Neuroscience Major (B.A.)

Associate Professor Bailey

Assistant Professors Horn, Vadnie

Neuroscience is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of study whose primary focus is understanding the neural mechanisms that regulate mental processes and behavior in both humans and animals.

Students can pursue neuroscience through multiple levels of analysis - from genes to cells to neuronal systems to complex behaviors, especially as related to human behavior & cognition. Students will also learn how disruptions to these systems can lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Neuroscience majors often pursue careers in biomedical research, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, medicine (M.D. or D.O), or other clinical professions (e.g. physician assistant, nursing, or physical therapy).

Learning Objectives

Goals:

Students will demonstrate understanding of key concepts and proficiency in skills relevant to the study of the nervous system.
Students will be able to develop hypotheses, design experiments, and interpret data for a question related to a neuroscience problem.
Students will be able to think beyond single-discipline borders when they attempt to solve scientific problems.
Students will be able to access and critically read the primary neuroscience literature.
Students will be able to communicate neuroscience concepts in an accessible manner to audiences with varying levels of scientific expertise.

Foundational Courses (6):

Statistics (1 from):

MATH 105 Basic Probability and Statistics

(not recommended for those intending to pursue a Masters, Ph.D. or medical school)

Neuroscience Core courses (5):

[Neuroscience majors are required to co-enroll in NEUR 342L.]

NEUR 343 Behavioral Neuroscience

[Neuroscience majors are required to co-enroll in NEUR 343L.]

[Neuroscience majors are only allowed to enroll in NEUR 374 in their senior or graduating year.]

1 Neuroscience elective from:

1 General elective:

Any upper-level course (course number 250 or higher) in PSYC, NEUR or any other Natural Sciences, including a 2nd course from the “Neuroscience electives.”

A student may petition for a course outside of the Natural Sciences to count as an elective if they can demonstrate its relevance to neuroscience or to their future career plans.