Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis

 

IU Indianapolis Bulletin » Schools » science » Departments & Programs » Neuroscience Program » Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience Degree Requirements

Departments & Programs

Neuroscience Program
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

First-Year Experience Course (1 cr.)

Beginning freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 19 credit hours are required to take SCI-I 120 Windows on Science (1 cr.) or an equivalent first-year experience course.

Area I English Composition and Communication Competency (9 cr.) 

See the School of Science requirements under “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin. The second semester of English composition may be satisfied with ENG-W 231 (or ENG-W 230, ENG-W 270 / ENG-W 150, ENG-W 320, or ENG-W 350).

Area II World Language Competency

No world language proficiency is required for a Bachelor of Science degree. However, knowledge of a world language is strongly recommended for any student planning to attend graduate school.

Area IIIA Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Cultural Understanding Competencies (12 cr.)
  • List H Arts and Humanities Competency: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin.
  • List S Social Sciences Competency: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin. NOTE: PSY-B 110 (or an equivalent introductory psychology course) cannot be used to satisfy this requirement, as the course is required in the major.
  • One additional course from List H or List S
  • List C Cultural Understanding Competency: Choose one course (3 cr.) from this list. The list of course choices is located under the School of Science requirements “Undergraduate Programs” in this bulletin.

For the most current list of courses in the areas of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Understanding, please refer to the IU Indianapolis General Education Curriculum.

Area IIIC Life and Physical Sciences Competency (19-20 cr.)

The following courses are required:

CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.)

CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)

CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry Lectures I (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.)

One of the following courses or course sequences is required:

CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry Lectures I (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.)

PHYS-I 152 Mechanics (4 cr.) OR PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.) OR PHYS-I 218 General Physics I (4 cr.)

Area IIID Analytical Reasoning Competency (9 cr.)

Two courses in calculus are required.  The starting point to be worked out with the departmental advisor based on the math placement test and/or background of the student. Acceptable calculus sequences include

MATH-I 231 / MATH-I 232 Calculus for the Life Sciences I and II (3 cr./3 cr.)

MATH-I 165 / MATH-I 166 Analytic Calculus and Geometry I and II (4 cr./4 cr.)

The computer programming requirement may be satisfied with the following.  Alternate computer science programming courses may be approved in consultation with an academic advisor.

CSCI-N 200 Principles of Computer Science (3 cr.) OR CSCI-N 201 Programming Concepts (3 cr.) OR CSCI-N 207 Data Analysis Using Spreadsheets (3 cr.) OR CSCI-N 211 Introduction to Databases (3 cr.)

Note: Computer Science CSCI-N 241 and CSCI-N 299 do not count in Area IIID, but may count as a general elective.

Area IV Neuroscience Major Requirements (minimum 48 cr.)

A minimum grade of C- (1.70) or higher is required in all courses in Area IV, including neuroscience electives.  An overall GPA of 2.00 GPA is required for AREA IV.

A. Foundation Courses (25 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 101 Concepts of Biology I (5 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 103 Concepts of Biology II (5 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 101)
  • BIOL-K 324 Cell Biology (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 103 and CHEM-C 106)
  • NSCI-K 416 or BIOL-K 416 Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 324)
  • PSY-B 110 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)
  • NSCI-B 201 or PSY-B 201 Foundations in Neuroscience (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110 or BIOL-K 101)
  • NSCI-B 301 or PSY-B 301 Systems Neuroscience (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 201)
B. Statistical Research Methods(3 cr.)
  • PSY-B 305 Statistics (3 cr.) (P: Math credit in School of Science and PSY-B 110)
         OR
  • STAT-I 350 Introduction to Statistics (3 cr.) (P: MATH-I 166)
C. Neuroscience Electives (18 cr.)

Students must complete 3 credits (1 course) from the biology electives course list, and 3 credits (1 course) from the psychology electives course list. Students must also complete an additional 12 credit hours (4 courses) from any courses included in the biology, psychology or chemistry/physics electives course lists.  At least 6 Neuroscience elective courses must be completed overall.

A course cannot be used to satisfy two Area requirements. For example, if CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry Lecture II is taken for the Area IIIC Life and Physical Sciences requirement, then it cannot be subsequently used to satisfy Area IV Part C neuroscience elective requirement. This applies to other courses, including CHEM-C 344, PHYS-I 152, and PHYS-P 201.  This is not a complete list of courses that could count in more than one Area.

Biology Electives Course List

  • BIOL-K 322 Genetics and Molecular Biology (3 cr.) [strongly recommended, as this serves as a prerequisite for other higher-level electives and is generally required for admission to graduate and professional programs] (P: BIOL-K 103 and CHEM-C 106)
  • BIOL-K 331 Developmental Biology (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 103 and BIOL-K 322)
  • BIOL-K 338 Introductory Immunology (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 103, BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 324, CHEM-C 106)
  • BIOL-K 384 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 322 or BIOL-K 324 and CHEM-C 341)
  • NSCI-K 451 or BIOL-K 451 Neuropharmacology (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 324)
  • BIOL-K 484 Cellular Biochemistry (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 322 and CHEM-C 342, P or C: BIOL-K 324)
  • NSCI-K 488 or BIOL-K 488 Endocrinology in Health and Disease (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 324 and BIOL-K 322 or approved equivalents)
  • BIOL-N 461 Cadaveric Human Anatomy (only 3 cr. can count here, the other 2 in the lab requirement) (P: BIOL-N 261 or permission of instructor)
  • NSCI-I 544 or BIOL-I 544 Sensory Systems (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 324)
  • NSCI-I 559 or BIOL-I 559 Endocrinology (3 cr.)
  • NSCI-I 560 or BIOL-I 560 Clinical and Molecular Aspects of Neurodegenerative Diseases (3 cr.)
  • NSCI-I 561 or BIOL-I 561 Immunology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-I 568 Regenerative Biology and Medicine (3 cr.)
  • NSCI-I 571 or BIOL-I 571 Developmental Neurobiology (3 cr.) (Not offered every semester)

Psychology Electives Course List

  • PSY-B 334 Perception (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • PSY-B 340 Cognition (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • PSY-B 344 Learning (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • PSY-B 356 Motivation (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • PSY-B 365 Health Psychology (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • PSY-B 380 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • NSCI-B 394 or PSY-B 394 Drugs and Behavior (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 110)
  • NSCI-B 398 or PSY-B 398 Brain Mechanisms of Behavior (3 cr.) (P: PSY-B 301)
  • NSCI-I 535 or PSY-I 535 Clinical Neuroscience (3 cr.)
  • PSY-I 545 Psychopharmacology (3 cr.)
  • PSY-I 560 Behavioral Genetics (3 cr.)

Chemistry/Physics Electives Course List

  • CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.) (If used in Area IIIC, then the course cannot apply to the Area IV Part C requirement.)
  • CHEM-C 371 Chemical Informatics I (1 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 372 Chemical Informatics II: Molecular Modeling (2 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 485 Biosynthesis and Physiology (3 cr.)
  • PHYS-I 152 Mechanics (4 cr.) (If used in Area IIIC, then the course cannot apply to the Area IV Part C requirement.)
  • PHYS-I 251 Heat, Electricity and Optics (5 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.) (If used in Area IIIC, then the course cannot apply to the Area IV Part C requirement.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.)
  • PHYS-I 219 General Physics II (4 cr.)
  • PHYS-I 585 Molecular Biophysics (3 cr.)
D. Upper-level Laboratory (1-2 cr.)

To receive credit for a laboratory for which there is an accompanying pre- or co-requisite lecture, the lecture must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Laboratory courses can be enrolled concurrently with the lecture (often preferred) or in a semester after the completed lecture.

  • BIOL-K 323 Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 325 Cell Biology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 333 Developmental Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 339 Immunology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • NSCI-K 417 Neuroanatomy Lab (2 cr.) (P: NSCI-B 301 or NSCI-K 416)
  • CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2 cr.) (If used in Area IIIC, then the course cannot apply to the Area IV Part C requirement.)
  • CHEM-C 486 Biological Chemistry Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOL-N 461 Cadaveric Anatomy (2 cr. of the course can count here)
E. Capstone (1 course or course sequence; where not indicated, credit hours to be determined in consultation with advisor)
  • BIOL-K 493 Independent Research (minimally 2 cr.) and BIOL-K 494 Senior Research Thesis (minimally 1 cr.) (2 semesters - Fall and Spring - and requires application due in Spring semester before the Fall semester starts)

        OR

  • PSY-B 499 Capstone Honors Research (2 semesters - Fall and Spring - and requires application due in Spring semester before the Fall semester starts)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 490 Capstone Library Research (one semester; by application only)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 491 Capstone Lab in Behavioral Neuroscience (Spring semester only)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 492 Capstone in Computational Neuroscience (Fall semester only)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 493 Capstone Independent Laboratory Research (minimally 3 credits over two semesters; Fall and Spring semesters only; consent of instructor required)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 494 Capstone Teaching Practicum Neuroscience (Fall and Spring semesters only; consent of instructor required)

        OR

  • NSCI-N 496 Clinical Experiential Neuroscience Capstone
        OR
  • CHEM-C 494 Intro to Capstone in Chemistry (1 cr.) (junior standing) and CHEM-C 495 Capstone in Chemistry (1 cr.) (senior standing). Requires permission from the instructor and independent project advisor.

        OR

  • MATH-I 492 Capstone Experience

        OR

  • PHYS-I 490 Undergraduate Readings and Research