Neuroscience
College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office at (207) 602-2271 or (207) 602-2371
Mission
The Department of Psychology offers students a broad-based liberal arts education with an emphasis on community, social and individual approaches to understanding human behavior. Students are thus exposed to a combination of theoretical, scientific and practical approaches to solving human problems. Issues of gender, race, class and culture are emphasized in courses throughout the curriculum. As a result of required course work and internship experiences, the department graduates students with marketable skills that prepare them for entry-level positions in social services or for graduate study in related areas. As part of this mission, the Department of Psychology offers three majors: psychology, neuroscience, and animal behavior.
Major Description
A Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major offered by faculty from various departments and colleges with expertise in the neuroscience. The neuroscience curriculum offers students an opportunity to explore the structure and function of the nervous system. The major requires a general science background, a number of courses specifically devoted to the brain and nervous system, and an in-depth experience that explores the limits of knowledge in at least one aspect of neuroscience. The major allows considerable flexibility for students to develop the last two years along the lines of individual preferences and interests, with potential foci in areas of cellular/molecular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, or cognitive science. The majority of students who graduate with a degree in Neuroscience enter graduate or professional programs culminating with careers in medicine/health care, research, and/or education.
Curricular Requirements
CREDITS |
|
---|---|
42-46 |
|
Math Core Requirement must be MAT 190- Calculus I One SGA course must be PSY 250 Lab Science Requirement must be BIO 105 |
|
Program Required Courses |
58-63 |
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
PSY 225 - Psychology Statistics or MAT 150 - Statistics for Life Sciences |
3 |
NEU 205 - Introduction to Neurobiology |
4 |
NEU 306 - Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience |
4 |
NEU 410 - Neurobiology of Mental Illness |
3 |
NEU 495 - Neuroscience Lab Research |
3 |
Neuroscience Electives (3) (see below) |
9-13 |
BIO 106 - Biology II: Cellular/Molecular | 4 |
CHE 110/111 - General Chemistry I & II | 8 |
CHE 210/211 or 210G/211G- Organic Chemistry I & II (CHE 310 may substitute for CHE 211) |
10 |
PHY 110/111 - General Physics I & II | 8 |
Minimum Required Total Credits | 120 |
Credits | |
---|---|
Each student will choose three elective courses. No more than two may be chosen from either list A or B. No course counted as an elective may simultaneously satisfy program requirements. | |
List A | |
BIO 200 - Genetics (Human) | 5 |
BIO 245 - General Principles of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology I | 4 |
BIO 322 - Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
BIO 330 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
BIO 340 - Embryology | 4 |
BIO 345 - General Principles of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology II | 5 |
BIO 365 - Immunology | 3 |
BIO 370 - Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIO 407 - Developmental Biology |
3 |
BIO 450 - Biology Topics (with program approval) |
3 |
CHE 405 - Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
List B | |
PSY 226 - Motivation and Emotion | 3 |
PSY 245 - Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
PSY 205 - Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
PSY 275 - Introduction to Techniques in Animal Behavior |
3 |
PSY 285 - Research Methods | 3 |
PSY 335 - Comparative Animal Behavior or BIO 335 Animal Behavior/Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
PSY 362 - Animal Cognition | 3 |
PSY 370 - Drugs, Society and Behavior | 3 |
PSY 380 - Learning/Conditioning and Behavior Modification OR PSY 382 - Animal Learning and Behavior |
3 |
PSY 383 - Memory and Cognition |
3 |
PSY 425 - Advanced Methods in Animal Behavior |
3 |
PSY 440 - Sensation and Perception |
3 |
PSY 490 - Behavioral Neuroscience |
3 |
PHI 370 - Philosophy of Psychology |
3 |
PHI 380 - Philosophy of Mind |
3 |
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
/cas/programs/pre-health-graduate-school-preparation-tracks-non-degree
Academic and Technical Standards
A grade point average of 2.25 is necessary to be approved to add a major in Psychology, Animal Behavior, or Neuroscience, and to add a minor in Psychology, Animal Behavior, Neuroscience, Art Therapy, or MHRT/C. Double majoring or majoring and minoring within the Department of Psychology may be possible for a student. However, students interested in this option should do so with close consultation of their academic advisor to ensure that a substantial degree of overlap between the two areas does not occur.
A minimum grade of "C-" must be achieved in all courses used to fulfill the requirements for the Neuroscience major. See Undergraduate Academic Policy also.
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Neuroscience at SWAG视频 will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad foundation in the concepts and methodologies of the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience at the cellular, molecular, cognitive, systems, and behavioral levels.
- Demonstrate research skills including the ability to design experiments, and collect, analyze, and interpret data through research projects, lab work, internships, and coursework.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating neuroscience primary literature.
- Communicate in written and oral format scientific information in an organized and clear manner.
Minor
A student with GPA of at least 2.25 and a major at SWAG视频 may minor in Neuroscience with the approval of the Psychology Department Chair. Declarations must occur prior to the completion of the first semester of the junior year. Major programs of study with significant course overlap with Neuroscience minor requirements may be disallowed by the chair. Students declaring a minor in Neuroscience will not be allowed to double-dip credits across the minor and either major or core requirements (unless no other options are provided by the major, minor, or core requirements).
A minimum of 25 hours of approved course credit with a minimum grade of "C-" in each course is required for the minor in Neuroscience as follows:
Minimum Credits | 25 |
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
BIO 106 - Biology II: Cellular/Molecular | 4 |
CHE 110/111 - General Chemistry I & II | 8 |
NEU 210 - The Brain | 4 |
NEU 410 - Neurobiology of Mental Illness | 3 |
NEU 320 - Principles of Neurobiology | 3 |
Honors Program
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor.
Transfer Credit
Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at SWAG视频 in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five years. Other restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions also.
Admissions
Financial Information
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.