This multidisciplinary major integrates courses from four departments: biology, chemistry, health sciences, and psychology. Two tracks of this major are available. Track A (General) is designed to provide students with a broader and more flexible background. Track B (Graduate Preparation) provides a more focused academic background with opportunities to develop specific technical skills and hands-on research experience so that they can successfully compete for neuroscience-related jobs in the private and public sectors, or admission to graduate or professional schools. The major consists of 25 (Track A) or 30 (Track B) credit hours of required courses and 15 (Track A) or 10 (Track B) credit hours of electives from courses in biology, health sciences, and/or psychology. In addition, a minimum of 12 credit hours of chemistry will be required. Note: a total of six (6) credits of directed research (NSC 496) can be used toward this degree.
Program Requirements
Core Courses I (16 hours)
Note: For BIO 487/PSY 487, two semesters are required, for a maximum of two credits.
Core Courses II (3 hours)
Select one of the following:
| BIO 500 | Biological Statistics | 3(2-2) |
| HSC 544 | Biostatistics | 3(2-1) |
| PSY 211QR | Introduction to Psychological Statistics | 3(3-0) |
Other Requirements I: General Chemistry (5-9 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Option A (5 hours)
| CHM 120 | Survey of Chemistry | 4(4-0) |
| CHM 127 | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | 1(0-2) |
Option B (8 hours)
Option C (9 hours)
Other Requirements II: Organic Chemistry (4-8 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Option A (4 hours)
| CHM 342 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | 4(3-3) |
Option B (8 hours)
| CHM 345 | Organic Chemistry I | 3(3-0) |
| CHM 346 | Organic Chemistry II | 3(3-0) |
| CHM 349 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2(0-6) |
Other Requirements III: Biochemistry (3-6 hours)
Select one of the following options:
Option A (3 hours)
| CHM 421 | Survey of Biochemistry | 3(3-0) |
Option B (3 hours)
| CHM 425 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3(3-0) |
Option C (6 hours)
| CHM 521 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3(3-0) |
| CHM 522 | Intermediate Biochemistry | 3(3-0) |
Neuroscience Tracks
Select one of the following tracks:
Track A - General (6 hours)
The General Track is for students who desire more flexibility in the choice of electives.
Required Courses
Track B - Graduate Preparation (11 hours)
The Graduate Preparation Track is for students who plan to attend a professional graduate school upon graduation that will necessitate both a solid background and research experience.
Required Courses I (8 hours)
| NSC 501 | Principles of Neuroscience I | 4(4-0) |
| NSC 502 | Principles of Neuroscience II | 4(4-0) |
Required Courses II (3 hours)
Select one of the following:
| BIO 403WI | Undergraduate Research | 3-4(Spec) |
| NSC 496 | Neuroscience Directed Research | 1-6(Spec) |
| PSY 496 | Directed Research | 1-6(Spec) |
Electives (10-15 hours)
If selecting Track A – General (above): Select at least two courses from each of the Elective groups below, plus one more from either group, in consultation with and the approval of your advisor, for a total of 15 hours.
If selecting Track B – Graduate Preparation (above): Select at least one course from each of the Elective Groups below, plus one more from either group, in consultation with and the approval of your advisor, for a total of 10 hours.
Electives I
Note: Track A students may not choose BIO 330 or 591.
Electives II
Note: Track A students may not choose PSY 588.
Total: 52-63 semester hours