Neuroscience

The major in Neuroscience is designed for students with interests that intersect the fields of Biology and Psychology. Neuroscience focuses on the relationships among brain function, cognitive processing and behavior. Researchers in this field come from widely disparate backgrounds, including cognitive psychologists, clinical neuropsychologists, basic neuroscientists or bio-psychologists, physicians, and computer scientists. Thus, research questions are considered from many different levels and many different converging methodologies are used.

The Neuroscience major currently consists of two tracks: the Bioscience track and the Cognitive track. The bioscience track focuses on the biological basis of neural development, function, and plasticity. Students will develop an understanding of the nervous system and its role in cognition, perception and action at the molecular, cellular and systems level. The cognitive track provides students with an understanding of how neural networks and brain mechanisms give rise to specific mental processes and behavior. Students begin with the processes that have been traditionally studied in the area of cognitive psychology, but can tailor the program to include processing that is traditionally studied in developmental or clinical psychology as well.

Program Co-directors: Robert Olberg (Biology), Stephen Romero (Psychology)

Advisory Committee: Stanhope, Greenberg and Romero (Psychology); Fleishman, Olberg and Chu-LaGraff (Biology)

Requirements for Neuroscience

The Neuroscience major consists of four parts: (1) A core of required courses; (2) required courses in one of two tracks, Bioscience or Cognitive; (3) general electives; and (4) a senior writing requirement. Unless listed below, course descriptions are listed under their home departments.

1, Required courses for all neuroscience majors:

* Bio 10 and 12 (or Bio 13) Introductory biology

* Bio 25 Molecular biology of the cell

* Either Bio 162: Introduction to neurobiology or Bio 163: Introduction to cellular neurobiology

* Psy 10 Introduction to psychology

* Psy 20 Statistical methods in psychology

* Psy 33 Psychology of memory and thinking

* Psy 46 Introduction to cognitive neuroscience

Students must also take the following cognate courses: Math 10, Chemistry 10 and 12 (or Chemistry 13). One term of Physics is also recommended.

2a. Bioscience track: Any TWO from the following list:

* Bio 140 Molecular genetics

* Bio 170 Endocrinology

* Bio 130 Comparative animal physiology

* Bio 165 Neural circuits and behavior

* Bio 164 Animal behavior

* Psy 32 Sensation and perception

2b. Cognitive track:

* Psy 25 Introduction to experimental psychology

* Phil 65 Philosophy of mind

3. Elective. TWO additional courses from the following list:

* Bio 130 Comparative animal physiology

* Bio 140 Molecular genetics

* Bio 170 Endocrinology

* Bio 136 Developmental biology

* Bio 162 Neurobiology (to be changed)

* Bio 163 Introduction to cellular neuroscience

* Bio 164 Animal behavior

* Bio 165 Neural circuits and behavior

* Chem 30 Organic chemistry

* Psy 31 Abnormal psychology

* Psy 32 Sensation and perception

* Psy 34 Psychology of language

* Psy 36 Psychology of learning

* Psy 38 Developmental psychology

* Psy 47 Introduction to health psychology

* Phil 121 Symbolic logic

* Phil 22 Science and evidence

4. Senior writing requirement

* (a) ONE of the following senior seminars: Psy 166, Bio 187, 188, or 189, or

* (b) a 2 or 3 term senior thesis or senior research project which integrates both Biology and Psychology. Students should register for senior thesis or research in the department that corresponds to their Neuroscience track.

Option (b) is strongly recommended.