Neuroscience

The Major

Students generally complete 44-47 credits (12 courses plus a 1-credit seminar) for the Neuroscience Major.

Students with an interest in Neuroscience should consult with a program faculty member in order to maximize opportunities for off-campus study and to ensure proper sequencing of courses. Students interested in post-graduate study, including medical school, should take CHEM 111 and CHEM 221 in the first year and review other entrance requirements of the programs in which they are interested, as many programs require physics, calculus, and additional chemistry courses. Students interested in taking Biochemistry are reminded that the prerequisites for this course are CHEM 111, 221, 321 and 331. Students who are interested in taking Animal Behavior should take Ecological Biology (BIOL 111) and Biological Diversity (BIOL 226) in their first two years. Students interested in Ornithology, Biology of Insects, and/or Vertebrate Zoology are reminded that Ecological Biology (BIOL 111) is a prerequisite.

With approval from Neuroscience faculty, specialty courses that are offered on an occasional basis may substitute for one or more of the elective courses.

  • Majors are required to complete:

    • BIOL 242 Topics in Neuroscience

    • BIOL 112 Cells, Genes and Inheritance

    • BIOL 341 Cell Physiology

    • BIOL 345 Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System

    • CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry

    • CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry I

    • PSYC 342 Experimental Psychology

    • PSYC 353 Behavioral Neuroscience

    • PSYC 486 Research Project

  • At least two of the following, totaling at least 6 credits:

    • PSYC 237 Social Psychology

    • PSYC 238 Human Development

    • PSYC 239 Personality

    • PSYC 351 Sensation and Perception

    • PSYC 355 Research in Cognition

    • PSYC 361 Research in Developmental Psychology: Cradle and Grave

    • BIOL 363 Psychopathology

  • At least two of the following, totaling at least seven credits:

    • BIOL 111 Ecological Biology

    • BIOL 226 Biological Diversity

    • BIOL 343 Immunology

    • BIOL 346 Vertebrate Zoology

    • BIOL 347 Anatomy and Physiology of Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
                     Renal and Digestive Systems

    • BIOL 348 Ornithology

    • BIOL 357 Animal Behavior

    • BIOL 362 Biology of Insects

    • BIOL 451 Evolutionary Biology           

    • BIOL 461 Microbiology

    • BIOL 464 Advanced Cell Physiology

    • BIOL 465 Advanced Cell Lab

    • BIOL 466 Molecular Genetics           

    • CHEM 351 Biochemistry

  • These courses are also recommended depending on student interest, but not required:

    • MATH 120 or 300 Statistics

    • MATH 180 and 280 Calculus A and B

    • PHYS 120 or 125 Physics I

    • PHYS 230 or 235 Physics II

    • CS 112 or CS 128 Computer Modeling/Programming

    • CS 290 Computational Science