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 358 & BIO 359 | Neurobiology and Neurobiology Lab | 4 |
| PSY 340 & PSY 341 | Physiological Psychology and Physiological Psychology 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 |
| 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 from Fundamentals of Chemistry: | 4-8 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Lab | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Or | ||
| Accelerated General Chemistry and Accelerated General Chemistry 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 9 | ||
| Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab | ||
| Cell Biology and Cell Biology Lab 2 | ||
| Developmental Biology and Developmental Biology Lab | ||
| Animal Physiology and Animal Physiology Lab | ||
| Biochemistry I and Biochemistry I Lab 6 | ||
| Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology Lab 2,7 | ||
| Essentials of Biochemistry and Essentials of Biochemistry Lab | ||
| 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 | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics II Lab | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 71-81 | |
| General Education | 42-43 | |
| Electives | 0-8 | |
| Total Credits | 122-123 | |
| 1 | MAT 124M is a prerequisite for this course. This course is required if student chooses the PHY 292/PHY 296 option or the COS 105 course option. |
| 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 | BIO 218, BIO 120/BIO 120D, and BIO 122/BIO 122D are possible prerequisites for this course. |
| 10 | Students may test out of this course based on their performance on the Math and Computer Science department placement exam. |
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 introduction of histological, molecular, electrophysiological and computer-based neuroscience research. Collection of qualitative and quantitative data and data analysis.
Prerequisites: BIO 120/BIO 120D and BIO 124/BIO 124D or 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
Lab 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 sub cellular to organismic and behavioral levels. Includes significant attention to the senses as well as mechanisms of neuronal communication, plasticity, and memory.
Prerequisites: BIO 120/120D or two of the following: BIO 122/122D, BIO 124/BIO 124D, BIO 128/BIO 128D, NSC 130/130D. Corequisites: Registration in NSC 359 is required. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in biology.
NSC 359 • Neurobiology Lab 1 Credit
Laboratory experience accompanying NSC 358.
Corequisites: Registration in NSC 358 is required. Offered: Fall. Special Notes: Carries cross-credit in biology.
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 will 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 are analyzed and conclusions 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.