Neuroscience Major

1. Common Core (5 courses)

• Introductory Biology  BIOL043L KS  
• Basic Principles of Chemistry  CHEM014L KS  
• Foundations of Neuroscience (NEUR095L JT  or an approved substitute)
• Neuroscience 1: Cell, Molecular: NEUR148L KS  
• Neuroscience 2: Systems: NEUR149 KS  

2. Common Core Electives (Choose 4 courses; must choose from at least 3 categories)

Choose any 3 courses from the following:

• Basic Principles of Chemistry (CHEM015L KS) 
• Introductory Biology (BIOL044L KS)
• Introduction to Psychology (PSYC010 PZ or 030 CM, 052 SC), or an approved equivalent course. 
• General Physics: PHYS030L KS , PHYS031L KS , PHYS033L KS , PHYS034L KS ; or an approved equivalent course.
• Mathematics: MATH031 SC , MATH032, MATH060, or equivalent  (Calculus II or an approved equivalent course).
• Statistics: BIOL175 KS  or PSYC103 SC , PSYC091 PZ, or PSYC109 CM, or an approved equivalent course.
• Computer Science: CSCI004 HM or CSCI005 HM, CSCI036, DS001 or 002 SC, BIOL 099 KS or an approved equivalent course.
• Research Methods: PSYC104 SC /PSYC104L SC  , or PSYC092 PZ, or PSYC110/111L CM, or an approved equivalent course.

3. Course Elective Specializations (4-5 courses depending on thesis)

A coherent grouping of 4-5 elective courses to be determined in consultation with an adviser in Neuroscience and approved by the Coordinator of the Intercollegiate Neuroscience Program. Areas in which a student may elect to specialize include, but are not limited to:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Neuroscience

Students studying abroad are allowed to use a maximum of two courses towards their course elective specialization. 
Courses from SAGE-approved study abroad programs must be approved by the Neuroscience coordinator.

4. Senior Thesis (one or two courses)

A one- or two-semester Senior Thesis on a topic related to the student’s elective course specialization. (one-semester thesis needs 5 specialization courses; two-semester thesis needs 4 specialization courses).

• NEUR188L KS , Senior Research in Neuroscience
• NEUR190L KS , Senior Thesis in Neuroscience or equivalent for dual majors 
• NEUR191 KS *, One semester Senior Thesis

*Students who choose the one-semester thesis option are required to take 5 course electives for the elective course specialization

Honors Requirements

To be considered for departmental honors in neuroscience, a student must:

• Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.67 in courses in the major;
• Complete a one- or two-semester thesis project in which the student has demonstrated excellence by making a significant contribution to the progress of the research and by producing a thesis document judged to be of honors quality by the department;
• Present an oral progress report at the end of the first semester of a two-semester thesis and a poster at the conclusion of either a one- or two-semester thesis in which the student clearly explains the rationale for the project and the conclusions that were drawn, engages the listener, and knowledgeably answers questions; and
• Attend at least six scientific seminars during the semester (each semester for a two-semester thesis) and submit a brief and clear summary of each.