Neuroscience & Behavior (BA) (Major)
Director of Undergraduate Studies:
Vanessa Chan-Devaere
Program of Studies
Neuroscience is a relatively young, exciting, and fundamentally interdisciplinary field devoted to the scientific study of the nervous system. Neuroscience encompasses the study of problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives at different levels of analysis in human and non-human organisms. It includes, for example, the study of molecular mechanisms in individual neurons and the coordination of millions of neurons into neural systems. Problems range from investigation of the evolution of nervous systems in basal vertebrates to the application of neuroscience to education and law. Neuroscientists also seek to develop neurologically plausible models of human thinking, affect and behavior.
Neuroscience creates a context for scholarly conversation about the nature of mind, brain and behavior. It engages experts in collaboration across diverse fields, including biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, physics and psychology. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the major, the curriculum includes flexibility such that it can be customized to best prepare students for a variety of future careers. Students studying neuroscience will be prepared to pursue professional degree programs (medical, dental, veterinary, clinical psychology, or other health professions) and graduate programs in areas such as neuroscience, biological sciences or psychology.
The requirements for the major are essentially the same, including three foundational neuroscience and behavior Core courses, and an introductory neuroscience and behavior laboratory course beginning the fall of the sophomore year. The tracks differ in how they fulfill college requirements. Required courses and electives for both the BS & BA that will satisfy the major credit requirements are drawn primarily from the Departments of Biological Sciences and Psychology. Undergraduate research and approved electives in other departments are also encouraged. This description covers the BA track only (see the College of Science section for the BS track).
The Neuroscience and Behavior BA consists of 63 credits comprising 23 credits of prerequisite courses (some of these also fulfill university core requirements), 19 credits of Neuroscience and Behavior Core major courses, an additional 6 credits from the list of approved Disciplinary Specific electives, 3 more credits from the list of approved Integration/Application electives, and an additional 9 credits of approved NSBH coursework that can include a maximum of 6 credits of undergraduate research (with approved faculty advisors), and/or approved Supporting electives across several departments. See the undergraduate advisor for lists of approved courses and approved research advisors. Students should discuss their specific choices with the program’s undergraduate adviser.
Prerequisites:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Intro Psychology | 3 | |
| MATH 10350 | Calculus A (Core 1) | 4 |
| or MATH 10550 | Calculus I | |
| BIOS 10171 & BIOS 11173 | Biology I :Big Questions and Biological Investigations Laboratory (Core 1) | 4 |
| BIOS 10172 & BIOS 11174 | Biology II: Molecules to Ecosystems and Research Experience in Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 10171 & CHEM 11171 | Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 10172 & CHEM 11172 | Organic Structure and Reactivity and Organic Structure and Reactivity Laboratory | 4 |
Core Major Requirements:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NSBH 20450 & NSBH 21450 | Neuroscience and Behavior and Neuroscience and Behavior Lab | 4 |
| NSBH/PSY 30520 | Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSBH/CHEM 30301 | Molecular Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 30100 | Statistics for Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| PSY 30160 | Methods for Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| NSBH 20010 | Perspectives on the NSBH Major | 1 |
All majors take an additional 6 credits from the list of approved Disciplinary Specific electives, 3 more credits from the list of approved Integration/ Application electives, and an additional 9 credits of approved NSBH coursework that can include a maximum of 6 credits of undergraduate research (with approved faculty advisors), and/or approved Supporting electives across several departments. See the undergraduate advisor for lists of approved courses and approved research advisors.
Sample Curriculum
The BA in Neuroscience and Behavior is flexible enough to allow students to spend a semester in their junior year studying abroad although this sample curriculum is not specific in this regard. This sample is simply intended as a general guide and curricular layout decisions should be made in conjunction with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Gen Chem 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Intro Bio 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Calculus 1 | 4 | |
| Writing and Rhetoric | 3 | |
| Moreau | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Orgo 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Intro Bio 2 + lab | 4 | |
| Intro Psych | 3 | |
| USEM (Liberal Arts 4 or 5) | 3 | |
| NSBH Prosem | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSBH Core 1 | 3 | |
| CSEM | 3 | |
| Theology 1 | 3 | |
| Beginner Language 1 | 4 | |
| NSBH Lab | 1 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Core 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Core 3 | 3 | |
| Philosophy 1 | 3 | |
| Statistics | 4 | |
| Beginner Language 2 | 4 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Research Methods | 4 | |
| Theology 2 | 3 | |
| Intermediate Language 1 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Supporting Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Philosophy 2 | 3 | |
| Intermediate Language 2 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| NSBH Integration/Application Elective | 3 | |
| History / Fine Arts / Literature | 3 | |
| History / Fine Arts / Literature | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Supporting Elective 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Supporting Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Moreau | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
Senior Thesis
The Neuroscience and Behavior major offers senior Neuroscience and Behavior majors the option to complete a senior thesis that consists of a two semester sequence:
Prerequisite
To qualify for this track students need to be endorsed by a psychology faculty member.
Fall Semester
Student enrolls in the faculty advisor’s section of Senior Thesis (PSY 47809) and participates in a series of self-organized workshops that provide/enable peer-review and support. Workshops would focus on introduction of topics/elevator pitches (September), peer-review of drafts of literature review and methods sections (October and November)
Spring Semester
Student enrolls in the faculty advisor’s section of Senior Thesis (PSY 47809) and participates in a series of self-organized workshops that provide/ enable peer-review and support. Workshops would focus on peer-review of results sections (February), peer-review of completed manuscripts (March), and practice for the symposium presentations (April).
Departmental Honors in Neuroscience and Behavior
The honors designation in psychology is awarded by completing the following:
Fall Semester:
Achieving an A grade in Senior Thesis (PSY 47809) and a passing grade in Advanced Statistics (PSY 40120).
Spring Semester:
Achieving an A grade in Senior Thesis (PSY 47809). A nomination by the faculty advisor and an evaluation of the thesis as worthy of the honors designation by a faculty committee.
Premed Concentration
In addition to the general BA, undergraduates interested in attending medical school have the option of completing a BA in Neuroscience and Behavior with a PreMed concentration. The PreMed concentration includes the requirements laid out above and also requires additional coursework laid out below:
Medical School Requirements Category
(all courses required)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 10360 | Calculus B | 4 |
| or MATH 10560 | Calculus II | |
| CHEM 20273 & CHEM 21273 | Organic Reactions and Applications and Organic Reactions and Applications Laboratory (Organic Chemistry II & Lab ) | 4 |
| CHEM 20274 & CHEM 21274 | Chemistry Across the Periodic Table and Chemistry Across the Periodic Table Laboratory (General Chemistry II & Lab ) | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Engineering Physics I: Mechanics (& Lab) | ||
PHYS 30210 & PHYS 31210 | and | |
| Physics A: Mechanics and Physics A Lab | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences I Lab | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Engineering Physics II: Electromagnetism (& Lab) | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences II and Physics for Life Sciences II Lab | ||
| CHEM 40420 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
Sample Curriculum
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| General Chem 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Intro Bio 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Calculus 1 | 4 | |
| Writing and Rhetoric | 3 | |
| Moreau | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Organic Chem 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Intro Bio 2 + lab | 4 | |
| Calculus 2 | 4 | |
| USEM | 3 | |
| NSBH Prosem | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSBH Core 1 | 3 | |
| CSEM | 3 | |
| Organic Chem 2 + lab | 4 | |
| Beginner Language 1 | 4 | |
| Intro Psych | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Core 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Core 3 | 3 | |
| Philosophy 1 | 3 | |
| Statistics | 4 | |
| General Chem 2 + lab | 4 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Physics 1 + lab | 4 | |
| Research Methods | 4 | |
| Beginner Language 2 | 4 | |
| Theology 1 | 3 | |
| NSBH Lab | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Physics 2 + lab | 4 | |
| Philosophy 2 | 3 | |
| Intermediate Language 1 | 3 | |
| NSBH Supporting Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Disciplinary Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Intermediate Language 2 | 3 | |
| Biochemistry | 3 | |
| History / Fine Arts / Literature | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSBH Supporting Elective 2 | 3 | |
| NSBH Integration/Application Elective | 3 | |
| NSBH Supporting Elective 3 | 3 | |
| History / Fine Arts / Literature | 3 | |
| Theology 2 | 3 | |
| Preparing for Health Professions | 1 | |
| Moreau | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 130 | |