Departments & Programs

Psychological and Brain Sciences

Major in Neuroscience—B.S.

Purpose

The B.S. in Neuroscience is designed for students who have an interest in the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience and who are interested in pursuing graduate training in neuroscience, attending medical school, or obtaining a research-related position in biotechnology, the life sciences, or the pharmaceutical industry. The major provides interdisciplinary training in basic scientific principles in the life and physical sciences that are necessary for an understanding of nervous system function, as well as training in the fundamental principles of neuroscience, and opportunities for more advanced training in specific topics in the field. Thus, students will gain a depth of understanding in neuroscience, from the cellular and molecular bases of nervous system function, to a systems-level approach to the study of brain-behavior relationships.

Required Courses

Students must complete the following fundamental skills and distribution requirements:

  1. Writing, English Composition and Intensive Writing.
  2. Mathematics, fulfilled by major requirements.
  3. Foreign language, three semesters in the same language, or equivalent proficiency.
  4. One Topics course (COLL-E 103, COLL-E 104, or approved equivalents).
  5. Arts and Humanities, two courses (could include COLL-E 103 or equivalent from number 4 above).
  6. Social and Historical Studies, two courses (could include COLL-E 104 or equivalent from number 4 above).
  7. Natural and Mathematical Sciences, fulfilled by major requirements.

Major Requirements

Students must complete the following courses:

1. Introductory courses:

  • PSY-P 101 or PSY-P 106 or PSY-P 155
  • PSY-P 346 (or P326)
  • BIOL-L 112 or BIOL-H 112
  • CHEM-C 117, C341 (or R340), and C343
  • PHYS-P 201 and P202 (or P221 and P222)

2. Mathematics courses:

  • MATH-M 211 (or both M119 and M120)
  • PSY-K 300 or K310 or a substitute approved by the undergraduate advisor

3. Basic non-neuroscience courses: Select three courses from CSCI-A 321, CHEM-C 342, BIOL-L 211, BIOL-L 311, BIOL-L 312, MATH-M 212, MATH-M 301, or MATH-M 303.

4. Advanced neuroscience courses: Select four courses from PSY-P 337, P349, P406, P407, P409, P410, P411, P423, P437, P441, P466, P457 (any topic with P326 or P346 as a prerequisite), or approved BIOL-L 410 seminars, or PHYS-P 317.

5. Laboratory courses: Select one from PSY-P 426, PSY-P 433, or an approved neuroscience laboratory using an appropriate departmental research course for enrollment such as: PSY-P 493, PSY-P 494, PSY-P 499, BIOL-L 490, CHEM-C 409, PHYS-S 406, SPHS-S 480.