Neuroscience Major

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Lower Division Requirements
NS 260/260C/260HIntroduction to Brain and Behavior3.00
NS 261Intro to Brain and Behavior Laboratory1.00
PSY 250/250C/250HGeneral Psychology3.00
BL 258General Biology I: Organismic3.00
BL 259Organismic Biology Lab1.00
BL 260General Biology II: Mlclr & Cellular3.00
BL 261Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory1.00
CH 210General Chemistry I4.00
CH 211General Chemistry I Lab1.00
CH 230General Chemistry II4.00
CH 231Principles of Chemistry II Lab1.00
MT 272Statistics for the Life Sciences3.00
Upper Division Requirements
Methods and Application
NS 410Neurological Disorders3.00
NS 450Neuroscience Methods3.00
NS 451Neuroscience Methods Laboratory1.00
NS 480Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience3.00
NS 481Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Lab1.00
Advanced Neuroscience
NS 485Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology3.00
NS 486Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology Lab1.00
NS 495E-WSem/Curr Tpcs in Neuroscience:3.00
Elective Component
Two electives courses with co-requisite laboratory, if offered, which must be from different focus areas. 16-8
Biology-Focused Electives
BL 412
Developmental Biology
BL 414
Principles of Genetics
BL 415
Genetics Laboratory
BL 416
Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry
BL 436
Human and Comparative Physiology
BL 437
Human & Comparative Physiology Lab
Neuroscience-Focused Electives
NS 466
Neuropharmacology
NS 470
Neuroethics
NS 472
Neuroplasticity
NS 474
Neurodevelopment
Psychology-Focused Electives
PSY 434
Behavioral Genetics
PSY 442
Learning and Memory
PSY 454
Cognitive Psychology
PSY 455
Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
PSY 482
Sensation and Perception
PSY 483
Sensation and Perception Laboratory
PSY 487
Neuropsychology
PSY 488
Neuropsychology Laboratory
Additional NS Electives 2
NS 491E-W
Research in Neuroscience:
NS 498E-W
Internship in Neuroscience
Total SHs52-54
1

A second section offering of NS 495E-W Sem/Curr Tpcs in Neuroscience: may be completed as an upper division neuroscience-focused elective with permission of the director of the Neuroscience Program.

2

Note: These may substitute for an upper division neuroscience-focused elective with permission of the director of the Neuroscience Program.

Honors-in-Neuroscience Major

The Honors-in-Neuroscience major is designed for students who wish to complete a major research project as part of their program of study. To complete this major, a student must complete the same lower and upper division requirements of the neuroscience major, plus at least two semester hours of NS 491E-W Research in Neuroscience: (taken over two or more semesters) and two semester hours of Senior Thesis.

NS 491E-WResearch in Neuroscience:2.00
NS 499Senior Thesis2.00
Total SHs4
1

Research or Independent Study in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Psychology may be substituted for this requirement upon approval by the director of the Neuroscience Program after consulting with the instructor of the independent study.

  1. Maintenance of an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher at the times of thesis proposal.
  2. Select a thesis committee comprised of an advisor and reader, and submit a preliminary thesis proposal that must be approved by the committee.
  3. Obtain IRB or IACUC approval as necessary.
  4. Write and submit a grant proposal to URSC or another funding source to support the proposed thesis project.
  5. Complete the proposed research project in NS 491E-W Research in Neuroscience: (or equivalent). Credits may be spread across multiple semesters.
  6. Complete NS 499 Senior Thesis by
    1. orally defending the thesis before the thesis committee and other interested parties;
    2. presenting the research project in a public forum such as a lecture or a professional meeting;
    3. submitting a final thesis that is approved by the thesis committee.

Note: Students in the Honors Program may substitute HO 499 Honors Thesis for NS 499 Senior Thesis. The Honors Program spring presentation will fulfill the 6 (a), but not 6 (b), requirement.