing assignments that are designed to guide him/her in composing a well-developed Research Proposal addressing an original scientific hypothesis concerning a research question in the field of behavioral neuroscience. The 5 elements of the proposal must adhere to current APA formatting guidelines and are described below. (MLOs: A – D)

Research Proposal: Part 1 – Topic Paragraph Assignment :

The student will write a current APA-formatted paragraph that provides a general idea of the research question that he/she intends to pursue in his/her Research Proposal. This paragraph will include a topic sentence, 3 to 5 sentences that represent supporting ideas, and a concluding sentence. At least 3 scholarly, peer-reviewed research articles must be cited.

Research Proposal: Part 2 – Hypothesis and List of References Assignment :

The student will write a formal scientific hypothesis that describes the question he/she intends to answer in his/her Research Proposal Assignment. The student will also create a current APA-formatted title page and a working references page that contains the bibliographic information for at least 15 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources that directly address the proposed hypothesis/research question.

Research Proposal: Part 3 – Outline of the Introduction Assignment :

The student will write an outline of the Introduction section of his/her Research Proposal Assignment in order to provide a detailed, organizational plan for the information that will be covered in the Introduction of the final paper [i.e., state the problem under investigation, build a conceptual context in support of the hypothesis(es), and specify the design and the relevant hypothesis(es)].

While there are no specific formatting guidelines for presenting an outline in the current APA style, the student will utilize all applicable current APA formatting elements (e.g., title page, running head, page numbers, etc.) for this assignment. A current APA-formatted references page with at least 10-12 scholarly, peer-reviewed resources must be included.

Research Proposal: Part 4 – Method Section Assignment :

The student will write a draft of the Method section of his/her Research Proposal Assignment that includes the following elements: subjects/participants, apparatus/materials, and procedure. The Student will describe his/her proposed methodology in sufficient detail so that readers can evaluate the adequacy of the method and replicate the design of the research. All elements of the Method section must adhere to current APA formatting guidelines.

Research Proposal: Part 5 – Final Proposal Assignment :

The student will write a 6–8-page Research Proposal that addresses an original, scientific research question in the field of behavioral neuroscience. All elements of the Research Proposal: Final Assignment must adhere to current APA formatting guidelines, and at least 10-12 scholarly, peer-review resources must be included on the references page.

No of Quizzes (8) :

The student will complete 8 open-book/open-notes quizzes that will cover the textbook readings and presentation(s) for the module in which it is assigned.  Each quiz will have a 1-hour time limit and will comprise 25 multiple choice questions.  The quizzes are not cumulative in the sense that questions about previously covered chapters will not be asked, but the student may need to use material learned in a previous section to aid in understanding subsequent information. (MLO’s A – D)