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Neuroscience
Director of the Neuroscience Program:†Flip Phillips
Affiliated Faculty:
Biology:†Jennifer Bonner,
David Domozych,
Corey Freeman-Gallant,
Roy Meyers,
†Bernard Possidente,
Monica Raveret-Richter
Psychology: Denise Evert,
Hugh Foley,
Mary Ann Foley,
†Hassan Lopez,
Anita Miller
†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 brain, 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.
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 may 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:
Gateway course:
NS101
(Neuroscience: Mind and Behavior)
Core courses:
BI105 Biological Sciences I: Unity of Life; BI106 Biological Sciences II: Unity of Life; CH105 Chemical Principles I and CH106 Chemical Principles II, or CH107H Intensive General Chemistry Honors; PS217 Statistical Methods in Psychology I** PS304 Physiological Psychology or PS306 Experimental Psychology**
Integrative course:
NS277 (Integrative Seminar in Neuroscience Research)
Elective courses:
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 BI 247 Cell Biology
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.
BI 306 Mammalian Physiology BI 311 Biological Electron Microscopy BI 316 Animal Behavior 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 323 Psycholinguistics PS 324 Cognition PS 325 Perception PS 327 Computational Neuroscience 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 BI 385)
are required for consideration for Honors.
Recommendations and Advice
Tutorial project: Students are strongly encouraged to undertake
Introduction to Neuroscience Research (NS275)
and a tutorial project (PS375,
376H,
BI 385)
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 and II
(CH105/106),
students are introduced to fundamental concepts of chemistry
that are necessary for understanding basic mechanisms in
the neurosciences; students wishing to deepen this understanding
are encouraged to take additional courses in Chemistry, including Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. 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 electives from the biology courses (e.g.,
BI245 Principles of Genetics,
BI306 Mammalian Physiology,
BI316 Animal Behavior, or
BI342 Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience,
BI349 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 3: A Cognitive Neuroscience Focus
Within major: Consider 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 Behavior.
Beyond major: Additional electives from such areas as philosophy.
PATH 4: A Cognitive Science Focus
Within major: Consider 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, or interdisciplinary courses on cognitive processes.
PATH 5: An Applied Focus
Within major: Distribute electives equally in biology and psychology.
Beyond major: Consider electives from psychology
(PS315 Psychology and
326 Health Psychology), sociology or social work.
Note: Those students interested in pre-med and other health
professions should consult with the Health Professions 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, H. Lopez, R. Meyers
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. Prerequisites: Completion of
NS101 and permission of instructor. Must be taken S/U.
This course can be repeated for credit up to five credits.
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.
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. Must be taken S/U.
BI 105 Biological Sciences I: Unity and Diversity of Life BI 106 Biological Sciences II: Diversity of Life CH 105 Chemical Principles I CH 106 Chemical Principles II PS 213 Hormones and Behavior PS 217 Statistical Methods in Psychology I PS 231 Neuropsychology BI 242 Introduction to Molecular Cell Biology BI 244 Comparative Vertebrate Physiology BI 245 Principles of Genetics BI 247 Cell Biology PS 304 Physiological Psychology BI 306 Mammalian Physiology PS 306 Experimental Psychology BI 311 Biological Electron Microscopy BI 316 Animal Behavior PS 324 Cognition PS 325 Perception PS 327 Computational Neuroscience PS 341 Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience: Left Brain/Right Brain BI 342 Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience BI 344 Biological Clocks BI 349 Neuroendocrinology BI 352,
353 Topics in Advanced Genetics BI 385 Research Methods in Biology‡ PS 375 Senior Research Project I‡ PS 376H Senior Research Project II‡
