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Academic Planning

Neurobiology Major

Neurobiology, B.S.

Neurobiology is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, and how they control behavior, cognition, and all physiological processes in animals. Neurobiology includes the study of the nervous system from the molecular, cellular, functional, evolutionary, computational, and medical perspectives. Hands-on experiences, from designing and conducting lab experiments to using different techniques and instruments to recording and analyzing data, play an important role in gaining neurobiology knowledge. Research in neurobiology is revealing the difference between healthy and diseased nervous systems. Faculty study many aspects of the nervous system, including its role in development, learning and memory, sleep, aging, addiction, autism, and stress.

 

Program Learning Objectives

  • Explain how biology, psychology, chemistry, and physics form a foundation for studying the brain and behavior.
  • Analyze and describe the structure, function and development of the nervous system, including the specialized architecture of nerve cells, how nerve cells communicate and how neural circuits collect sensory information and generate behaviors.
  • Explain how cellular and molecular dysfunction in the nervous systems can lead to neurological disorders.
  • Apply and evaluate the methods used in modern biological neuroscience research, including evaluating appropriate evidence (hypothesis development, experimental design, analytical reasoning) and arriving at conclusions based upon this evidence.
  • Understand the role of biological neuroscience at the individual and society levels, as well as equity issues in neuroscience research and clinical care.
  • Communicate effectively in both written and oral forms, either with specialists or non-specialists.
  • Articulate the ethical implications of neuroscience research, the discipline’s relevance to society, and equity issues in neuroscience research and clinical care.
  • Identify and describe possible career paths available for students proficient in neuroscience.

 

Entrance To Major Requirements

To be eligible for entrance to the Neurobiology major, a student must have:

  • attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average; and
  • completed BIOL 110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN), BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells, CHEM 110: Chemical Principles I (GN), and MATH 140: Calculus with Analytical Geometry I (GQ), and earned a grade of C or better in each of these courses.

 

Careers

A degree in Neurobiology is excellent preparation for a career in:

  • Neuroscience research
  • Medicine, Dentistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Education
  • Outreach
  • Physician assistant programs
  • Occupational or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
  • Biomedical Research
  • It is also a good route to prepare for attending graduate school or professional school.

 

 

Suggested Academic Plan

 

 

Neurobiology, B.S. Check Sheet

 

 

C-Required Courses

  • BIOL110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) OR BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN),
  • BIOL 161: Human Anatomy and Physiology I – Lecture (GN),
  • BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells or BIOL 230M: Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells,
  • BIOL 469: Neurobiology,
  • CHEM110: Chemical Principles I (GN),
  • CHEM 112: Chemical Principles II (GN),
  • MATH140: Calculus With Analytical Geometry I (GQ) or MATH 140B: Calculus and Biology I (GQ),
  • STAT 200: Elementary Statistics (GQ), STAT 250: Introduction to Biostatistics (GQ), or STAT 240: Introduction to Biometry (GQ)

 

Disallowed Courses

  • BMB 1: The Science of Sickness (GN),
  • BISC 1: Structure and Function of Organisms,
  • BISC 2: Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution (GN),
  • BISC 3: Environmental Science (GN),
  • BISC 4: Human Body: Form and Function (GN),
  • BIOL courses below 110,
  • CHEM courses below CHEM 110,
  • Duplicate courses
  • ENGL 4: Basic Writing Skills,
  • ENGL 5: Writing Tutorial,
  • ESL 4: ESL Composition for American Academic Communication I,
  • MATH courses below 21,
  • MICRB 106: Elementary Microbiology (GN),
  • MICRB 107: Elementary Microbiology Laboratory,
  • PHYS 1: The Science of Physics,
  • PHYS 150: Technical Physics I (GN),
  • PHYS 151: Technical Physics II (GN),
  • more than 9 credits of SC 295: Science Co-op Work Experience I, SC 395: Science Co-op Work Experience II, SC 495: Science Co-op Work Experience III.

 

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  2. a grade of C or better in the following courses:
  • BIOL110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) or BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN)
  • BIOL 161: Human Anatomy and Physiology I – Lecture (GN)
  • BIOL 230W: Biology: Molecules and Cells or BIOL 230M: Honors Biology: Molecules and Cells
  • BIOL 469: Neurobiology
  • CHEM110: Chemical Principles I (GN)
  • CHEM 112: Chemical Principles II (GN)
  • MATH 140: Calculus With Analytical Geometry I (GQ) or MATH 140B: Calculus and Biology I (GQ)
  • STAT 200: Elementary Statistics (GQ), STAT 250: Introduction to Biostatistics (GQ), or STAT 240: Introduction to Biometry (GQ)