Neuroscience Curriculum
The Neuroscience major and minor offer interdisciplinary studies in a field dedicated to understanding the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. The Neuroscience major is a total of 45-49 credits and consists of the Neuroscience required curriculum along with at least one concentration. Concentrations include Biological, Computational, and Psychological. Students have the option to complete more than one concentration, depending on their interests. To see how the Neuroscience major fits into your college career, see these sample 4 Year Plans: Neuroscience Major alone, with Pre-Med, and Double Major in your Neuroscience track.
For course descriptions, visit the online Class Search.
NOTE: Degree requirements for incoming students may not reflect the actual degree requirements of current students.
The Neuroscience major required curriculum consists of 32-33 credit hours spread across an array of interdisciplinary courses.
Neuroscience–6 credits
- NS 110, Introduction to Neuroscience
- NS 210, Multidisciplinary Approaches to Neuroscience
- NS 410, Big Questions in Neuroscience
Psychology–9 credits
- SW 250, Psychological Inquiry
- PS 370, Biological Bases of Behavior (formerly PS 235)
- PS 412, Advanced Applied Neuroscience or PS 413, Neuroscience of Drugs
Philosophy–6 credits
- PL 343, Philosophy of Science
- PL 346, Philosophy of Mind
Biology–11 or 12 credits
- BI 210, Genetics
- BI 220, Cellular and Molecular Biology
- NS 460 or BI 460, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
- Students enrolled in the Biological Neuroscience concentration must take BI 460.
Chemistry
Students completing the Biological track must also take both CH 105 and CH 106 OR only CH107. All Neuroscience students should look at the entrance requirements for graduate programs they may be considering to determine whether these Chemistry courses (if not required) or additional Chemistry courses would help prepare them for graduate school.
The Biological Neuroscience concentration consists of another 13-15 credits, in addition to the required Neuroscience courses.
Required Courses:
- SE 132, Introduction to Python Programming
- BI 230, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- BI 250, Biostatistics
Elective Options–Students must complete at least one elective option from the list below:
- BI 320, Animal Behavior
- BI 370, Basics of Microscopy
- BI 411, Principles of Physiology
- BI 430, Animal Development
- BI 435, Advanced Cell Biology
- BI 436, Molecular Genetics
- RX 610, Recent Advances in Neuropharmacology*
*RX 610 is a special topics course offered by the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The topic that counts towards the Neuroscience major is ‘Recent Advances in Neuropharmacology’. Other topics that may share the same course number are not applicable to the major and will not meet this requirement.
The Computational Neuroscience concentration consists of another 16 credits, in addition to the required Neuroscience courses.
- BI 250, Biostatistics
- CS 142, Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
- CS 151, Foundations of Computing I
- DS 310, Introduction to Data Science (formerly DS 110)
- DS 320 Data Engineering and Curation (formerly DS 210 Applications of Data Mining)
The Psychological Neuroscience concentration consists of another 14-15 credits, in addition to the required Neuroscience courses.
- SE 132, Introduction to Python Programming
- PS 210, Research Methods and Statistics 1
- PS 211, Research Methods and Statistics 2
- PS 385, Cognitive Processes or PS 404, Sensory Processes and Perceptions
- PS 412, Advanced Applied Neuroscience or PS 413, Neuroscience of Drugs or RX 610, Recent Advances in Neuropharmacology*
*RX 610 is a special topics course offered by the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The topic that counts towards the Neuroscience major is ‘Recent Advances in Neuropharmacology’. Other topics that may share the same course number are not applicable to the major and will not meet this requirement.
Required Courses
Biology: 8 hours, take both
- BI 210, Genetics
- BI 220, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Philosophy: 3 hours
- PL 346, Philosophy of Mind
Psychology: 3 hours
- PS 370, Biological Bases of Behavior or PS 375, Psychopharmacology
Computer Science: 3 hours, take either
- SE 132, Introduction to Python Programming OR
- SE 134 Machine Learning for All
One Upper-Level Elective in Biology or Psychology: 3-4 hours, take one
- PS 412, Advanced Applied Neuroscience OR
- PS 413, Neuroscience of Drugs OR
- BI/NS 460, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
- BI 460 and NS 460 have the same lecture content, but BI 460 includes a lab.
- BI 460 requires BI 230 (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology-Fundamentals, 4 credits) and BI 250 (Biostatistics, 4 credits) as prerequisites, in addition to BI 210 and BI 220.
Other courses related to the minor, but not required:
- PL 349, Philosophy of Biology
- PL 343, Philosophy of Science
- PL 375, Topics in Philosophy: Mental Representation
- PS 385, Cognitive Processes
- PS 441, Abnormal Psychology
- PS 420, History of Psychology
- PS 476, Advanced Seminar in Psychobiology: Evolutionary Psychology
- BI 420, Animal Behavior
- CS 473, Topics in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence
- RX 611, Special Topics in Pharmacy: Neuroscience
Required Courses
Biology–11-12 hours
- BI 210, Genetics
- BI 220, Cellular and Molecular Biology
- NS 460 or BI 460, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology with or without lab
Philosophy–3 hours
- PL 346, Philosophy of Mind
Psychology–6 hours
- PS 370, Biological Bases of Behavior (formerly PS 235)
- PS 412, Advanced Applied Neuroscience or PS 413, Neuroscience of Drugs
Other courses related to the minor, but not required:
- PL 349, Philosophy of Biology
- PL 343, Philosophy of Science
- PL 375, Topics in Philosophy: Mental Representation
- PS 385, Cognitive Processes
- PS 441, Abnormal Psychology
- PS 420, History of Psychology
- PS 476, Advanced Seminar in Psychobiology: Evolutionary Psychology
- BI 420, Animal Behavior
- CS 473, Topics in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence
- RX 611, Special Topics in Pharmacy: Neuroscience