BS in Neuroscience

Interdisciplinary major housed in the Department of Biology

See Also: BA in Cognitive Neuroscience

The BS in Neuroscience teaches the core concepts and methods involved in modern neuroscience and is ideal for students interested in graduate school, medicine and other pre-health careers. The major provides interdisciplinary training in molecular, cellular and cognitive neuroscience, which produces a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and neural circuitry that drive behavioral outputs.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the program, students will:

  • Have a fluent knowledge of the basic terminology and concepts underlying the study of molecular and cellular neuroscience, and neurobiology.
  • Be able to critically evaluate and apply the core experimental methods and analyses used in the study of molecular neuroscience, and neurobiology.
  • Access, understand and apply the primary neuroscientific literature with attention to both major open theoretical questions and recent empirical findings.

Curriculum (71-76 credits)

Basic Science Courses (38-41 credits): 

BISC 1115
  & BISC 1125		 Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules and
Introduction to Cells and Molecules Laboratory 
BISC 1116 
  & BISC 1126 		 Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms
Introduction to Organisms Laboratory
BISC 2207* Genetics
  or BISC 2202  Cell Biology
CHEM 1111  General Chemistry I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II 
CHEM 2151
  & CHEM 2153		 Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry Laboratory I  
CHEM 2152
  & CHEM 2154		 Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry Laboratory II   
PHYS 1025   University Physics I with Biological Applications 
  or PHYS 1011 General Physics I
  or PHYS 1021 University Physics I
PHYS 1026 University Physics II with Biological Applications
  or PHYS 1012 General Physics II
  or PHYS 1022 University Physics II
MATH 1220 & MATH 1221 Calculus with Precalculus I & Calculus with Precalculus II
  or MATH 1231 Single-Variable Calculus I

Two courses in quantitative methods (6 credits) from the following:   

BISC 2584             Introduction to Bioinformatics
CSCI 1012 Introduction to Programming with Python
STAT 1127*^ Statistics for the Biological Sciences

Three gateway courses (9 credits) that introduce core neuroscience concepts from the following:

ANAT 2160                     Human Functional Neuroanatomy
  or SPHR 2106 Anatomy and Physiology for Speech and Hearing II
BISC 2320 Neural Circuits and Behavior 
BISC 3320 Human Neurobiology
PSYC 2015 Biological Psychology         

Five advanced content courses, which must include two courses in cellular/molecular/systems neuroscience (6 credits), two courses in cognitive neuroscience (6 credits) and one course in advanced biochemistry (3 to 4 credits):

Cellular/molecular/systems Neuroscience 

ANTH 3413              Evolution of the Human Brain                     
BISC 2220  Developmental Neurobiology
BISC 3320 Human Neurobiology

Cognitive Neuroscience

PSYC 3118                Neuropsychology                                           
PSYC 3121 Memory and Cognition 
PSYC 3122 Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC 3124 Visual Perception
SPHR 2133  Autism
SPHR 3116  Brain and Language    

Advanced Biochemistry

BISC 3261                 Introductory Medical Biochemistry                
CHEM 3165* Biochemistry I
CHEM 3166 Biochemistry II

Minimum of 3 credits of research experience from the following:    

BISC 2452               
  & BISC 2453		 Animal Behavior
Animal Behavior Lab 
BISC 4171 Undergraduate Research
BISC 4171W Undergraduate Research
BISC 4172 Independent Study
BISC 4172W Independent Study
BISC 4180 Undergraduate Research Seminar
PSYC 4107W Research Lab in Cognitive Neuroscience

 Guided or independent Research in ANTH, CHEM, PHIL, PSYC, or SPHR**

*Recommended for premed students. Premed students also are advised to take Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1001), Human Physiology (BISC 2322) and Introductory Microbiology (BISC 2337).
^Or equivalent
**Only available to students with a minimum 3.0 major GPA and/or the permission of the instructor.