Course Requirements

Description of the Major

A total of seventeen (17) courses are required for the Neuroscience major offered through the departments of Biology, Cognitive & Neural Systems, Computer Science, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology. Please select your graduating year to see how these courses are distributed.

Click the headings with red arrows () to expand requirements.

Class of 2016 (Course Worksheet Class of 2016)

Five (5) core neuroscience courses. Seven (7) basic science courses that will provide an appropriate background for neuroscience. Five (5) electives, as outlined by the requirements below (A ‘C’ or higher is required in all 17 courses to receive credit toward the major.) Core Required Courses (5 courses) NE 101 Introduction to Neuroscience NE 102* Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience NE 202 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience NE 203* Principles of Neuroscience NE 204 Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior Basic Science Requirements (7 courses) PY 105/106 Physics I/II CH 101/102 Chemistry I/II MA 123/124 (or equivalent) Calculus I/II PS 211 or MA 115/116 or MA 213/214 Experimental Design in Psychology or Statistics I/II or Basic Statistics and Probability/Applied Statistics Elective Requirement (5 courses) The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience is designed to allow students to choose from a wide range of elective courses. Please keep the following in mind when considering electives: Breadth Requirement: At least one (1) elective must come from a second topic group (in other words, all seven electives CANNOT come from a single topic group). Laboratory Requirement: At least one (1) elective must contain a laboratory component if not met by the core laboratory courses. Up to two (2) electives can be selected from the Restricted list. These courses do not satisfy the Breadth Requirement. Successful completion of NE102 and NE203 will satisfy the upper level lab course requirement. **Also see Divisional Studies Program and General Education Requirements below.

Class of 2015 (Course Worksheet Class of 2015)

Five (5) core neuroscience courses. Seven (7) basic science courses that will provide an appropriate background for neuroscience. Five (5) electives, as outlined by the requirements below (A ‘C’ or higher is required in all 17 courses to receive credit toward the major.) Core Required Courses (5 courses) NE 101 Introduction to Neuroscience NE 102* Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience NE 202 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience NE 203* Principles of Neuroscience NE 204 Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior Basic Science Requirements (7 courses) PY 105/106 Physics I/II CH 101/102 Chemistry I/II MA 123/124 (or equivalent) Calculus I/II PS 211 or MA 115/116 or MA 213/214 Experimental Design in Psychology or Statistics I/II or Basic Statistics and Probability/Applied Statistics Elective Requirement (5 courses) The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience is designed to allow students to choose from a wide range of elective courses. Please keep the following in mind when considering electives: Breadth Requirement: At least one (1) elective must come from a second topic group (in other words, all seven electives CANNOT come from a single topic group). Laboratory Requirement: At least one (1) elective must contain a laboratory component if not met by the core laboratory courses. Up to two (2) electives can be selected from the Restricted list. These courses do not satisfy the Breadth Requirement. Successful completion of NE102 and NE203 will satisfy the upper level lab course requirement. **Also see Divisional Studies Program and General Education Requirements below.

Class of 2014 (Course Worksheet Class of 2014)

Four (4) core neuroscience courses. Six (6) basic science courses that will provide an appropriate background for neuroscience. Seven (7) electives, as outlined by the requirements below. (A ‘C’ or higher is required in all 17 courses to receive credit toward the major.) Core Required Courses (3 courses) NE 101 Introduction to Neuroscience (Optional* students may take NE101 or an additional upper level elective later on) NE 202 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience NE 203* Principles of Neuroscience NE 204 Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior Basic Science Requirements (6 courses) BI 108 or BI 118 Biology II or Biology II with Honors CH 101/102 Chemistry I/II MA 123/124 (or equivalent) Calculus I/II PS 211 or MA 115/116 or MA 213/214 Experimental Design in Psychology or Statistics I/II or Basic Statistics and Probability/Applied Statistics Elective Requirement (8 courses) The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience is designed to allow students to choose from a wide range of elective courses. Please keep the following in mind when considering electives: Breadth Requirement: At least one (1) elective must come from a second topic group (in other words, all seven electives CANNOT come from a single topic group). Laboratory Requirement: At least one (1) elective must contain a laboratory component. Up to three (3) electives can be selected from the Restricted list. These courses do not satisfy the Breadth Requirement. Up to two consecutive semesters of research (during Junior or Senior year) will satisfy upper lab course requirement; therefore only seven (7) electives will be required. **Also see Divisional Studies Program and General Education Requirements below.

Class of 2013 (Course Worksheet Class of 2013)

Three (3) core neuroscience courses. Six (6) basic science courses that will provide an appropriate background for neuroscience. Eight (8) electives, as outlined by the requirements below. (A ‘C’ or higher is required in all 17 courses to receive credit toward the major.) Core Required Courses (3 courses) NE 201/BI 325 Introduction to Cells and Systems Neuroscience NE 202 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience NE 204 Introduction to Computational Models of Brain and Behavior Basic Science Requirements (6 courses) BI 108 or BI 118 Biology II or Biology II with Honors CH 101/102 Chemistry I/II MA 123/124 (or equivalent) Calculus I/II PS 211 or MA 115/116 or MA 213/214 Experimental Design in Psychology or Statistics I/II or Basic Statistics and Probability/Applied Statistics Elective Requirement (8 courses) The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience is designed to allow students to choose from a wide range of elective courses. Please keep the following in mind when considering electives: Breadth Requirement: At least one (1) elective must come from a second topic group (in other words, all seven electives CANNOT come from a single topic group). Laboratory Requirement: At least one (1) elective must contain a laboratory component. Up to three (3) electives can be selected from the Restricted list. These courses do not satisfy the Breadth Requirement. Up to two consecutive semesters of research (during Junior or Senior year) will satisfy upper lab course requirement; therefore only seven (7) electives will be required. **Also see Divisional Studies Program and General Education Requirements below.

Group 1: Cellular and Systems

NE 230	Behavioral Endocrinology
NE 322*	Experimental Psychology: Physiology
NE 444	Neuroethology (not offered AY13)
NE 445*	Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
NE 455	Developmental Neurobiology
NE 520	Sensory Neurobiology
NE 545	Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
NE 481	Molecular Biology of the Neuron
NE 554	Neuroendocrinology
BI 599	Neurobiology of Synapses (not offered AY12)
	* Lab Course

BI 230	Behavioral Endocrinology
PS 3221	Experimental Psychology: Physiology
BI 444	Neuroethology
BI 445	Cellular and Molecular Neurophysiology
BI 455	Developmental Neurobiology
BI 520	Sensory Neurobiology
BI 545	Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior
BI 5751	Techniques in Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
BI 4812	Molecular Biology of the Neuron
BI 5542	Neuroendocrinology
BI 5992	Neurobiology of Synapses

Group 2: Cognition

PS 222	Perception
NE 234	Psychology of Learning
NE 323*	Experimental Psychology: Learning
NE 333	Drugs and Behavior
NE 337	Memory Systems (students may choose either PS337 or PS338 for credit)
NE 338	Neuropsychology (students may choose either PS337 or PS338 for credit)
NE 528	Human Brain Mapping
NE 529	Neuroplasticity: Enabling the Brain to Heal Itself
NE 544	Developmental Neuropsychology
	* Lab Course

PS 222	Perception
PS 234	Psychology of Learning
PS 3231	Experimental Psychology: Learning
PS 333	Drugs and Behavior
PS 336	Cognitive Psychology
PS 337	Memory Systems
PS 338	Neuropsychology
PS 5201	Research Methods: Perception and Cognition
PS 528	Human Brain Mapping
PS 529	Neuroplasticity: Enabling the Brain to Heal Itself
PS 544	Developmental Neuropsychology

Group 3: Computation

BI 502	Computational Perspectives on the Control of Behavior
NE 330*	Introduction to Computational Models of Vision
NE 340*	Introduction to Computational Models of Skilled Action
NE 360*	Introduction to Computational Neuroscience of Speech, Language, and Hearing
NE 530	Neural Models of Memory
MA 421	Modern Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis
MA 565	Mathematical Models in Life Sciences
MA 578	Bayesian Statistics
CS 542	Machine Learning
CS 565	Data Mining
CN 500	Techniques in Modeling
CN 510/520	Principles & Methods of Cognitive & Neural Models I/II
CN 530	Computational Models of Vision
CN 540	Computational Models of Movement
CN 550	Computational Models of Memory
CN 560	Neural & Computational Models of Speech Perception and Production
CN 570	Computational Models of Learning
CN 580	Introduction to Computational Modeling

PS/NE 530	Neural Models of Memory
MA 421	Modern Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis
MA 565	Mathematical Models in Life Sciences
MA 578	Bayesian Statistics
CS 542	Machine Learning
CS 565	Data Mining
CN/NE 3301	Introduction to Computational Models of Vision
CN/NE 3401	Introduction to Computational Models of Skilled Action
CN/NE 3501	Introduction to Computational Models of Perceptual Memory
CN/NE 3601	Introduction to Computational Models of Hearing
CN 5001	Techniques in Modeling
CN 510/520	Principles & Methods of Cognitive & Neural Models I/II
CN 5302	Computational Models of Vision
CN 5402	Computational Models of Movement
CN 5502	Computational Models of Memory
CN 5702	Computational Models of Learning
CN 5802	Introduction to Computational Modeling
* Lab Course

¹Lab Course ²Course has extra prerequisites not included in the neuroscience major. If you lack these prerequisites but still wish to enroll in the course, you should contact the course’s instructor to discuss whether you have the necessary background.

Restricted Electives

No more than three (3) courses can be selected from the list below [no more than two (2) for class of 2015]. These courses do not count toward the Breadth Requirement.

BI 203	Cell Biology
CH 203	Organic Chemistry I
PY 105/106 or PY 241/242 or PY 251/252	Elementary Physics I/II or Principles of General Physics I/II or Principles of Physics I/II
MA 242	Linear Algebra
MA 226	Differential Equations
MA 416	Intermediate Statistics
CS 111/112	Introduction to Computer Science I/I
ENG EK127	Engineering Computation

No more than two (2) courses can be selected from the list below. These courses do not count toward the Breadth Requirement.

BI 203	Cell Biology
CH 203	Organic Chemistry I
PY 105/106 or PY 241/242 or PY 251/252	Elementary Physics I/II or Principles of General Physics I/II or Principles of Physics I/II
MA 242	Linear Algebra
MA 226	Differential Equations
MA 416	Intermediate Statistics
CS 111/112	Introduction to Computer Science I/II

Divisional Studies Program

The Divisional Studies Program requires six (6) one-semester divisional studies courses, two (2) in each of the three divisions outside the division of one’s major concentration. Divisional studies courses are accessible to non-majors and effectively serve as a broad introduction to a specific discipline. Additional information about general education requirements and both the Core Curriculum and Divisional Studies Program can be found here.

Research (choose 1 of these options)

NE 401/402	Senior Work for Distinction (2 Semesters)
NE 391/392/491/492	Directed Study (2 Semester2)
NE 495	Nature of Science in Research Seminar

General Education Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the major, students also must satisfy the requirement for general education through either the Core Curriculum [8] or the Divisional Studies Program [6], and the college language requirement [4]. Both general education programs are designed to provide exposure to and perspective of topics beyond one’s major concentration and immediate academic focus, and to facilitate the acquisition of intellectual tools necessary for success in advanced study. The Core Curriculum consists of eight (8) courses that integrate classic works in the humanities, important ideas in the natural sciences, and current topics within the social sciences. Each course consists of small seminar groups combined with a series of lectures; science core courses include both discussions and laboratories.

Program Catalog

Check out the 2012-2013 academic year Program Catalog!