Neuroscience

Requirements for the Neuroscience Minor

  • Core Courses (21 credits required): AP Biology does not count.
    • BIOL 125 Genes, Evolution, and Development and Lab
    • BIOL 125 Genes, Evolution, and Development: A Problem Solving Approach and Lab
    • NEUR 127 Foundations in Neuroscience and Lab
    • NEUR 238 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior
    • NEUR 239 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Lab
  • Capstone (3 credits):
    • NEUR 395 Neuroscience Capstone Seminar
  • Electives (24 credits required from the list below): 
    • A single course may fulfill more than one requirement, for example Biology 332 would fulfill both the 300 level and the Biology requirement
    • At least 6 credits from Biology
    • At least 6 credits from Psychology
    • At least 6 credits at 300 level
        • BIOL 240 Genetics
        • BIOL 248 Behavioral Ecology (not offered in 2020-21)
        • BIOL 280 Cell Biology
        • BIOL 281 Cell Biology Laboratory
        • BIOL 332 Human Physiology
        • BIOL 333 Human Physiology Laboratory
        • BIOL 342 Animal Developmental Biology (not offered in 2020-21)
        • BIOL 343 Animal Developmental Biology Laboratory (not offered in 2020-21)
        • BIOL 365 Seminar: Topics in Neuroscience
        • BIOL 368 Seminar: Developmental Neurobiology
        • BIOL 379 Seminar: Behavioral Genetics
        • BIOL 386 Neurobiology
        • CS 254 Computability and Complexity
        • CS 321 Making Decisions with Artificial Intelligence (not offered in 2020-21)
        • MUSC 227 Perception and Cognition of Music
        • MUSC 228 Perception and Cognition of Music Lab
        • PHIL 225 Philosophy of Mind (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 210 Psychology of Learning and Memory (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 211 Laboratory Research Methods in Learning and Memory (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 216 Behavioral Neuroscience
        • PSYC 217 Laboratory Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience
        • PSYC 218 Hormones, Brain, and Behavior
        • PSYC 220 Sensation and Perception
        • PSYC 254 Psychopathology (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 260 Health Psychology
        • PSYC 263 Sleep and Dreaming
        • PSYC 267 Clinical Neuroscience
        • PSYC 318 Psychopharmacology (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 366 Cognitive Neuroscience
        • PSYC 367 Neuropsychology of Aging (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 370 Behavioral Neuroimmunology
        • PSYC 371 Evolutionary and Developmental Trends in Cognition (not offered in 2020-21)
        • PSYC 379 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Neuroscience Courses

NEUR 127 Foundations in Neuroscience and Lab This course is an introduction to basic neural function. Topics include neural transmission, development of the nervous system, anatomy, sensory systems, learning and the corresponding change in the brain, and the role of the nervous system in behavior. Team-based learning will be used to understand the experiments that shape current knowledge. 6 credits; LS, QRE; Fall; Sarah H Meerts, Eric D Hoopfer
NEUR 238 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system. Molecular and cellular neuroscience seeks to understand the fundamental principles that govern how neurons function, how they communicate with each other, and how they assemble into circuits that generate behavior. This course focuses on the molecular and cellular basis of nervous system function from the level of genes and molecules to neural circuits and behavior. We will take an integrative approach to examine the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neuronal communication, the molecular basis of sensation and innate behaviors, neural plasticity, and nervous system disorders. This course will emphasize the experimental evidence and techniques that have built our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of behavior through team-based learning, analysis of primary literature papers and laboratory experimentation. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Neuroscience 238 and 239 to satisfy the LS requirement. Prerequisite: Neuroscience 127 or Biology 125; Concurrent registration in Neuroscience 239. 6 credits; LS, QRE; Spring; Eric D Hoopfer
NEUR 239 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Lab This laboratory course will provide experience in performing experiments to elucidate the structure and function neurons and neural circuits using classical and cutting-edge techniques. Students will apply these techniques to develop and carry out an independent research project. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Neuroscience 238 required. 2 credits; NE; Spring; Eric D Hoopfer
NEUR 395 Neuroscience Capstone Seminar This capstone seminar will cover current approaches and techniques in the field of neuroscience. Guest speakers in neuroscience and related areas will present their research. Prerequisite: Biology 125 (or permission of instructor), Neuroscience 127, Neuroscience 238 and 239, open only to seniors. 3 credits; S/CR/NC; NE; Spring; Eric D Hoopfer