Brad A. Alford, Ph.D.
Galen L. Baril, Ph.D.
James P. Buchanan, Ph.D., Chair
J. Timothy Cannon, Ph.D., Program Director
John J. Dunstone, Ph.D.
Thomas P. Hogan, Ph.D.
Christie Pugh Karpiak, Ph.D.
John C. Norcross, Ph.D.
John J. O’Malley, Ph.D.
Carole S. Slotterback, Ph.D.
Overview
The foundation courses of this interdisciplinary
curriculum are selected from the Biology, Psychology, and Chemistry
departments. Depending upon the electives chosen, the program can prepare
students for a variety of graduate programs within the field of neuroscience.
Such graduate training may draw from a range of disciplines, including biology,
psychology, anatomy, pharmacology, toxicology, biophysics, biochemistry and
medicine. Students have ample research opportunities in laboratories that can
support a diversity of behavioral, biochemical, neurophysiological and
neuroanatomical investigations. The program is administered by an
interdisciplinary committee.
Major in Neuroscience
42.5 to 46.5 credits. Majors must take two electives from
both Biology and Psychology. Psychology electives must be drawn from PSYC 220,
221, 222, 225, 230, 234, 235, or, with permission of the director, PSYC 284 or
384. Biology electives must be drawn from those intended for Biology majors.
With permission of the director, NEUR 384: Special Topics in Neuroscience may
be used to fulfill one Psychology or Biology elective requirement.
Cognate in Neuroscience
31-37 credits. Students should consider their projected
graduate program when choosing cognate electives from the areas of chemistry,
mathematics, physics, and computer science.
Neuroscience
Curriculum
Dept. and
No.
Descriptive Title of
Course
Credits
FIRST YEAR
FALL
SPRING
MAJOR (GE NSCI)
BIOL 141-142
Gen. Biology I-II
4.5
4.5
COGNATE
CHEM 112-113
Gen. Analytical Chem.
I-II
4.5
4.5
MAJOR (GE S/BH)
PSYC 110
Fundamentals of
Psychology
3
GE WRTG-SPCH
WRTG 107 - COMM 100
Composition - Public
Speaking
3
3
GE FSEM
INTD 100
Freshman Seminar
1
GE C/IL
C/IL 102
Computing and Information
Literacy
3
GE T/RS
T/RS 121
Theology I
3
16
18
SECOND YEAR
MAJOR
BIOL 348
Neurophysiology
3
MAJOR
ELECT
Major Elective
3
MAJOR
PSYC 231
Behavioral Neuroscience
4.5
MAJOR
PSYC 210-330 1
Psych. Statistics -
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences
3
5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)
MATH 114
Analysis I
4
GE PHIL-T/RS
PHIL 122 - T/RS 122
Intro. to Phil. -
Theology II
3
3
GE HUMN
ELECT
Humanities Elective
3
GE PHED
PHED ELECT
Physical Education
1
2
18.5
16
THIRD YEAR
MAJOR
MAJOR ELECT
Major Electives
6-8
3-4
COGNATE
ELECT
Cognate Electives
6-8
6-8
GE PHIL
PHIL 210
Ethics
3
GE HUMN
HUMN ELECT
Humanities Elective
3
GE S/BH
S/BH ELECT
Social/Behavioral
Elective
3
15-19
15-18
FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR
MAJOR ELECT
Major Elective
3-4
COGNATE
ELECT
Cognate Electives
6-8
GE HUMN
HUMN ELECT
Humanities Electives
3
3
GE PHIL or T/RS
PHIL or T/RS ELECT
Philosophy or T/RS
Elective
3
GE ELECT
ELECT
Free Electives
3
12
15-18
18
Total:
131.5 - 141.5 Credits
1 PSYC 330 fulfills one of the
writing-intensive requirements of the general-education program.
Course Descriptions
— Neuroscience
NEUR 384 — Special Topics in Neuroscience
(Formerly NEUR 170; prerequisites: BIOL 141- 142,
PSYC 231) Course topics are developed by individual faculty to provide in-depth
coverage of specific areas in neuroscience. Some courses have required or
elective laboratory components. Course titles and descriptions will be provided
in advance of registration.
NEUR 493-494 — Undergraduate Research in
Neuroscience — 3-6 credits
(Formerly NEUR 160-161; prerequisites: BIOL
141-142, PSYC 231, PSYC 330, and permission of instructor) Individual study and
research on a specific topic relevant to neuroscience under the supervision of
a faculty member. It is strongly recommended that this research be initiated
during the junior year, and it is expected that the research will extend over a
two-semester period.
