Neuroscience
Neuroscience Major Requirements
Six Core Courses. Students must also complete the course work in one of two concentrations (Behavioral Neuroscience or Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience).
The Neuroscience Core
- BIOL 107: Human Biology: Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 108: Human Biology: Anatomy and Physiology II
- CHEM 201: General Chemistry I
- CHEM 202: General Chemistry II
- PSYC 213: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Senior capstone experience. Choose one of the following:
- Neur 400: Neuroscience capstone
- BIOL 499: Research/Thesis
- PSYC 400 and 401: Directed Research and Thesis in Psychology
Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience Concentration
A minimum of 15 courses (at least 9 of which are 300-level or above) to include the following (in addition to the core courses listed above):
-
Choose one of the following
- BIOL 209: Biostatistics and Experimental Design
- PSYC 300: Research Methods (Please note that PSYC 300 has a prerequisite of PSYC 227: Psychological Statistics)
- CHEM 311: Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 312: Organic Chemistry II
- BIOL 312: Genetics
-
BIOL 317: Survey of Biochemistry (cross-listed as CHEM 317) or BIOL 414: Biochemistry I (cross- listed with CHEM 414)
- Note: Biol/CHEM 317 is a survey course that covers biomolecules and biochemical processes in a single semester. Biol/CHEM 414 and CHEM 415: Biochemistry II constitute a two-semester sequence for students seeking a more detailed presentation of biochemistry. The first semester concerns biological molecules and the second semester concerns metabolism, cell signaling, and biochemical genetics. Students who elect to take Biol/CHEM 414 are advised to also take CHEM 415.
- BIOL 325: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Two additional biology/chemistry courses at the 300- or 400-level
- One additional Psychology course from the following:
Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration
A minimum of 13 courses (at least 7 of which are 300-level or above) to include the following (in addition to the core courses listed above):
- PSYC 227: Statistics
- PSYC 300: Research Methods
- Two additional Psychology courses from the following:
- Three additional courses at the 300- or 400-level
- BIOL 307: Animal Physiology
- BIOL 311: Developmental Biology
- BIOL 312: Genetics
- BIOL 325: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- BIOL 410: Molecular Foundations of Developmental Biology
- BIOL 411: Experimental Embryology
- BIOL 412: Molecular Genetics
- BIOL 495: Directed Study
- PSYC 302: Neuropsychopharmacology
- PSYC 311: Foundations of learning
- PSYC 313: Advanced behavioral neuroscience
- PSYC 314: Advanced human neuroscience
- PSYC 321: Brain injury and recovery
- PSYC 329: Special topics in neuroscience (as approved by chair)
- PSYC 395: Directed study
- At least one of the above courses at the 300- or 400-level must include a laboratory component. In Psychology, these courses are denoted in the course catalog with an EXP designation. In Chemistry and Biology, courses are denoted with a LAB designation.
Students pursuing a major in Neuroscience should be aware of the following:
- As listed above, students may receive course credit for an independent study in any represented discipline (biology, chemistry or psychology), assuming the research is directly related to the field of neuroscience (as approved by the neuroscience program chair).
- Students may count up to two units of research, via directed study, toward fulfilling major requirements. That directed study should occur in a single discipline, though a student may petition to include research from different disciplines pending the program director’s approval.
