Overview
Psychology 302: Biological Psychology is a three-credit, senior-level course that examines the relationship between the brain and behavior. Biological psychology, often referred to as behavioral neuroscience, seeks to explain behavior in terms of brain function. This course explores the biological bases of behavior, learning, memory, language, and thinking, as well as disorders arising from nervous system dysfunction.
Outline
Part I: Neural Foundations of Behavior
Unit 1: Introduction to Biological Psychology
Unit 2: Neural Communication and Neuroanatomy
Unit 3: Psychopharmacology—Drugs and the Brain
Part II: Brain Systems for Perception and Action
Unit 4: Sensation and Perception
Unit 5: Motor Systems
Unit 6: Learning and Memory
Part III: Emotions, Consciousness, and Development
Unit 7: Emotion, Motivation, and Health
Unit 8: Sleep, Biological Rhythms, and Consciousness
Unit 9: Development and Evolution of the Nervous System
Part IV: Disorders and Emerging Frontiers
Unit 10: Psychopathology and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Unit 11: Neurological Disorders and Brain Damage
Unit 12: Emerging Frontiers in Biological Psychology
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 302, you must complete all of the course assignments, achieve a mark of at least 50 percent on the final examination, and at least D (50 percent) for the course composite grade. The weighting of assignments is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| 4 Unit Quizzes | 20% |
| Midterm Quiz | 10% |
| Assignment 1: Term Paper Outline | 5% |
| Assignment 2: Term Paper | 25% |
| Final Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Gilbert, T. H. (2026). Foundations of biological psychology. Kendall Hall Publishing.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 302 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Challenge for credit course registration form