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-4360 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:

  1. Completion of PSYC-1300NEUR-2310BIOL-1311/BIOL-1111, and CHEM-1311 with grades of C- or better in each class.
  2. 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.


Contact Us


 Department Website


  Gerard M. J. Beaudoin, III, Ph.D. (Program Director — Fall '23))

  Kimberley Phillips, Ph.D. (Program Director — Spring '24)


 

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