Certificate

Harvard College students who have completed an approved course of study as part of their work toward the A.B. degree are issued a Certificate in Mind/Brain/Behavior. To be eligible, students must complete the certificate course requirements, course requirements of their respective concentration and track, additional interdisciplinary requirements, and an honors thesis. The Certificate is administered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Standing Committee on Mind/Brain/Behavior. The Co-Chairs of this Committee are authorized to approve all aspects of the program that so require it and to verify that requirements have been met.

Concentration Requirement

Students must concentrate in Computer Science, History and Science, Human Evolutionary Biology, Linguistics, Neurobiology, Philosophy, or Psychology.

Senior Thesis Requirement

Students must write a senior thesis on a topic in mind/brain/behavior that has been approved by their respective concentrations.

Coursework Requirement

Students must complete the following three courses, which lay a foundation and address issues and topics relevant to mind/brain/behavior:

Science of Living Systems 20 (Psychological Science), generally recommended first year. Science B-62 (The Human Mind) or Science B-29 (Evolution of Human nature) may fulfill this requirement if already taken. Students in Neurobiology and Computer Science may take either SLS 20 or another MBB elective approved by their concentrations. Students in History and Science will take SLS 20 as a College elective or sometimes part of concentration requirements.
Molecular and Cellular Biology 80 (Neurobiology of Behavior), generally recommended sophomore year.
Interdisciplinary Seminar in Mind/ Brain/Behavior, taken in junior year. Students will select one from a list of designated courses. The list varies each year; consult http://mbb.harvard.edu/undergrad/progjun_sem1011.php.

Students must also complete specific track requirements in their respective concentrations, including a number of mind/brain/behavior electives.

Interdisciplinary Requirement

Students must also participate in two, non-credit, MBB-planned events that emphasize interactions among students across tracks.

Interdisciplinary Symposium, junior year. This is a day-long series of presentations and small group discussions/workshops held at the start of the junior year.
Interdisciplinary Research Workshop in Mind/Brain/Behavior, senior year. This is a series of small group discussions held late spring of the senior year, which allow MBB seniors to discuss their thesis and to examine other MBB-related research and topics. Students participate in these workshops in addition to their concentration's for-credit senior tutorial.

Application

To obtain a Certificate, you must complete an application that includes a plan of study outlining how Certificate requirements will be met. If you complete your plan, as verified by the Registrar, you will be eligible for the Certificate, which will be awarded during Commencement Week. You must submit your certificate application by Friday, February 24th. For further information on the Certificate, consult Shawn Harriman, the MBB Education Program Coordinator. For information about the concentration programs and requirements that qualify students for the Certificate, consult the appropriate department.