Program Overview
Students in this program gain a strong foundation in the basic science of brain function and explore its applications in medicine, science, and industry. The program offers research opportunities and prepares students for postgraduate education in neuroscience or related fields. Graduates have strong employment prospects in various industries, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Saint Louis University is an interdisciplinary program that utilizes the tools and perspectives of biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine to gain a deeper understanding of brain structure, function, and behavior. The program aims to equip students with a strong foundation in the basic science of brain function, opening doors to various applications within medicine, science, and industry. The curriculum delves into psychiatric, neurological, and developmental disorders, with the goal of fostering innovative treatment options through basic and applied research. Neuroscience is a suitable major for students planning to pursue postgraduate education in neuroscience or related professional fields.
Program Highlights:
- Interdisciplinary: SLU offers a genuinely interdisciplinary degree in neuroscience.
- Growing Field: Neuroscience is a rapidly expanding field, with ongoing initiatives to develop innovative technologies for a better understanding of brain function.
- Rigorous Curriculum: SLU's neuroscience program provides a rigorous and interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong emphasis on pre-professional training.
Outline:
Curriculum Overview:
- Course Structure: The neuroscience major includes lectures, seminars, and laboratory experiences.
- Core Neuroscience Courses:
- NEUR 3400: Introduction to Neuroscience 1: Cellular, Molecular and Systemic (3 credits)
- NEUR 3500: Introduction to Neuroscience 2: Cognitive and Behavioral (3 credits)
- NEUR 3550: Neuroscience Laboratory (1 credit)
- NEUR 4900: Neuroscience Seminar (1 credit)
- Required Courses in Biology:
- BIOL 1260 & BIOL 1265: General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory (4 credits)
- BIOL 3020: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
- BIOL 3040: Cell Structure & Function (3 credits)
- Required Courses in Psychology:
- PSY 1010: General Psychology (3 credits)
- PSY 3100: Brain, Mind, & Society (3 credits)
- Neuroscience Elective Courses: 19 credits of Neuroscience elective courses are required.
- Six credits must be selected from courses with the "Neuroscience - Biology" attribute.
- One credit must be selected from courses with the "Neuroscience - Biology Lab" attribute.
- Six credits from the "Neuroscience - Psychology" attribute.
- The final six credits may come from your choice of "Neuroscience - Biology", "Neuroscience - Psychology", or the "Neuroscience - Anthropology" attributes.
- Required Courses in Chemistry:
- CHEM 1110 & CHEM 1115: General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (4 credits)
- CHEM 1120 & CHEM 1125: General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (4 credits)
- Required Courses in Mathematics:
- MATH 1510: Calculus I (4 credits)
- Required Course in Humanities:
- Select from one of the following:
- PHIL 4280: Biology and Mind
- HCE 4280: Controversies in Neuroethics
- ENGL 4530: Medicine, Mind, and Victorian Fiction
- Required Course in Physics:
- Required Statistics Course:
- Select one of the following:
- PSY 2050: Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics
- MATH 1300: Elementary Statistics with Computers
- Capstone/Inquiry/Honors Project:
- Students must select one course with the "Neuroscience Capstone" attribute, such as:
- BIOL 4970: Library Project
- BIOL 4980: Advanced Independent Study
- NEUR 4865: Capstone Neurophysiology Laboratory
- NEUR 4869: Critical Thinking about Neuroscience
- PSY 4965: Capstone Practicum Project
- PSY 4967: Capstone Research Project
- General Electives: 11-18 credits
Biology Elective Courses:
- Students must take a one-credit biology lab to be selected from courses with the "Neuroscience - Biology Lab" attribute.
- Course List:
- BIOL 3010: Evolutionary Biology
- BIOL 3030: Principles of Genetics
- BIOL 3060: Cell Structure & Function Laboratory 1
- BIOL 3100: Experiments in Genetics Lab 1
- BIOL 3420: Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates 1
- BIOL 3470: General Physiology Laboratory 1
- BIOL 4010: Sex, Evolution, and Behavior
- BIOL 4030: Introduction to Genomics
- BIOL 4050: Molecular Techniques Lab 1
- BIOL 4070: Advanced Biological Chemistry
- BIOL 4250: Neurobiology of Disease
- BIOL 4360 & BIOL 4370: Animal Behavior and Animal Behavior Lab 1
- BIOL 4410: Comparative Animal Physiology
- BIOL 4440: Vertebrate Histology: Structure and Function of Tissues 1
- BIOL 4510: Behavioral Endocrinology
- BIOL 4520: Biochemical Pharmacology
- BIOL 4540: Human Systemic Physiology
- BIOL 4600: Developmental Biology
- BIOL 4630: Foundations of Immunobiology
- BIOL 4700: Molecular Biology
- BIOL 4720: Cancer Biology
Psychology Elective Courses:
- Course List:
- PSY 3120: Cognitive Psychology
- PSY 3160: Learning & Memory
- PSY 3210: Developmental Psych: Child
- PSY 3230: Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
- PSY 3300: Social Psychology
- PSY 3310: Personality Theory
- PSY 3460: Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 4140: Psychopharmacology
- PSY 4150: Science of Sleep
- PSY 4350: Health Psychology
Anthropology Elective Courses:
- Course List:
- ANTH 2210: Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 2400: Linguistic Anthropology
- ANTH 4240: Primate Social Behavior
Pre-Professional Health:
- Students pursuing a pre-professional health curriculum will need to complete additional course requirements for medical or other professional schools as outlined by the pre-professional health studies program.
Careers:
- Career Outlook: Graduates with a B.S. in neuroscience have a strong outlook for future employment.
- Industries:
- Medicine
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmaceuticals
- Biotechnology
- Education
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Postgraduate Options:
- Graduate School
- Medical School
- Related Fields:
- Psychology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Law
- Medicine
- Philosophy
Other:
- Fieldwork and Research Opportunities: SLU's neuroscience program offers research opportunities through collaborations with the biology and psychology departments and the Institute for Translational Neuroscience.
- Non-course Requirements: All majors are required to participate in first-year mentoring.
- Continuation Standards:
- Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in specific required major courses by the end of their second semester at Saint Louis University.
- Students who fall below a 3.0 GPA will be placed on program probation.
- To continue as a neuroscience major after four semesters, students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 in specific required major courses.
- Transfer students will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Graduation Requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate, or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
- Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
- Roadmaps:
- The program provides recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for both traditional and pre-professional health tracks, assuming full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
- These roadmaps are subject to change based on course availability, sequencing, and transfer credit.
- Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.