815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs,
New York, 12866
SKIDMORE PHONE
518-580-5000
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: BI105
Biological Sciences I: Unity of Life; BI106
Biological Sciences II: Unity of Life; CH105
Chemical Principles I; CH106
Chemical Principles II; PS217
Statistical Methods in Psychology I**;
and BI233
Cell and Molecular Biology; BI236
Comparative Vertebrate Physiology; 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. At least one elective must
have a PS designation, and at least one elective must have a
BI designation. Choose three courses
from the following set of 200-level electives. Two of these
electives must have a BI designation, and one must have a PS
designation.
PS 213 Hormones and Behavior PS 231 Neuropsychology** BI
242
Introduction to Molecular Cell Biology BI
244
Comparative Vertebrate Physiology BI
245
Principles of Genetics
Choose four
courses from the following set of 300-level electives. At least
two of these electives must have a PS designation, and at least
one elective must have a BI designation.
LS2
202 Psychoactive Drugs:
Scientific and Social Context BI
245 Principles of Genetics BI
306 Mammalian Physiology BI
311 Biological Electron Microscopy BI
316 Animal Behavior BI
323 Developmental Biology BI
342 Frontiers in Molecular
Neuroscience BI
344 Biological Clocks BI
349 Neuroendocrinology BI
352/353
Topics in Advanced Genetics (when topic is appropriate for NS
majors) PS
304 Physiological Psychology*** PS
306 Experimental Psychology** PS
312 Seminar in Neuropsychology
of Perception & Attention PS
324
Cognition PS
325
Perception PS
341 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience:
Left Brain/Right Brain **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.
With the exception of NS277,
none of the regular courses that count toward the major may
be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
HONORS: Successful completion of two
tutorial projects (PS375and376,
or two semesters of BI375)are required for consideration for
Honors.
Recommendations and Advice
Tutorial project: 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.
Advice on Choosing Electives: 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., BI245
Principles of Genetics, BI306
Mammalian Physiology, BI316
Animal Behavior, or BI342 Frontiers in Molecular NeuroscienceBI349
Neuroendocrinology), and
PS213
Hormones and Behavior, PS304
Psysiological Psychology, or PS306
Experimental Psychology.
Beyond major: Additional electives from such areas as philosophy,
ethics, chemistry, and biology (BI302
Behavioral Ecology and BI370
Computer Modeling of Biological Systems).
PATH 2: A Cellular/Molecular Focus
Within major: Consider electives from
the biology courses (e.g., BI242
Introduction to Molecular Cell Biology,
BI245
Principles of Genetics, BI349
Neuroendocrinology, and BI342
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.)
Beyond major: Additional electives from Biology
(BI360
Chromatin Structure, Maintenance and Function, BI363
mRNA Synthesis, Processing and Turnover) and Chemistry (CH221
Organic Chemistry I,
CH222
Organic Chemistry II, and
CH341
Biochemistry).
PATH 23: A Cognitive Neuroscience
Focus
Within major: Consider two electives from the cognitive neuroscience
courses (PS231
Neuropsychology,
PS324 Cognition,
PS325 Perception, and
PS341
Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain), and
BI245
Principles of Genetics or BI316
Animal Behavior.
Beyond major: Additional electives from such areas as philosophy
and psychology (PS324
Cognition, PS325
Perception).
PATH 34: A Cognitive Science Focus
Within major: Consider two electives from the cognitive neuroscience
courses (PS231
Neuropsychology,
PS324 Cognition,
PS325 Perception,
PS327 Computational Neuroscience, and
PS341
Seminar in cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain).
Beyond major: Consider electives from
computer science (CS103 Structured Programming in Basic,
CS106 Introduction to Computer Science I,
CS206 Introduction to Computer Science II),
mathematics
(MC306 Theory of Computation),
anthropology, philosophy,
and psychology (PS323
Psycholinguistics 324
Cognition, 325
Perception), or interdisciplinary courses on cognitive processes
(LS2
129 Mind: Metaphors and
Theories).
PATH 4: A Developmental Focus Within major: Consider as electives BI245
Principles of Genetics and BI323
Developmental Biology.
Beyond major: Consider electives from philosophy and psychology
(PS305
Cognitive Development and 312A)
Infant Development.
PATH 5: An Applied Focus
Within major: Distribute electives equally in biology and psychology.
Beyond major: Consider electives from psychology (PS315
Clinical Psychology and 326
Health Psychology), 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 BI
245 Principles
of Genetics PS
304 Physiological
Psychology BI
306 Mammalian
Physiology PS
306 Experimental
Psychology BI
311 Biological
Electron Microscopy PS
312 Seminar
in Neuropsychology of Perception and Attention BI
316 Animal
Behavior BI
323 Developmental
Biology PS
341 Seminar
in Cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain BI
342 Frontiers
in Molecular Neuroscience BI
344 Biological
Clocks BI
349 Neuroendocrinology BI
375 Research
in Biology PS
375 Senior
Research Project I PS
376 Senior
Research Project II
