2015–2016 Bulletin Addendum BA in Philosophy & Neuroscience

The joint major in Philosophy & Neuroscience enables students to employ cutting-edge work in the sciences to address seminal questions in philosophy. The major provides a solid foundation in both disciplines with an interdisciplinary focus on understanding the mind. Through rigorous training in both philosophy and neuroscience, students gain the knowledge and skills required for in-depth exploration of fundamental questions concerning human nature. What is mind? What is consciousness? And how do they emerge from the intricate interplay of chemicals and electricity? The joint degree will appeal especially to students who expect to pursue graduate study in the cognitive or neurosciences, law school, medical school, education, public policy, communication, public health, or who generally enjoy asking both big and small questions that inform one’s own personal growth.

Requirements

A total of eighteen 4-credit courses are required, all completed with a grade of C or higher, and distributed as follows:

Philosophy Courses (7)

1. One logic course: CAS PH 160 or higher-level logic course
2. CAS PH 300 History of Ancient Philosophy
3. CAS PH 310 History of Modern Philosophy
4. One moral, political, or legal philosophy course at the 200 level or above
5. One course in philosophy of mind (200 level or higher)
6. One course in philosophy of science (200 level or higher)
7. One CAS PH course at the 400 level, chosen from an approved list including courses not used to satisfy requirements #4–6 above.

Neuroscience and Related Science Courses (11)

8–11. Four foundational neuroscience courses: CAS NE 101, 102, 202, 203
12. One course in programming and statistics: CAS NE 212 (or CAS PS 212 or one of the following two-course sequences: CAS MA 115 and 116; or MA 213 and 214)
13. One general chemistry course: CAS CH 171 (may be replaced by one of the following two-course sequences: CAS CH 101 and 102; or CH 109 and 110; or CH 111 and 112)
14–15. Two physics courses: CAS PY 105 and PY 106 (may be replaced by one of the following sequences: CAS PY 211 and 212; PY 241 and 242; or PY 251 and 252)
16. One calculus course: CAS MA 121 or MA 123
17. One upper-level cellular & molecular elective
18. One upper-level cognitive & behavior elective

Honors in the Joint Major

Students with a cumulative 3.30 GPA in all required courses for the joint major may elect to complete an approved two-semester Senior Thesis in Philosophy & Neuroscience during the senior year. A student completing a project rooted in philosophy or whose primary thesis advisor is a member of the Department of Philosophy will enroll in CAS PH 401 and 402 (Fall/Spring, 4 cr each); for a neuroscience project or project to be mentored primarily by Neuroscience faculty, students will enroll in CAS NE 401 and 402 (Fall/Spring, 4 cr each). At least one member of the thesis committee must come from the secondary discipline.