Degree
Bachelor of Science in NeuroscienceContact
Dr. Jennifer Stiegler-Balfour
jstiegler@une.edu
Mission
The mission of SWAGÊÓƵ's Neuroscience program is to produce independent, self-motivated learners who have acquired the analytical and research skills that will help them to think creatively while integrating complex ideas. This training prepares them to help solve the critical challenges facing our society and to contribute to the furthering of human knowledge. We accomplish this using a variety of experiential and engaged learning techniques to provide a foundation in the concepts and methodologies of the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience at the cellular, molecular, cognitive systems, and behavioral levels.
Major Description
A Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major offered by faculty from various schools and colleges with expertise in 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 (1) aspect of neuroscience. The major allows considerable flexibility for students to develop the last two (2) 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
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total | 42–46 |
| Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 225 – Psychology Statistics or MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 250 – Lifespan Development in Context | Credits included in& Core Requirements |
| MAT 190 – Calculus I | Credits included in Core Requirements |
| NEU 205/205L – Intro to Neurobiology with Lab | 4 |
| NEU 306/306L – Behavioral/Cognitive Neuro with Lab | 4 |
| NEU 410 – Neurobiology of Mental Illness | 3 |
| NEU 495 – Neuroscience Lab Research or NEU 300 – Neuroscience Internship or PSY 300 - Psychology Internship I | 3–12 |
| BIO 105 – Bio I: Ecology/Evolution | Credits included in Core Requirements |
| BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I with Lab or CHE 150/150L – University General Chem I with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111/111L - General Chemistry II with Lab or CHE 151/151L – University General Chem II with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 210/210L/210S or CHE 210G/210LG/210LS – Organic Chemistry I with Lab and LabLecture | 5 |
| CHE 211/211L/211S or CHE 211G/211LG/211SG – Organic Chemistry II with Lab and LabLecture or CHE 310/310L – Fundamentals of Biochemistry with Lab | 4–5 |
| PHY 110 – General Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 111 – General Physics II | 4 |
| Three (3) required elective courses taken from List A and B. No more than two (2) may be chosen from either list A or B. | 9–13 |
| Total credits required | 58–72 |
| Open elective courses (needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Required Total Credits | 120 |
|---|
| List A Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 214 /214L – Genetics with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 245/245L – General Principles of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 322 – Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIO 330/330L – Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab | 4 |
| BIO 345/345L – General Principles of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology II with Lab | 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 Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| 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 290 – Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 316 – Psychology of Consciousness | 3 |
| PSY 325 – Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSY 335 – Comparative Animal Behavior or BIO 335 – Animal Behavior/Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
| PSY 362 – Animal Cognition | 3 |
| PSY 364 – Social and Emotional Development in Childhood | 3 |
| PSY 370 – Drugs, Society, and Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 380 – Learning/Conditioning and Behavior Modification or PSY 384/ 384L – Animal Learning and Behavior with Lab | 3–4 |
| PSY 383 – Memory and Cognition | 3 |
| PSY 425 – Advanced Methods in Animal Behavior | 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.
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 School of Social and Behavioral Sciences may be possible for students. 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. Students must also complete the University Core mathematics requirement by the end of the first year. The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences strongly recommends that students take PSY 225 or MAT 150 in their sophomore year. The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences requires that PSY 225 or MAT 150 be completed by the end of the junior year.
See Undergraduate Academic Policy also.
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a B.S. in Neuroscience from SWAGÊÓƵ 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 a GPA of at least 2.25 and a major at SWAGÊÓƵ may minor in Neuroscience with the approval of the assistant academic director. 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 26 hours of approved course credit with a minimum grade of "C-" in each course is required for the minor in Neuroscience as follows:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I with Lab or CHE 150/150L – University General Chem I with Lab | 4 |
| CHE 111/111L - General Chemistry II with Lab or CHE 151/151L – University General Chem II with Lab | 4 |
| NEU 205/205L – Introduction to Neurobiology with Lab | 4 |
| NEU 306/306L – Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience with Lab | 4 |
| NEU 410 – Neurobiology of Mental Illness | 3 |
| Minimum Credits | 26 |
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 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 SWAGÊÓƵ in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives. All courses completed must be no older than five (5) years.
Other restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
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.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the SWAGÊÓƵ for the 2023–2024 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication April 28, 2023.
The SWAGÊÓƵ reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.