Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience
Lawrence Township, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 61,215 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international applicants studying in country | international applicants studying out of country: 15 june 2025
** for living on campus | living at home: 43,515 USD per year
Learn from engaged, Ph.D. level faculty who’ll serve as your mentors in the classroom and research colleagues in the field.
Program Overview
The Behavioral Neuroscience major educates the next generation of scientists with a foundation in biological sciences and behavioral neuroscience. Students in the behavioral neuroscience major are prepared to join the workforce or attend professional or graduate school. Rider achieves this through small class and laboratory sizes, allowing direct, hands-on instruction and faculty accessibility. Students also have opportunities to do research with faculty via work study or independent study. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who provides academic advice and career guidance tailored to the student's needs. Areas of professional and graduate study include medical, dental, and veterinary school; allied health programs in optometry, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing; as well as programs leading to M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in the life sciences; and programs in science education.
Many graduates of the Behavioral Neuroscience program have pursued graduate studies at prestigious institutions including Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, and Cornell University. Others have entered medical school or have gone on to become educators, surgical assistants, marine biologists, mental health technicians, nurses, behavioral therapists, occupational therapists, or physical therapists.
Experiences to prepare you
We emphasize beginning your laboratory and fieldwork experiences early in your college career. Take part in Rider’s three-week internship courses offered through the Capital Health System hospitals, participate in summer research alongside your favorite professor, and benefit from other off-site internship opportunities.
Rider’s financial aid office works with families to ensure an undergraduate education is affordable at every income level. Scholarship and aid award offers are customized to fit your unique financial circumstances.
To get a full picture of the scholarships, grants, and other aid that you may be eligible to receive, apply to Rider and transmit your FAFSA using federal school code 002628. Merit-based scholarships and aid are automatically awarded when you apply, and once we receive your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid can help identify additional resources to fund your education.
Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are competitive and are typically awarded based on a comprehensive review of the student's academic record, including cumulative high school GPA, rigor of academic course selection, test scores, and auditions (if applicable), and other supporting credentials.
| Scholarships Awards | Award Range | Maximum value over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-based scholarships | $14,000 - $27,000 annually | Variable based on financial aid offer. Students who meet the criteria and qualifications for a scholarship automatically receive the award upon admission to Rider. No additional scholarship application is required. |
To be considered for a merit-based academic scholarship, you must:
- Apply to Rider: Submit your completed application for admission, including official transcripts, standardized test scores (unless applying test-optional), essay, and one letter of recommendation by January 15. (Note: the final deadline is November 15th for all Musical Theatre and Acting applicants.)
- Rider offers Test-optional Admission, which means SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and most scholarships at Rider. Test-optional applicants will be given full consideration for most merit-based scholarships.
- Are you a high achiever? Students with a 4.0 GPA and 1300+ SAT/28+ ACT score may be eligible to receive the maximum merit-based scholarship offer of $27,000. You must submit your SAT/ACTs to Rider in order to qualify for this award level.
- Complete an audition, if required (audition results are a factor in scholarship awards).
- Be regularly admissible to the University as a full-time student.
- Have a minimum cumulative academic 2.7 GPA (unweighted) on a 4.0 scale.
For New Jersey residents—the Rider Tuition Guarantee:
Rider guarantees free tuition for qualified in-state students! If you're a New Jersey resident with a GPA of 3.5 or above based on a 4.0 grading scale, an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and are receiving both full TAG and Pell grants, you may be eligible to attend Rider University tuition-free when you apply as an undergraduate student for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 start terms. Terms and conditions apply.
Visit our website to learn more about the scholarships and aid opportunities.
The curriculum for majors has been shaped to prepare students for a life of learning in the sciences. Students are expected to gain knowledge and develop technical and analytical skills and competency in writing and speaking. Classes include coursework focused on the principles of evolution and diversity, neuroscience, and psychology, among other courses. Rider’s faculty are research-oriented, and encourage students to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in internships and research by doing work study, an independent research project, and/or a senior thesis. Students also have the opportunity to take part in a three-week internship course through the Capital Health System Hospitals, summer research, and other off-campus internships.
Honors Programs
Honors in Behavioral Neuroscience
The objective of the honors program in Behavioral Neuroscience is to introduce talented undergraduate majors to the methods of basic research in behavioral neuroscience. Qualified biology or behavioral neuroscience majors may participate in the Departmental Honors program. For consideration, a student must have at least a 3.25 overall grade point average at the end of their junior year. In the senior year, a student seeking Honors must write and orally defend a written honors thesis based upon their independent research. A candidate who has a 3.25 cumulative average, a 3.5 average in their science courses, and who has completed an acceptable Honors Thesis will be awarded Honors in Behavioral Neuroscience upon graduation.
Pre-medical, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Veterinary Advising Programs
In addition to their academic advisor, students pursuing medical, dental, or veterinary school upon graduation from Rider are encouraged to also consult with the department's pre-medical studies advisor. The pre-medical studies advisor is a faculty member who assists pre-medical, pre-dental, and pre-veterinary students with academic and extracurricular planning required to become competitive applicants for programs in the health professions.
Rider University offers students with baccalaureate degrees the opportunity to take the undergraduate science course prerequisites for medical, dental, veterinary, or graduate school. For more information, visit the Premedical Studies page.
Check our website to see the full list of major and minor course requirements.
Graduates of the Behavioral Neuroscience major will be able to:
- Explain foundational concepts in biological sciences.
- Apply scientific methods of inquiry through testing of newly formed hypotheses with observation and experimentation.
- Apply concepts from other disciplines in the analysis and interpretation of biological information.
- Demonstrate the ability to locate, critically analyze, and communicate relevant scientific information.
- Explain the ethical practice of scientific research and its societal applications.
Careers you could pursue with a degree in behavioral neuroscience are listed below. Click on the career title to watch professionals in the field share their personal career experience and advice.
- Physical Therapist/Neurotherapist
- Neuroscientist
- Neuroscience Research
Rider behavioral neuroscience graduates excel. Our unique blend of classroom training and engaging field experiences allows our alumni to embark on exciting careers in the field or advance to leading graduate and professional schools nationwide.
Our graduates can be found working and learning at:
- Princeton University
- Syneos Health
- St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
- Emory University
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- The University of Pennsylvania
- Penn State University
- University of Buffalo