Course Program for the Neurobiology Major

The Major in Neurobiology is designed to educate students in the foundations of biology and neurobiology while providing opportunities for advanced study on a range of disciplines ranging from cell and molecular neuroscience to cognitive science and psychology as well as the interfaces of these disciplines. The curriculum will include the breadth of subject matter encompassed by neurobiology and the rapidly advancing knowledge at the forefront of this discipline. Graduates will be well prepared for advanced study in biological sciences, particularly neuroscience, medicine, business or law, as well as professions in education and biotechnology.

Program for the neurobiology major

The program is described in detail below in the following sections:
Biology Courses (required and elective), Additional Required Courses, and Senior Thesis. Completion of all requirements is necessary to obtain the major. 

Application for the major will be in the fall of the second year. 

AP-credit in Biology

• Students who receive a score of 5 on the AP Biology Exam or on the AP Enviornmental Sciences Exam will receive 2 credits of upper division electives that will count towards the 44 credits of biology courses and will receive the equivalent of a 4-credit nonmajors course (this is recorded as a College elective course).
• Students with a score of 4 on the AP Biology Exam or on the AP Environmental Sciences Exam will receive 1 credit of upper division elective that will count towards the 44 credits of biology courses and will receive the equivalent of a 3-credit nonmajors course (this is recorded as a College elective course).

Courses in the first year

Normally, the first year includes biology, chemistry, mathematics and general education courses:

Fall term: We recommend 4 courses and seminar

• Foundations in Biology I with laboratory (BIOL-103)
• First year seminar (BIOL-101)
• General Chemistry with laboratory (CHEM-001, -009)
• Mathematics (generally Calculus I)
• General education (one course): language, English, History, Philosophy or Theology

Spring term: 5 courses is the normal load

• Foundations in Biology II with laboratory (BIOL-104)
• General Chemistry with laboratory (CHEM-002, -010)
• Mathematics (Probability and Statistics, or Calculus II)
• General Education (two courses): language, English, History, Philosophy or Theology

Courses in the upper years

• Second year, Spring term -- all Neurobiology majors will complete BIOL-195 Gateway: Neurobiology
• Fourth year, Fall term -- all Neurobiology majors will enroll in BIOL-401 Senior Seminar

Program for Neurobiology Majors

1. Biology Courses Required

Required core courses

(32 credits):

• BIOL-101 First-year seminar (1 credit). This course is required for first year students and is recommended for transfer students and those students who enter the program after the first-year (contact the department chair or your advisor).
• BIOL-103 Foundations in Biology I (4 credits)
• BIOL-104 Foundations in Biology II (4 credits)
• BIOL-152 Genetics (4 credits)
• BIOL-151 Biochemistry (4 credits)
• BIOL-195 Neurobiology (4 credits)
• BIOL-376 Developmental Neurobiology (3 credits)
• BIOL-300 Tutorial: Thesis Research (at least 3 credits)
• Senior Thesis (4 credits total) [research option only]
  • BIOL-321 (fall) and BIOL-322 (spring) Laboratory Research
• BIOL-401 Senior Seminar in Biology (1 credit) [to be taken during the fall term of the last year]
  

Elective courses

(5 courses for a minimum of 15 credits).

NOTES: Required courses for the program meet the prerequisite requirements for electives EXCEPT that General Psychology is a requirement for the upper level Psychology courses. Enrollment in graduate-level courses (numbered 500 or greater) is restricted to the senior year. No more than two courses in Psychology can count as Neurobiology electives. No more than two additional Biology courses can count as Neurobiology electives.

• BIOL-363 Cell Biology
• BIOL-390 Molecular Biology
• BIOL-379 Bioinformatics
• ICOS-201 Introduction to Cognitive Science
• ICOS-325 Disorders and Diseases of the Brain
• COSC-071 Computer Science I
• NSCI-505 Neuroscience Survey
• NSCI-521 Elements of Imaging
• NSCI-525 Functional Neuroimaging and cognition
• NSCI-556 Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
• PHAR-516 Neuropharmacology
• PSYC-001 General Psychology *this course is strongly recommended*
• PSYC-002 Research Methods and Statistics
• PSYC-134 Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSYC-232 Sensation and Perception
• PSYC-264 Nature, Nurture and Human Development

General Education course recommendations

• PHIL-105 Bioethics
• PHIL-150 Introduction to Logic
• PHIL-438 Philosophy of Mind

2. Additional Science Courses Required

• CHEM-001/-009 and -002/-010 General Chemistry with laboratory (10 credits total)
• MATH-035 Calculus I and either -036 Calculus II, -040 Probability and Statistics or MATH-140 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (8 credit total)
• CHEM-115 and -117 Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory (5 credits)

3. Comprehensive Exam

A comprehensive exam is required of all seniors.  This exam will be administered during the fall term and will consist of the GRE exam to test biology content knowledge.

4. Senior Thesis

A senior thesis is a departmental degree requirement. Each Neurobiology major is required to conduct an independent laboratory research project as the senior thesis. The thesis is conducted over two semesters in the senior year and is awarded a total of four credits. However, students will begin research earlier, generally in the third year by enrolling in Tutorial: Thesis Research. Students may also elect to do additional research during the academic year and in the summer between the third and fourth years.