College of Arts & Sciences
Neuroscience
Director Howard Eichenbaum
Director of Undergraduate Academic and Research Affairs Paul Lipton
Associated Faculty Atema, Baum, Callard, Dionne, Eldred, Gardner, Hausman, Lin, Man, Traniello, Tsunoda, Wachowiak, Wasserman, Widmaier, Yamaguchi (Biology); Bullock, Carpenter, Grossberg, Guenther, Mingolla, Schwartz, Shinn-Cunningham (Cognitive & Neural Systems); Kollios, Sclaroff (Computer Science); Devaney, Eden, Kolaczyk, Kopell (Mathematics & Statistics); Cherry, Cronin-Golomb, Eichenbaum, Harris, Hasselmo, Idrobo, Kantak, Liederman, Lipton, Rucci, Somers, Stern, Watanabe (Psychology)
The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience offers a major concentration in Neuroscience that is distinctly interdisciplinary. Insofar as the field has grown considerably through integration across disciplines over the last few decades, a current understanding requires knowledge that spans traditional approaches. The major combines breadth of exposure to the field with the opportunity for depth of experience in one of three central domains of neuroscience: Cellular and Systems, Cognition and Behavior, and Computational Neuroscience. Students have access to the extensive resources and expertise of faculty across multiple departments and colleges throughout the University. A wide array of courses are offered through the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive & Neural Systems, Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics, and Psychology. Opportunities for independent laboratory research are available through departments in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Engineering, and in the Boston University School of Medicine departments, including Anatomy & Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Neurology, Pathology, Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Physiology & Biophysics, Psychiatry, and Radiology.
Concentration in Neuroscience (0449)
A total of 17 courses are required for the Neuroscience major, and are distributed among six basic science courses that provide an appropriate background for neuroscience, three core neuroscience courses, seven electives within the three principal domains, including at least one course from a second domain and no more than two courses from a restricted elective list. At least one upper-level elective must include a lab component. The final requirement is the senior research experience, which is satisfied by successful completion of any of the following: a) Senior Work for Distinction in Neuroscience (CAS NE 401/402), b) at least one semester of Directed Study in Neuroscience (CAS NE 391, 392, 491, or 492) conducted under guidelines established by the program, or c) a second laboratory course from the approved list. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required in all 17 courses to receive credit toward the major.
Required Basic Science Courses (6) Two courses in chemistry: CAS CH 101 and 102 (or CH 109 and 110; or CH 111 and 112; or CH 171 and 172). Two courses in calculus: CAS MA 123 (or MA 121) and MA 124 (or MA 122, 127, or 129). One course in biology: CAS BI 108 (or BI 118). One course in statistics: CAS PS 211 (or CAS MA 115 and 116; or MA 213 and 214).
Required Core Courses (3) CAS NE 201, NE 202, and NE 204.
Upper Level Electives (7) Choose seven courses from the following three groups. Note: One of the seven courses must contain a laboratory component (marked by an asterisk); to satisfy the breadth requirement, not more than six courses may come from one group; up to two courses may come from a fourth, restricted elective list (these courses will not satisfy the breadth requirement).
Group 1: CAS BI 230, PS 322*, BI 444, BI 445, BI 455, BI 520, BI 545, BI 575*, BI 481, BI 554, BI 599.
Group 2: CAS PS 222, PS 234, PS 323*, PS 333, PS 336, PS 337, PS 338, PS 520*, PS 528, PS 529, PS 544.
Group 3: CAS PS 530, MA 421, MA 565, MA 578, CS 542, CS 565, CN/NE 330*, CN/NE 340*, CN/NE 350*, CN/NE 360*, CN 500*, CN 510, CN 520, CN 530, CN 540, CN 550, CN 560, CN 570, CN 580.
Restricted: CAS BI 203, BI 315, CH 203, PY 105 (or PY 211, 241, or 251), PY 106 (or PY 212, 242, or 252), MA 242, MA 226, MA 416, CS 111, CS 112.
Undergraduate Research Options Students may take CAS NE 191/192 or NE 291/292 for credit, though only CAS NE 391/392 or NE 491/492 or NE 401/402 will satisfy the Senior Research Requirement.
Premedical Students Premedical students concentrating in neuroscience should visit the Preprofessional Advising office (CAS Room B2) as early as possible to discuss premedical requirements.
Courses
CAS NE 100 Neuroethics: Philosophy and Practice
The nature of humanness, equality, privacy, free will, responsibility, and mental health are topics that lie at the intersection of neuroscience and ethics. This freshman seminar explores the social and moral implications of new developments in psychopharmacology, brain-machine interfaces, psychosurgery, and functional neuroimaging. Lipton. 1 cr, 1st sem.
CAS NE 201 Introduction to Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
Prereq: CAS BI 108 and CH 102, or consent of instructor. An introduction to the basic principles of neuronal excitability and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural communication, development, and plasticity. Focus on individual sensory and motor systems. Also offered as CAS BI 201. Dionne. 4 cr, 1st sem.
CAS NE 202 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
Prereq: sophomore standing. Cognitive neuroscience seeks to understand the brain basis of cognition. This course introduces research methods and human neuroanatomy, and provides a survey of topics including learning and memory, attention, perception, language, social cognition, and executive function. Also offered as CAS PS 202. Somers, Stern. 4 cr, 1st sem.
CAS NE 204 Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior
Prereq: CAS MA 123 and 124 and sophomore standing, or consent of instructor. Introduction to important concepts in cognitive neuroscience and computational modeling of biological neural systems. Combines a systems-level overview of brain function with an introduction to modeling of brain and behavior using neural networks. Also offered as CAS CN 210. Guenther. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
Senior Research
CAS NE 391/392/491/492 Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience
Independent research experience in the field of neuroscience conducted under supervision of a neuroscience-affiliated faculty. Research lab must be chosen and the project must meet guidelines established by the program by the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory participation and written report. Staff. 2 or 4 cr, either sem.
CAS NE 401/402 Senior Independent Work
Prereq: approval of NE Director of Undergraduate Academic and Research Affairs, and College Honors Committee. Laboratory research project chosen and performed under supervision of an affiliated neuroscience faculty member. Research lab must be chosen and the project approved by the program and College by the time of registration. Course grade is determined by laboratory participation, written report, and oral presentation. Staff. 4 cr, 1st & 2nd sem.
Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
16 October 2009
Boston University
Questions
Credits