Neuroscience Sample Plans
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of study that allows students to access the expertise of faculty across campus in biology, biomedical engineering, communication sciences, exercise science, pharmacy, philosophy, and psychology.
Neuroscience Director
The minor unites faculty in diverse fields of neuroscience, giving you a comprehensive and flexible course curriculum for your chosen area of neuroscience, which spans from molecular biology to animal behavior. Hands-on lab experience prepares you for an array of career opportunities in applied and research fields such as drug discovery, medical research, clinical psychology, and brain-computer interface. Additionally, you are armed with the ability to critically analyze and communicate information to create creative and global thinking applicable to any job opportunity.
Sample Academic Plans
Students considering Option A (at least two different disciplines of study) may consider a focus in Behavioral Neuroscience or Neurobiology sample plans. Students considering Option B (2 minors) should pair Neuroscience with one of the minors involved in the field of neuroscience (biology, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, medicine, linguistics, computer science, or engineering).
While students are free to choose courses for the General Education requirements that best fit their interests, Dr. Day has compiled the following list of recommendations for some general education categories for the B.A. degree in International Studies. These recommendations speak to students looking to pursue a Neuroscience plan of study and help prepare them for upper-level coursework in neuroscience or the field after graduation.
Modern or Ancient Language:
- Latin
- Chinese
- Spanish
- Sign Language
Additional Humanities: A relevant philosophy or gender studies course, including
- Phil 332: Personal Identity and the Self
- Phil 342: Philosophy of the Mind
- G St 201: Introduction to Gender Studies
- G St 333: Theories in Gender
Mathematics: one of the following
- Math 125: Math for Science and Engineering
- Math 261: Calculus I
Social Science:
- Psy 201: Intro to Psychology
- psychology, anthropology, or sociology courses relevant to student interest
Natural Science:
- Any student that needs upper division biology or chemistry courses should take
- Bisc 160, 161, 162, 163. Biological Science I, II with labs
- Chem 105, 115. General Chemistry I with lab
This plan of study requires two core courses, one research methods course or one statistical methods course, a minimum of six hours of formal lab or directed research practice, and one 400 or 500 level course. Students should choose elective courses from the recommended list that align with the theme of their plan of study. No more than 21 hours from one department can apply to the Behavioral Neuroscience concentration without director approval. To be better prepared for graduate or medical school, it is recommended that at least 36 hours must be at 300 level or above for students pursuing the Behavioral Neuroscience plan of study.
Required core courses:
- Psy 319: Brain and Behavior
- Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience. (If you do not have Bisc 160 series, you must have a B or above in Psy 319 to take Bisc 327)
Research Methods (3-4 hrs) – One statistics course or one research methods course
- Psy 202: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- CSD 202: Statistics for CSD
- BME 370: Intro to Bioinformatics & Biostatistics
- ES 351: Measurement & Statistics in Exercise Science
- Any higher-level methods or statistics course (e.g. Psy 303: Intermed. Stat. Methods for Psy)
- CSD 302: Research Methods
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- ES 350: Research Methods in HESRM
- Psy 205: Research Methods in Psychology
Laboratory Course (6-8 hrs) – directed research or formal laboratory courses
- Neu 491, 492, and 493. The Neu 491-493 courses must be in the same lab (Neu 493 replaces IDS 499 capstone course with IDS director approval.)
- ES 347 and ES 348: Kinesiology
- ES 348 and ES 349: Physiology of Exercise
- ES 446 and ES 447: Biomechanics of Human Movement
- ES 514: Applied Electromyography
- Bisc 206: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- Bisc 207: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Psy 390 Lab in Psy: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psy 394: Lab in Psy: Cognition and Perception
- Psy 396: Laboratory in Psychology
Neuroscience Elective Options (24-27 hours to total 42 hrs in plan of study)
- Bisc 533. Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 543 Functional Neuroanatomy
- ES 344: Aging in the 21st Century
- ES 515: Stress and the Brain
- Phil 332. Personal Identity and the Self
- Phil 342. Philosophy of the Mind
- Psy 309 Learning
- Psy 320: Cognitive Psychology
- Psy 311: Psychopathology: Integrative Approaches
- Psy 326: Sensation and Perception
- Psy 511: Neural Basis of Learning and Memory
- CSD 205: Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
- CSD 455: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Speech and Hearing
- CSD 505: Neurophysiology of Communication
- CSD 526: Neurogenic Disorders of Language
Other Suggested General Electives
- CSD 625: Autism and Developmental Disabilities
- CSD 626: Aphasia
- CSD 627: Neurogenic Disorders of Speech & AAC
- Psy 425: Advanced Abnormal Behavioral Psych & Lit
- Psy 553: Theories of Learning
- Psy 531: Sensation and Perception
- Psy 532: Attention and Consciousness
The Neurobiology plan of study requires two core courses, one research and one statistical methods course, six hours of formal lab or directed research practice, and one 400- or 500-level course. Students should choose elective courses from the recommended list that align with the theme of their plan of study. No more than 21 hours from one department can apply to the Neurobiology concentration without director approval. To be better prepared for graduate or medical school, it is recommended that at least 36 hours must be at 300 level or above for students pursuing the Neurobiology plan of study.
Required core courses:
- Psy 319: Brain and Behavior
- Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience. (If you have not completed the Bisc 160 series, you must have a B or above in Psy 319 to take Bisc 327)
Statistics Course (3 hours)
- Psy 202: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- CSD 202: Statistics for CSD
- BME 370: Intro to Bioinformatics & Biostatistics
- ES 351: Measurement & Statistics in Exercise Science
- Any higher-level methods or statistics course (e.g. Psy 303: Intermed. Stat. Methods for Psy)
Research Methods: (3-4 hours)
- Bisc 300: Research Methods in Biology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- CSD 302 Research Methods
- ES 350: Research Methods in HESRM
- Psy 205: Research Methods in Psychology
Laboratory Courses (6-8 hrs) – Directed Research or Formal Laboratory Courses (see lists below)
- Neu 491, 492, and 493. The Neu 491-493 courses must be in the same lab (Neu 493 replaces IDS 499 capstone course with IDS director approval)
- Bisc 330: Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Bisc 518: Microtechniques
- BME 314: Biomedical Measurement
- ES 348 and ES 349: Physiology of Exercise
- ES 347 and ES 348: Kinesiology
- ES 348 and ES 349: Physiology of Exercise
- ES 446 and ES 447: Biomechanics of Human Movement
- ES 514: Applied Electromyography
- Psy 390: Lab in Psy: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psy 394: Lab in Psy: Cognition and Perception
Neuroscience Elective Options (17-21 hours to total 42 hrs plan of study)
- Bisc 310: Human Anatomy
- Bisc 529: Endocrinology
- Bisc 533: Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 538: Hormones and Behavior
- Bisc 541: Cell Biology of Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Bisc 543: Functional Neuroanatomy
- BME 313: Physiology for Biomedical Engineering
- BME 413: Biomedical Signal Processing
- BMS 471: Targeting Neurodegenerative Diseases
- CSD 505: Neurophysiology of Communication
- CSD 526: Neurogenic Disorders of Language
- ES 344: Aging in the 21st Century
- ES 338: Motor Control and Learning
- ES 512: Foundations of Biomechanics
- ES 515: Stress and the Brain
- Medc 416: Intro to the Principles of Med Chem I
- Medc 417: Intro to the Principles of Med Chem II
- Medc 418: Neuroscience Principles of Drug Abuse
- Phcl 586: Receptors and Channels
- Psy 309: Learning and Behavior
- Psy 322: Drugs and Behavior
- Psy 326: Sensation and Perception
- Psy 511: Neural Basis of Learning and Memory
Suggested General Elective Courses
- Phys 213/223 & 214/224 (General Physics I & II Trig-based) OR Phys211/221 & 212/222 (Generally Physics I&II Cal-based)
- Bisc 301: Evolution
- Bisc 306: Virology
- Bisc 331: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates
- Bisc 336: Genetics
- Bisc 370: Introductory Molecular Genetics
- Bisc 414: Immunology and Serology
- Bisc 415: Vertebrate Histology
- Bisc 553: Comparative Animal Physiology
- BME 510: Drug and Gene Delivery
- BMS 344: Physiological Foundation of Therapeutics
- BMS 345: Anatomical Foundations in Human Health
- Phil 328: Biomedical Ethics
The minor in Neuroscience requires 18-22 hours, including
- Psy 319. Brain and Behavior
- Bisc 327. Introductory Neuroscience
- Four courses at the 300 level or above, of which at least one course must be a formal laboratory course or director-approved independent laboratory course (3 credit hours minimum) and at least one course must be at the 500 level.
At least 6 hours, not including Psy 319 or Bisc 327, must be outside of the student's major. A maximum of 6 credit hours of independent study can count toward the minor, but to apply more than 3 hours of independent study to the minor, a total of 9 credit hours of independent study must be taken. Approved laboratory courses for the minor and other approved courses are listed below. Courses may not satisfy requirements for both the student's major and the neuroscience minor.
Approved Neuroscience Laboratory Courses
- Bisc 330. Introductory Physiology
- Bisc 427. Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
- Bisc 512. Animal Behavior
- Bisc 518. Microtechnique
- BME 314. Biomedical Measurement
- ES 514. Applied Electromyography
- Neu 491. Directed Research in Neuroscience
- Neu 493. Neuroscience Capstone Research
- Neu 579. Advanced Topics of Neuroscience
- Psy 390. Lab in Psy: Behavioral Neuroscience
Approved Neuroscience Courses
- Bisc 529. Endocrinology
- Bisc 533. Advanced Neuroscience
- Bisc 538. Hormones and Behavior
- Bisc 541. Cell Biology of Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Bisc 543. Functional Neuroanatomy
- Bms 471. Targeting Neurodegenerative Diseases
- CSD 455. Neuroanat & Neurophy of Speech & Hear
- CSD 505. Neurophysiology of Communication
- CSD 526. Neurogenic Disorders of Language
- BME 313. Physiology for Biomedical Engineering
- BME 413. Biomedical Signal Processing
- ES 344. Aging in the 21st Century
- ES 338. Motor Control and Learning
- ES 512. Foundations of Biomechanics
- ES 515. Stress and the Brain
- Medc 416. Intro to the Principles of Med Chem I
- Medc 417. Intro to the Principles of Med Chem II
- Medc 418. Neuroscience Principles of Drug Abuse
- Phcl 586. Receptors and Channels
- Phil 332. Personal Identity and the Self
- Phil 342. Philosophy of the Mind
- Psy 309. Learning
- Psy 320. Cognitive Psychology
- Psy 322. Drugs and Behavior
- Psy 326. Sensation and Perception
- Psy 505. Conditioning and Learning
- Psy 511. Neural Basis of Learning and Memory