Our neuroscience major provides a fundamental understanding of brain function that emerges from knowledge of the interplay of the molecular, cellular and systems–level operation of the nervous system. Our distinguished faculty also teach excellent upper division courses in areas of expertise that include, but are not limited to, learning and memory, addiction, mental illness, stress, neuroendocrinology, neurogenetics and neurocircuits of motivated behavior.

Prerequisites

It is policy to enforce the course prerequisites listed in the course descriptions. If a student has not either taken and passed (C- or better) the prerequisites for a course, or obtained permission from the instructor or a departmental advisor to take the course based on equivalent preparatory coursework or experience here or elsewhere, the student may be administratively dropped from the course.

Degree Requirements

The neuroscience major requires a minimum of 37 credit hours in neuroscience coursework, including a minimum of 21 upper-division credit hours, and additional ancillary foundation coursework.

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the requirements listed below.  Students must fulfill all of the following requirements with a grade of C- or better. None of the courses taken to fill these requirements may be taken pass/fail; courses must be taken for a letter grade. The cumulative GPA in courses that can count toward the major must be at least 2.000. Additional explanatory notes are available in the department advising office, Muenzinger D260.

The department recommends taking NRSC 2125, NRSC 2150 and NRSC 2200, the genetics and statistics requirements and the ancillary biology, and general chemistry sequences during the first 2.5 years (5 semesters) of study.

Required Courses and Credits

Required Major Courses
NRSC 2125Introduction to Neuroscience I: Foundations4
NRSC 2150Introduction to Neuroscience II: Systems4
NRSC 2200Laboratory Techniques in Neuroscience2
Select one of the following genetics courses: 13-4
Principles of Genetics (preferred)
Genetics: Molecules to Populations
Select one of the following statistics/computation courses:3-4
Psychological Science I: Statistics (preferred)
Introduction to Statistics and Quantitative Thinking for Biologists
Introduction to Statistics with Computer Applications
Intro to Data Science and Biostatistics
Introduction to Statistics
Statistical Analysis in Business
Introduction to Data Science with Probability and Statistics
Introduction to Social Statistics
Upper-division Neuroscience Requirements
MCDB 3135Molecular Biology3
or MCDB 3145 Cell Biology
Select at least four of the following Neuroscience courses:12
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
The Neurobiology of Stress
Neurobiology of Addiction
Developmental Neurobiology
Clinical Neuroscience: A Clinical and Pathological Perspective
Neural Circuits of Learning and Decision Making
Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
Neuropharmacology
Genetics of Brain and Behavior
Upper-division major electives
Select 6 credit hours of upper-division elective coursework by taking additional courses from the upper-division requirements above or from the following neuroscience and general science electives. 16
Principles of Biochemistry
Computational Genomics Lab
Animal Behavior
Computational Biology
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Health and Function over the Adult Lifespan
Physiological Genetics and Genomics
Sleep Physiology
Neurophysiology
Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Health
Advanced Data Analysis in Biomedical Research
Biological Data Science
Quantitative Optical Imaging
Quantitative Optical Imaging
Cell Signaling and Developmental Regulation
Cellular Basis of Disease
Mechanisms of Aging
Molecular Neurobiology
Senior Thesis
Affective Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience/Neuropsychology
Special Topics in Neuroscience
Research Methods in Behavioral Genetics
Psychology of Perception
Social Neuroscience
Clinical Neuropsychological Disorders
Communication Neuroscience
Total Credit Hours37-39
Ancillary Foundation Courses
Ancillary introductory biology and laboratory requirement—select one of the two following:4-5
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (with 2 credit lab MCDB 1161, MCDB 1171, MCDB 1181/IPHY 1181, MCDB 2161, MCDB 2171)
General Biology 1
and General Biology Laboratory 1
Ancillary general chemistry sequence requirement—select one of the following options:10
Option 1:
General Chemistry 1
and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1
General Chemistry 2
and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2
Option 2:
Biochemistry/Chemistry double majors: the for-majors CHEM courses count. Discuss with you NRSC advisor.
Total Credit Hours14-15

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. 

To maintain adequate progress in neuroscience, students should meet the following requirements:

  • The neuroscience major ideally should be started in the first semester. Adequate progress is defined as cumulative completion of at least one fourth of the required coursework for the major during each academic year, including the following specific requirements: a) The ancillary introduction to biology requirement and the genetics requirement ideally should be completed during the first year; b) All ancillary requirements and Introduction to Neuroscience I and II ideally should be completed by the end of the second year.
  • The neuroscience major requires at least 51 hours of required coursework.
  • The four-year guarantee also requires completion of 30 hours of General Education courses by the end of the sophomore year.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will complete all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, including the lab component, and possibly the QRMS component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
MCDB 1150 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
MCDB 1161
From Dirt to DNA: Phage Genomics Laboratory I
or Antibiotics Discovery Through Hands-on Screens I
2
MCDB 1152 Problem Solving Co-Seminar for Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology 1
General Education Requirement (example: Lower-division Written Communication) 3
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Genetics (MCDB 2150 or EBIO 2070) 3-4
MCDB 2152 Problem Solving Co-Seminars for Genetics 1
CHEM 1021 Introductory Chemistry 4
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
Elective (lower-division or upper-division) 1-3
 Credit Hours15-18
Year Two
Fall Semester
CHEM 1113
CHEM 1114
General Chemistry 1
and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1
5
NRSC 2125 Introduction to Neuroscience I: Foundations 4
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
General Education Requirement (example: Diversity) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
CHEM 1133
CHEM 1134
General Chemistry 2
and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2
5
NRSC 2150 Introduction to Neuroscience II: Systems 4
General Education Requirement (example: Diversity) 3
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Three
Fall Semester
NRSC 2200 Laboratory Techniques in Neuroscience 2
MATH 2510 Introduction to Statistics 3
MCDB 3135
Molecular Biology
or Cell Biology
3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective (lower-division or upper-division) 1-3
 Credit Hours15-17
Spring Semester
Upper-division NRSC Core course 3
Upper-division NRSC Core course 3
General Education Requirement (example: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
Upper-division NRSC Core course 3
Upper-division NRSC Core course 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper division Elective 3
General Education Requirement (example: Arts & Humanities, Social Science) 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Upper-division NRSC Elective 3
Upper-division NRSC Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Elective (lower-division or upper-division) 3
Elective (lower-division or upper-division) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120-125

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completing the program, students will:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the structural organization and functional components of the nervous system, including intracellular and intercellular signaling.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the systems and circuits of the brain and nervous system that control specific functions.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the important mechanistic relationship between nervous system function and health (physiological, neurological and psychological health).
  • Read, evaluate and interpret primary literature in the neuroscience field.
  • Design experiments, critically evaluate experimental design and analyze experimental data related to the neuroscience field.
  • Effectively communicate information in the neuroscience field.