Mar 28, 2024  
College Catalog 2013-2014 
    
College Catalog 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Neuroscience Studies Major


Major Requirements


The neuroscience studies major consists of three primary components: 1) completion of 5 foundation courses, 2) completion of a 7 course core curriculum required for all neuroscience studies majors, and 3) a 5 or 6 course emphasis (described below) in mathematics, computer science, philosophy, or psychology, or a disciplinary or interdisciplinary minor or major approved by the neuroscience studies faculty for inclusion in place of an emphasis in the neuroscience studies major depending on the interests and future goals of the student*. The core curriculum for neuroscience studies draws from introductory, intermediate and advanced courses in biology, mathematics, computer science, philosophy, and psychology, as well as prerequisite courses. The senior capstone experience in neuroscience studies is satisfied by successful completion of an approved research experience (e.g., NEUR 300 ) and the NEUR 488 - Senior Seminar  (2 semesters) in neuroscience studies. The student, in consultation with his/her advisor, chooses courses in his/her emphasis from approved coursework in one of the participating departments, or, alternately, chooses courses for inclusion in a separate minor or major in consultation with both faculty in the department housing the minor or major, and a neuroscience studies faculty member. Individual minors or majors will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and must be approved for inclusion in the neuroscience studies major in order to satisfy the emphasis requirement. (Not all minors or majors will meet this requirement.)

* Students interested in a more in-depth study of neurobiology and neurochemistry or who plan to pursue a career as a biomedical scientist should also consider the major in biology with an emphasis in neurobiology. (See Biology Major  section of this catalog.)

Specific Requirements for the Neuroscience Studies Major


Five foundation courses are required of all majors: BIOL 260  and BIOL 265 ; CHEM 112  or CHEM 115 COMP 120 , COMP 121  or COMP 123 *; MATH 155 .
* Students select the course that will serve as the appropriate prerequisite for the computer science course selected from the list in 3 below.

Seven Neuroscience Studies Core Courses:

  1. NEUR 180 - Brain, Mind, and Behavior  (introductory course)
  2. BIOL 255 - Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory Methods  (completed in conjunction with either of the Biology foundation courses, BIOL 260  or BIOL 265 )
  3. One of: COMP 365 - Computational Linear Algebra , NEUR 484 - Intro Artificial Intelligence 
  4. NEUR 362 - Philosophy of Mind 
  5. NEUR 248 - Behavioral Neuroscience  
  6. NEUR 300 - Directed Research *
    * The Directed Research experience should be defined in part by the discipline of emphasis for the neuroscience studies major and focus on a neuroscience-related topic. It should culminate in the creation of a research paper that is modeled after professional publications in the student’s area of emphasis.
  7. Capstone Experience
    A capstone experience of either the neuroscience studies senior seminar or, with approval of the student’s advisor and director of the neuroscience studies program, an advanced independent project.
    NEUR 488 - Senior Seminar  (taken twice)

Required Emphasis in a Participating Department or Approved Minor or Major


Completion of an emphasis in one of the participating departments (mathematics, computer science, philosophy, or psychology) or a disciplinary or interdisciplinary minor or major approved by the neuroscience studies faculty for inclusion in place of an emphasis in the neuroscience studies major is required of all neuroscience studies majors to provide depth. Typical course sequences for emphases are listed below. Students should select and advisor from within their chosen emphasis, minor or major and work closely with the advisor and a Neuroscience Studies faculty member in selecting appropriate courses for inclusion in this component of the neuroscience studies major. Not all minors or majors will meet this requirement.

Computer Science Emphasis (5 courses)

COMP 124 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures 
COMP 221 - Algorithm Design and Analysis 
One additional Computer Science course (COMP) numbered 200-499, selected in consultation with Computer Science faculty
Two additional Computer Science courses (COMP) numbered 300-499, selected in consultation with Computer Science faculty

Courses that might be particularly appropriate for the Neuroscience Studies major include:

COMP 302 - Introduction to Database Management Systems 
COMP 320 - Computational Biology 
COMP 380 - Bodies/Minds: AI Robotics 
COMP 440 - Collective Intelligence 
COMP 484 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence  

Mathematics Emphasis (6 courses)

MATH 135 - Applied Calculus 
MATH 312 - Differential Equations *

One of the following 2 courses:

MATH 236 - Linear Algebra 
MATH 237 - Multivariable Calculus  

One of the following 2 courses:

COMP 121 - Introduction to Scientific Programming 
COMP 123 - Core Concepts in Computer Science  

Two of the following 4 courses:

MATH 432 - Mathematical Modeling 
MATH 437 - Continuous Applied Mathematics 
MATH 469 - Discrete Applied Mathematics **
NEUR 484 - Intro Artificial Intelligence 
* MATH 312  also requires MATH 237 
** MATH 469  also requires MATH 236  and MATH 379  

Philosophy Emphasis (5 courses)

One of the following 2 courses:

PHIL 119 - Critical Thinking 
PHIL 120 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic  

Plus both:

PHIL 125 - Ethics 
PHIL 231 - Modern Philosophy  

Two of the following 5 courses:

PHIL 227 - Bioethics 
PHIL 369 - Advanced Symbolic Logic 
PHIL 360 - Philosophy of Science 
PHIL 365 - Philosophy of Mathematics 
PHIL 364 - Philosophy of Language  

Psychology Emphasis (5 courses)

NEUR 240 - Principles of Learning and Behavior  

Three of the following courses:

BIOL 356 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience  
NEUR 244 - Cognitive Neuroscience 
NEUR 246 - Exploring Sensation/Perception 
PSYC 242 - Cognitive Psychology 
PSYC 252 - Distress, Dysfunction, and Disorder: Perspectives on the DSM  

One of the following 3 courses:

NEUR 385 - Mind Reading: Understanding Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
PSYC 378 - Psychology of Language 
PSYC 386 - Seminar in Neuropharmacology 
PSYC 488 - Senior Seminar  (Approved sections only. Not all offerings will meet this requirement.)

Due to the high degree of potential overlap between major plans in Psychology and Neuroscience Studies, students seeking to complete both majors must list, on each plan, at least four courses that do not appear on the other plan.