NEUROSCIENCE

College of Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Program
John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts (JRC) LL56, (651) 962-5030
Hankerson (PSYC); Heimovics (BIOL); Husak (BIOL); Illig (BIOL); Prichard (PSYC); Tong (BIOL); Vetter (BIOL); Wolfe (PSYC)

Neuroscience Department Web Site

The Neuroscience Program is an interdisciplinary, research-intensive major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. Training in neuroscience requires a broad foundation in the natural sciences, and the major requires students to complete foundational courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Psychology. Flexibility in course selection at the upper division level allows specialization in concert with student interest. Students who successfully complete this major will be well-prepared for graduate study in neuroscience or in related disciplines. The Program is administered in consultation with the Biology and Psychology Departments. Students choosing this major may not take a second major in either Biology or Psychology, or a minor in Biology.

Neuroscience Honor Society

Nu Rho Psi, the national Neuroscience Honor Society encourages professional interest and excellence in scholarship, particularly in neuroscience. The St. Thomas chapter was established in 2007. To qualify, students who must have a 3.2 or higher overall grade point average and a 3.5 or higher grade point average in specific neuroscience courses.

Major in Neuroscience (B.S.)

Required Foundational Courses (32 credits)

  • BIOL 207 Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution (4 credits)
  • BIOL 208 Biological Communication and Energetics (4 credits)
  • BIOL 209 Biology of Sustainability (4 credits)
  • CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (4 credits) and CHEM 112 General Chemistry II (4 credits) or CHEM 115 Accelerated General Chemistry (4 credits)
  • STAT 220 Statistics 1 (4 credits)
  • MATH 113 Calculus 1 (4 credits) or MATH 109 Calculus with review II (4 credits)
  • PSYC 111 General Psychology (4 credits)
Plus Introductory Neuroscience Core Courses (8 credits)
  • PSYC 212 Research Methods (4 credits)
  • NSCI 301 Principles of Neuroscience (4 credits)
Plus Advanced Neuroscience Core Courses, (8 credits, including at least four from * courses)
  • BIOL 330 Animal Behavior (4 credits)
  • BIOL 354 Neurobiology (4 credits)*
  • PSYC 322 Sensation and Perception (4 credits)
  • PSYC 401 Physiological Psychology (4 credits)*
Plus Electives (20 credits)

Elective credits should be chosen from the selected courses and should reflect the student’s academic or professional goals. Courses completed to fulfill the Advanced Neuroscience Core requirements do not double-count as electives. Students may complete up-to four (4) credits of NSCI 389 for elective credit.  Students must complete at least eight credits from the Neuroscience Elective category other than NSCI 389. Only one of PSYC 301, PSYC 315, PSYC 407, MATH 114 and STAT 320 may count for the degree. 

Neuroscience Electives (must complete at least two):
  • NSCI 310 Cognitive Neuroscience (4 credits)
  • NSCI 320 Human and Comparative Neurology (4 credits)
  • NSCI 330 Neuropharmacology (4 credits)
  • NSCI 340 Computational Neuroscience (4 credits)
  • NSCI 350: Neurobiology of Social Behavior (4 credits)
  • NSCI 360: Neurobiology of Drug Use and Abuse (4 credits)
  • NSCI 389 Research* (2 or 4 credits)
  • NSCI 398 Topics (4 credits)
Biology Electives:
  • BIOL 328 Environmental Toxicology and Helth (4 credits)
  • BIOL 330 Animal Behavior (4 credits) * If not counted as Adv Core
  • BIOL 340 Principles of Biochemistry (4 credits)
  • BIOL 349 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
  • BIOL 353 Microscopic Anatomy (4 credits)
  • BIOL 354 Neurobiology (4 credits) *If not counted as Adv Core
  • BIOL 360 Genetics (4 credits)
  • BIOL 365 Developmental Biology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 371 Cell Biology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 375 Endocrinology (4 credits)
Psychology Electives:
  • PSYC 301 Psychopathology (no lab) (4 credits)
  • PSYC 315 Cognition (no lab) (4 credits)
  • PSYC 322 Sensation & Perception (4 credits)
  • PSYC 323 Learning & Memory (4 credits)
  • PSYC 365 Health Psychology (4 credits)
  • PSYC 401 Physiological Psychology (4 credits)
  • PSYC 407 Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (no lab)(4 credits) 
Allied Electives (no more than one may count for the degree):
  • CHEM 201 Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
  • CISC 130 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences (4 credits)
  • MATH 114 Calculus 2 (no lab)(4 credits)
  • PHYS 109 Physics I or PHYS 211 Physics I with Calculus (4 credits)
  • STAT 320 Statistics II (no lab)(4 credits) 

Plus Capstone Experience Course (4 credits)

  • BIOL 462 Molecular Biology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 486 Seminar in Physiology (4 credits)
  • BIOL 464 Bioinformatics (4 credits)
  • NSCI 420 Sleep & Circadian Rhythms (4 credits)
  • NSCI 430 Neuroecology (4 credits)
  • NSCI 450 Integrative Neuroscience (4 credits)
  • NSCI 490 Topics in Neuroscience (4 credits)
  • PSYC 415 Research Issues in Cognition (4 credits)

Neuroscience Undergraduate Courses

Course Number Title Credits
NSCI  201 Introduction to Neuroscience 4
NSCI  202 Principles of Neuroscience 4
NSCI  203 Neuroscience Literacy 4
NSCI  243 Individual Study 2 TO 4
NSCI  298 Topics 0 TO 4
NSCI  301 Principles of Neuroscience 4
NSCI  302 Neuroanatomy 4
NSCI  303 Neurophysiology 4
NSCI  310 Cognitive Neuroscience 4
NSCI  320 Human & Comparative Neurology 4
NSCI  330 Neuropharmacology 4
NSCI  340 Computational Neuroscience 4
NSCI  350 Neurobio of Social Behavior 4
NSCI  360 Neurobiology: Drug Use & Abuse 4
NSCI  389 Research 2 OR 4
NSCI  393 Individual Study 2 TO 4
NSCI  398 Topics in Neuroscience 4
NSCI  420 Sleep and Circadian Rhythms 4
NSCI  430 Neuroecology 4
NSCI  450 Integrative Neuroscience 4
NSCI  490 Topics 4
NSCI  491 Research 2 OR 4
NSCI  495 Individual Study 2 OR 4