The neuroscience major is multidisciplinary, combining expertise across a variety of fields. It adopts an integrative approach early in the curriculum to provide students with a conceptual framework for understanding the neuroscientific implications of the biology, psychology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and physics courses that are required. At the upper levels, it provides in-depth lab experiences, individual research opportunities, and senior capstone courses to tie it all together and to prepare graduates to succeed in a graduate program or to enter the field in some professional capacity.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Neuroscience (B.S.) | ||
| Neuroscience Core: | ||
| NSC 130 & NSC 130D | Introduction to Neuroscience and Intro to Neuroscience Lab | 4 |
| BIO/NSC 358 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIO/NSC 359 | Neurobiology Lab | 1 |
| CHE 113 & CHE 113D | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| CHE 214 & CHE 215 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| CHE 224 & CHE 225 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| MAT 123M | Precalculus 10 | 3 |
| NSC 350 & NSC 351 | Neuroscience Methods and Neuroscience Methods Lab | 4 |
| NSC 493 | Literature Review in Neuroscience | 1 |
| NSC 496 | Neuroscience Research | 1 |
| NSC 499 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1 |
| PSY 355 | Research Principles and Laboratory | 4 |
| Fundamentals of Psychology Courses: | ||
| PSY 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 230M | Introduction to Statistical Methods and Experimental Design | 4 |
| Fundamentals of Biology Courses | ||
| BIO 124 & BIO 124D | Integrative Biology: Genes, Cells, Change and Integrative Biology: Genes, Cells, Change Lab | 4 |
| BIO 128 & BIO 128D | Integrative Biology: Metabolism, Energy, Biodiversity and Integrative Biology: Metabolism, Energy, Biodiversity Lab | 4 |
| Choose one or both Mathematics courses: | 4-8 | |
| Calculus 1 | ||
| Calculus 2 1 | ||
| Choose two courses from Biology and Biochemistry courses, at least one of which must be 300-level or above: | 8 | |
| Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | ||
| Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab 5 | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology and Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab 5 | ||
| Genetics and Genetics Lab 8 | ||
| Endocrinology and Endocrinology Lab | ||
| Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab 11 | ||
| Cell Biology and Cell Biology Lab 2 | ||
| Developmental Biology and Developmental Biology Lab | ||
| Animal Physiology and Animal Physiology Lab | ||
| Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology Lab 2,7 | ||
| Essentials of Biochemistry and Biochemistry II Lab 9 | ||
| Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab 6 | ||
| Choose one Psychology course: | 3-4 | |
| Motivation and Emotion | ||
| Conditioning and Learning and Conditioning and Learning Lab | ||
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception and Sensation and Perception Lab | ||
| Choose one Computer Science course: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Object-oriented Design and Programming 3 | ||
| Scientific Computing 4 | ||
| Choose one Physics sequence: | 8 | |
| Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab | ||
| Introductory Physics II and Introductory Physics II Lab | ||
| Or | ||
| General Physics I and General Physics I Lab 4 | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics II Lab 12 | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 75-81 | |
| General Education | 40-41 | |
| Electives | 1-6 | |
| Total Credits | 122 | |
- 1
- 2
This is a designated research course.
- 3
- 4
MAT 124M is a prerequisite for this course.
- 5
BIO 104/BIO 104D, BIO 120/BIO 120D, or BIO 218 is a prerequisite for this course.
- 6
- 7
BIO 332/BIO 333 and CHE 226/CHE 227 are prerequisites for this course.
- 8
BIO 218 or BIO 120/BIO 120D is a prerequisite for this course.
- 9
Students requiring CHE 397 for their degree will require an override to take this course concurrently with CHE 304.
- 10
Students may test out of this course based on their performance on the Math and Computer Science department placement exam.
- 11
This course carries cross credit in psychological sciences.
- 12
MAT 125 is a prerequisite for this course.
Courses whose number is followed by a letter fulfill a General Education requirement.
NSC 130 • Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credits
An introduction to the biological basis of behavior. Focuses on two main themes: the cellular, molecular, and genetic processes that form the foundation of nervous system function and the systems-level organization of the nervous system that forms the foundation of human and animal behavior.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 130D is required. Offered: Spring.
NSC 130D • Intro to Neuroscience Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying NSC 130.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 130 is required. Offered: Spring.
NSC 350 • Neuroscience Methods 3 Credits
Principles and practice of neuroscience laboratory techniques. Laboratory and lecture experience are integrated to include an introduction to histological, molecular, electrophysiological, and computer-based neuroscience research. Collection of qualitative and quantitative data and data analysis.
Prerequisites: BIO 120/BIO 120D or BIO 124/BIO 124D and NSC 130/NSC 130D; PSY 230M. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 351 is required. Offered: Spring, even # years.
NSC 351 • Neuroscience Methods Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying NSC 350.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 350 is required. Offered: Spring, even # years.
NSC 358 • Neurobiology 3 Credits
Nervous system of animals and humans from the subcellular to organismic and behavioral levels. Includes significant attention to the senses as well as mechanisms of neuronal communication, plasticity, and memory.
Prerequisites: BIO 218 or both PSY 100 and NSC 130/NSC 130D. Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 359 is required. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in biology.
NSC 359 • Neurobiology Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying NSC 358.
Corequisites: Concurrent registration in NSC 358 is required. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: This course carries cross-credit in biology.
NSC 481 • Internship in Biology 3 Credits
A learning/practicing experience in which the student applies neurological understanding and skills in an off-campus professional setting.
Prerequisites: Major in neuroscience and Junior or senior standing. Offered: Fall, Spring.
NSC 493 • Literature Review in Neuroscience 1 Credit
Survey of contemporary and classical neuroscience literature. Journal club format in which topics of the students' choosing are researched, discussed, and methodologies assessed. Students evaluate a variety of neuroscience research through a written summary.
Prerequisites: Major in neuroscience and Junior standing. Offered: Spring.
NSC 496 • Neuroscience Research 1-4 Credits
Students collect original data through independent laboratory/field research under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. Data is analyzed and conclusions are drawn and reported.
Prerequisites: NSC 130/NSC 130D and Consent of instructor. Offered: Fall, Spring.
NSC 499 • Neuroscience Seminar 1 Credit
Readings and discussion of topics that relate neuroscience to Christian faith as well as moral, ethical, and societal issues. Topics may include psychopharmacological enhancement of attention, memory, and mood; brain implants and homo augmentus; free will, the soul, responsibility, and personhood; definition of mental health and illness.
Prerequisites: Major in neuroscience and Senior standing. Offered: Spring.