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Neuroscience
Director of the Neuroscience Program: Denise Evert
Affiliated Faculty:
Biology: David Domozych, Corey Freeman-Gallant, †Roy Meyers,
Bernard Possidente, Monica Raveret-Richter, Elaine Rubenstein,
†Marc Tetel
Psychology:†Denise Evert, Hugh Foley, Mary Ann Foley,
†Greg Goodwin, Flip Phillips
†Neuroscience
Steering Committee
Neuroscience is the scientific community's
effort to understand the mechanisms that give rise to thoughts,
motives, and behavior. The central mechanism of behavior is
the central nervous system, and exploring it is a fascinating
odyssey in natural science. Neuroscientists investigate the
connections between events that occur at the subcellular level
and the behavior of the whole organism. Addressing the fundamental
questions of neuroscience requires the collaboration of specialists
in diverse fields. Thus, although neuroscientists specialize
in one particular discipline, they need to be cognizant of many
related areas. The neuroscience major is cross-disciplinary
and taught primarily by professors in the biology and psychology
departments; however, students desiring to do advanced work
may choose to work with faculty from a wide variety of departments.
This major is well-suited for students who wish to pursue a
career in research as well as in a variety of health-related
fields.
As neuroscience majors, students will engage in broadly based
study of the nervous system. This study will be multidisciplinary,
integrating the perspectives of biology, psychology, and related
sciences. Students will develop a foundation in concepts, issues,
discoveries and methodological approaches to the interdisciplinary
endeavor of neuroscience. Students will discover how approaches
from various neuroscience subdisciplines complement one another
and how the findings can be integrated to provide a more global
understanding of the functioning of the nervous system. Students
will gather, analyze and interpret scientific data and summarize
and communicate empirical results; this process will enhance
their familiarity and facility with scientific methodology.
Students will develop their verbal, quantitative and writing
skills. Students will focus in a subfield of neuroscience and
may conduct research with faculty members. Students will gain
experience in integrating and synthesizing data, develop a broad
background in the sciences and humanities, and acquire skills
adaptable to a wide variety of areas and interests. The major
will prepare students for career paths that include graduate
school, the health professions, research and clinical work.
THE NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR: To fulfill the major, students must
complete the following:
1. Gateway course: NS101
(Neuroscience: Mind and Behavior)
2. Core courses: CH105
Chemical Principles I, PS217
Statistical Methods in Psychology I**,
BI233
Cell and Molecular Biology, BI236
Comparative Vertebrate Physiology, and PS304
Physiological Psychology or PS306
Experimental Psychology***
3. Integrative course: NS277
(Integrative Seminar in Neuroscience Research)
4. Elective courses: Students must take four courses from the
following list of electives. No more than three courses taken
in one department will count toward the major.
LS2 202 Psychoactive Drugs: Scientific and Social Context PS 213 Hormones & Behavior PS 231 Neuropsychology** PS 304 Physiological Psychology*** BI 306 Mammalian Physiology PS 306 Experimental Psychology** BI 308 Genetics BI 311 Biological Electron Microscopy PS 312 Seminar in Neuropsychology of Perception & Attention BI 316 Animal Behavior BI 323 Developmental Biology BI 326 Behavioral Genetics PS 341 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain PS 342 Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience BI 344 Biological Clocks BI 349 Neuroendocrinology **The
prerequisite of PS101
Introduction to General Psychology is waived for Neuroscience
majors taking these courses. ***Unless
taken to fulfill the Core requirement; see Section 2 above.
None of the regular courses that count toward the major may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
HONORS: Successful completion of atwo tutorial projects (PS375 and
376 or two semesters of
BI375)
isare required for consideration for Honors.
Recommendations and Advice Students are strongly encouraged
to undertake one-credit Introduction to Neuroscience Research
(NS275)
and a tutorial project (PS375,
376,
BI375)
prior to completion of the Neuroscience major. Those students
who plan on completing a senior tutorial project should consider
taking the one-credit research experience during their junior
year, which allows students to explore particular areas of research
introduced in NS101
or 277.
This additional experience will help students to make more informed
decisions about the particular area of research they are most
interested in pursuing for a senior tutorial project.
Students' choices of electives (both
within and beyond the requirements specified by the Neuroscience
Major) may be guided by interests as well as professional goals.
For example, in the Core course Chemical Principles I (CH105),
students are introduced to fundamental concepts of chemistry
that are necessary for understanding molecular mechanisms in
the neurosciences; students wishing to deepen this understanding
are encouraged to take additional courses in Chemistry. Examples
of Projected Paths through the Major are intended as illustrations
of groupings of electives informed by different kinds of interests
and goals. For each illustration, suggestions are offered for
electives within and beyond the major.
Projected Paths through the
Major
PATH 1: A Biobehavioral Focus
Within Major: Consider three electives from the biology courses (e.g.,
PS213,
304, or
BI306,
306.
308,
316,
351).
Beyond Major: Additional electives from such areas as philosophy,
ethics, chemistry, and biology (BI317,
343,
370).
PATH 2: A Cognitive Neuroscience
Focus
Within Major: Consider three electives from the cognitive neuroscience
courses
(PS231,
312,
341)
and BI308
or 316.
Beyond Major: Additional electives from such areas as philosophy
and psychology (PS324,
325).
PATH 3: A Cognitive Science
Focus
Within Major: Consider three electives from the cognitive neuroscience
courses (PS231,
312,
341).
Beyond Major: Consider electives from anthropology, philosophy,
computer science, psychology (PS323,
324,
325)
or interdisciplinary courses on cognitive processes (LS2
129).
PATH 4: A Developmental Focus
Within Major: Consider as electives
BI308 and
323.
Beyond Major: Consider electives from philosophy and psychology
(PS305,
312A).
PATH 5: An Applied Focus
Within Major: Distribute electives equally in biology and psychology.
Beyond Major: Consider electives from psychology (PS315,
326),
sociology or social work.
Note: Those students interested in pre-med and other health
professions should consult with the HP Advisory Committee for
guidance in selecting options.
Neuroscience Curriculum
NS 101. Neuroscience:
Mind and Behavior 4 An interdisciplinary examination
of the neurobiological bases of behavior and mental processing.
Topics include the structure and functioning of the nervous
system, brain-behavior relationships, and hormonal and genetic
effects on behavior and mental processing. Laboratories develop
students' understanding of functional neuroanatomy, neural transmission,
and human psychophysiology. (Fulfills natural sciences breadth
requirement). D. Evert, G. Goodwin, R.
Meyers, M. Tetel
NS 275. Introduction
to Neuroscience Research 1 An introductory exploration of
conducting research in neuroscience. The purpose of this learning
experience is to provide students with an interactive research
experience in the laboratory or field in coordination with a
faculty member. Students may be exposed to, and participate
in, several aspects of the research process, including planning,
designing, and implementing the research, as well as in data
analysis and interpretation of the results. This experience
will allow students at various stages of their careers to sample
research questions/methodologies in particular subdisciplines
of Neuroscience, and will enhance the student's ability for
more independent work. Must be taken S/U. This course can be repeated for credit up to five credits. Prerequisites:
Completion of NS101
and permission of instructor.
NS 277. Integrative
Seminar in Neuroscience Research 1 A study of selected areas of
neuroscience research and techniques. Both primary source articles
and first-person accounts by faculty in the Biology and Psychology
departments are used to introduce the theoretical and practical
aspects of neuroscience research. Emphasis will be placed on
understanding the multiple levels (e.g. molecular to behavioral)
at which research topics in neuroscience can be addressed and
also the ways in which research techniques define the types
of questions that can be asked at a given level of analysis. Must be taken S/U.Prerequisites: This course should be taken upon completion
of NS101
and the completion of (or current enrollment in) at least one
other Core or Elective course from the list of courses in the
major.
CH 105 Chemical Principles I LS2 202 Psychoactive Drugs: Scientific and Social Context PS 213 Hormones and Behavior PS 217 Statistical Methods in Psychology I PS 231 Neuropsychology BI 233 Cell and Molecular Biology BI 236 Comparative Vertebrate Physiology PS 304 Physiological Psychology BI 306 Mammalian Physiology PS 306 Experimental Psychology BI 308 Genetics BI 311 Biological Electron Microscopy PS 312 Seminar in Neuropsychology of Perception & Attention BI 316 Animal Behavior BI 323 Developmental Biology BI 326 Behavioral Genetics PS 341 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain BI 344 Biological Clocks BI 349 Neuroendocrinology BI 375 Research in Biology PS 375 Senior Research Project I PS 376 Senior Research Project II
