Behavioral Neuroscience Program Advisor
Andrea Swanson (she/her)
Welcome to the Behavioral Neuroscience Program!
I’m an alumnus from Western’s Biology Department and completed my bachelors of science with an emphasis in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology. I have also taken PSY 101, PSY 220, BNS 328 lab and BNS 428 lab from several of the exceptional behavioral neuroscience program faculty. I enjoy volunteering in my community and helping to foster youth interests in STEM career fields.
Remember, early planning is key to a smooth transition into university life. So, let’s get a head start together!
I am here to help guide you through your academic planning, setting goals, connecting you with campus resources, and help you navigate the exciting opportunities ahead. I enjoy sharing with students a world of research opportunities, internships, scholarships, and enriching seminar speaker events—all designed to propel you towards success.
I can’t wait to help you build a strong foundation for an incredible and fulfilling educational experience.
Best regards,
Andrea Swanson | she/her
Administrative Services Manager / Advisor
Behavioral Neuroscience Program
Quick Links
Click Here to Self-Enroll in the Behavioral Neuroscience Interest Canvas Course
When students self-enroll, they will receive event and registration announcements, information about applying to the major, and other tips related to exploring careers, research opportunities, and campus resources.
Steps to Declare BNS Pre-major
Step 1: Fill out section I only on the online form here
Step 2: At the end of the form enter bns@wwu.edu inside the email to box.
Step 3: Submit the form. As the originator of the form, you will be updated by email when your form is completed. You can verify the change by looking at your degreeworks information.
Why Declare a Pre-major?
- The BNS pre-major is required for applying the BNS major, but admission to the BNS pre-major does not guarantee admission to the BNS major.
- The BNS pre-major is required to register for BNS 301- Statistics for Neuroscience course.
Eligibility
- Students must have a Western GPA (based on at least 12 credits) of 2.90 or higher.
- In the absence of a Western GPA, a GPA of 2.90 or higher from an equivalent four-year institution (based on at least 12 credits) or a cumulative GPA from a completed Associates degree may substitute for the Western GPA.
The Individual Development Plan (IDP) supports setting goals and identify strategies that will help to reach those goals. It is a self-tracking tool that can also be used to facilitate mentor-mentee communication and alignment of expectations. Use the survey questions to guide the development of your IDP. Annual (or more frequent) review of the plan provides opportunities to celebrate achievements, incorporate revisions and ensure progress toward goals.
A downloadable IDP word file (link here) is available as an option to save your answers in a table format. To view an example IDP filled in, please download this PDF linked here.