Requirements

Major and Minor in Neuroscience

Requirements for the Major:

At least 14 credits

• Fundamental - 7 courses
  
  • Biology 120: Organismal Biology
  • Biology 221: Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry 115: General Chemistry I
  • Chemistry 116: General Chemistry II
  • Psychology 110: Introductory Psychology
  • Psychology 221: Research Methods and Statistics I
  • Psychology 222: Research Methods and Statistics II
• Core - 2 courses
• • Biology / Neuroscience 346: Molecular Neuroscience
  • Psychology / Neuroscience 370: Neuroscience & Behavior

• Electives - 4 courses chosen from the following list. (3 must be from Biology and Psychology, with at least 1 course from both of those departments):
  • Biology 324: Advanced Cell Biology
  • Biology 340: Animal Physiology
  • Biology 342: Developmental Biology
  • Biology 344: Animal Behavior
  • Biology 352: Molecular Genetics
  • Biology / Neuroscience 362: Mechanisms of Brain Dysfunction
  • Biology 389: Evolution
  • Computer Science 425: Artificial Intelligence
  • Philosophy 296: Philosophy of the Mind
  • Psychology 310: Sensation & Perception
  • Psychology 320: Learning & Memory
  • Psychology 330: Motivation & Emotion
  • Psychology 350: Abnormal Psychology
  • Psychology 360: Cognitive Psychology
• Senior Studies Requirement - 1 course, chosen from the following options:
  • Senior seminar — Each year, one of the senior seminars offered by the Biology or the Psychology Departments will be designated for Neuroscience majors and cross-listed as NEUR 4xx.
  • Senior thesis

In order to count a specific course toward the major, a student must earn at least a C-minus in that course. In order to graduate with a major, a student must earn at least a C average (2.0) in all courses selected to fulfill the major requirements.

Requirements for the Minor:

At least 8 credits

• Fundamental - 6 courses
  
  • Biology 120: Organismal Biology
  • Biology 221: Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Chemistry 115: General Chemistry I
  • Chemistry 116: General Chemistry II
  • Psychology 110: Introductory Psychology
  • Psychology 221: Research Methods and Statistics I
• Core - 2 courses
  • Biology / Neuroscience 346: Molecular Neuroscience
  • Psychology / Neuroscience 370: Neuroscience & Behavior 

In order to count a specific course toward the minor, a student must earn at least a C-minus in that course. In order to graduate with a minor, a student must earn at least a C average (2.0) in all courses selected to fulfill the minor requirements.

Major/Minor Combination Options:

The neuroscience major may be combined with any other major/minor offered at the college and with study abroad.

Any triple combination of majors and minors within biology, psychology, and neuroscience is forbidden, even when possible under general College rules for majors and minors.

For these three disciplines specifically, the available neuroscience options are:

• Double major in psychology and neuroscience
• Minor in psychology and major in neuroscience
• Minor in neuroscience and major in psychology
• Double major in biology and neuroscience
• Minor in biology and major in neuroscience
• Minor in neuroscience and major in biology

Additional Notes:

• Students declaring a double major must complete course requirements in both major fields. It is possible for some courses to be counted toward both majors. However, the second major must consist of at least five separate courses that do not double count, and at least three of these five courses must be at the 300- or 400-level.
• The minor must consist of at least four separate courses that do not double count.
• Students intending to pursue postgraduate programs in the health professions or graduate programs in neuroscience will likely need additional courses in biology, chemistry, physics or math, specific to the graduate program they intend to pursue.