Neuroscience (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience is a multi-disciplinary program designed to provide an understanding of the nature and functioning of the nervous system from the molecular to the behavioral level. Courses, taught by faculty from the Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy departments, offer a broad spectrum of topics and approaches to the study of neural systems, structure, and function. The major offers an opportunity for students to engage in supervised research in neuroscience and related areas and provides valuable experience to students interested in pursuing careers in the health professions or graduate study. Double majors in neuroscience and biology are not permitted.

Requirements for the major

I. Specific degree requirements (55-59 credit hours)

A. Core curriculum in neuroscience (9 hours):

Course ID	Course Title
NEUR-2310	Introduction to Neuroscience
NEUR-2110	Neuroscience Laboratory
NEUR-3457	Neurobiology
NEUR-4000	Neuroscience Seminar (one semester)
NEUR-4100	Neuroscience Capstone Seminar

B. Supporting courses in biology (12 hours):

Course ID	Course Title
BIOL-1311	Integrative Biology I
BIOL-1111	Introductory Biology Laboratory
BIOL-2312	Cells and Cell Systems
BIOL-2112	Cell Systems Laboratory
BIOL-3413	Genes, Phenotypes, and Evolutionary Dynamics

C. Supporting courses in chemistry (11 hours):

Course ID	Course Title
CHEM-1311	General Chemistry I
CHEM-1312	General Chemistry II
CHEM-1112	General Chemistry Lab
CHEM-2319	Organic Chemistry I
CHEM-2119	Laboratory Methods in Organic Chemistry

D. Supporting courses in psychology (11 hours):

Course ID	Course Title
PSYC-1300	Principles of Psychology
PSYC-2401	Statistics and Methods I
PSYC-2402	Statistics and Methods II

E. Four elective courses from the following (12-16 hours).

Students must, in consultation with a Neuroscience advisor, develop a program of study, provide a written articulation of their academic and vocational goals, and discuss how their proposed program of study will move them toward these goals. The program of study should be submitted to the Program Director when the major is declared. The committee will approve the program or suggest changes.

Biology

Course ID	Course Title
BIOL-3420	Animal Behavior
BIOL-3462	Animal Physiology
BIOL-3464	Immunobiology
BIOL-3466	Cell Biology

Chemistry

Course ID	Course Title
CHEM-3330	Biochemistry I
CHEM-436 0	Neurochemistry

Neuroscience

Course ID	Course Title
NEUR-3310	Neuroethics
NEUR-4390	Research in Neuroscience

Philosophy

Course ID	Course Title
PHIL-3431	Philosophy of Mind
PHIL-3432	Philosophy of Science
PHIL-3459	Biomedical Ethics

Physics and Astronomy

Course ID	Course Title
PHYS-3311	Principles of Biophysics

Psychology

Course ID	Course Title
PSYC-2330	Fundamentals of Cognition
PSYC-3311	Sensation and Perception
PSYC-3312	Principles of Learning
PSYC-3431	Memory and Cognition
PSYC-3340	Psychopathology

II. University Requirements:

Completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 120 credit hours.

How to apply

Full acceptance in the major is granted when the following requirements are met:

Completion of PSYC-1300, NEUR-2310, BIOL-1311/BIOL-1111, and CHEM-1311 with grades of C- or better in each class.
An overall grade point average of at least 2.0.

Students may seek provisional acceptance into the major after completion of two of the above listed courses with grades of C- or better in each class.

A student may not earn a major in Neuroscience and another major in Biology. A student may not earn a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Psychology. If a student wishes to major in both Neuroscience and Psychology, a maximum of two Psychology elective courses can be used to satisfy requirements for the Neuroscience major.

Requirements

To be eligible for graduation with Honors in Neuroscience, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.33 in all courses taken prior to the semester before graduation, a grade point average in neuroscience courses (core and supporting) of at least 3.50, and “A” in NEUR-4395 and NEUR-4396.

To apply for graduation with Honors in Neuroscience, students should address a written request for consideration to the Faculty Advisory Committee. The request must be received no later than the first full week of the student’s final semester before graduation. The decision to confer or not to confer Honors will be made by the Faculty Advisory Committee and the Research Supervisor and will be based on the quality of the written thesis and its oral presentation in a colloquium.