Program Overview

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Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience program offers comprehensive training in brain sciences, with a combination of courses from Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and other fields. The overall objective is to help students achieve basic competence and knowledge of behavioral and cognitive, molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience.

About

The degree focuses on various neuroscience topics, and offers a specialized Neuroscience Preprofessional concentration that covers neuroscience topics along with preparation for paths such as medical school.

Available Options

• Neuroscience Preprofessional Concentration

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please refer to the Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Neuroscience BS, students should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the major areas of neuroscience, their primary research topics, and the primary approaches/techniques for asking research questions in each.
2. Explain and diagram fundamental principles of nervous system signaling and information processing based on research of the nervous system at the cellular, molecular, circuit, and systems levels.
3. Relate our current understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction to contemporary and historical developments in neuroscience research.
4. Describe the basis for disorders of the nervous system from cell & molecular to cognitive & systems levels, including genetic disorders of the nervous system, developmental disorders, movement disorders, mental health disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders.
5. Describe the methods used to study the nervous system, including specific experimental techniques relevant to neuroscience (immunohistochemistry, DNA & RNA sequencing, electrophysiology, behavioral assessment, neuroimaging).
6. Critically assess the design, strengths, and limitations of neuroscience methods and techniques in empirical research publications.
7. Apply skills in data analysis and interpretation, including data management, statistical assessments, and communicating and displaying data.
8. Be able to communicate effectively about biological and neuroscientific concepts, orally and in writing.
9. Be prepared for directly entering the STEM and other workforce.

Neuroscience Preprofessional Concentration

In addition to the above, upon completion of the Preprofessional Concentration, students should be able to:

1. Understand a broad array of basic science methodologies from the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology.
2. Understand cell structures and functions, the physical nature of genetic information, and that all organisms have evolved and are evolving.
3. Be prepared for professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy or graduate study in neuroscience or a broader medical field.

Career Possibilities

Students with an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience can be eligible for job offers in a wide array of advanced industries such as biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and epidemiology, among others. In addition, such a degree can be useful for fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, cybersecurity, energy, public policy, teaching, and ecology.

Requirements

General Education Requirements - Credits: 29-39

• First Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3
  • COLA 100LA - First Year Seminar is highly encouraged.
• Composition - Credits: 6
  • ENG 101 - Composition I
  • ENG 102 - Composition II
• Second Year Seminar - Credits: 3
  • ENG 231 - World Literature I
  • or ENG 232 - World Literature II
  • or PBH 205 - Introduction to Public Health is highly encouraged.
• Mathematics - Credits: 3
  • MATH 127 - Precalculus II or higher
• Constitution (US and NV) - Credits: 3-6
  • HIST 100 - Historical Issues and Contemporary Society
  • or PSC 101 - Introduction to American Politics is highly encouraged.
• Distribution Requirement - Credits: 12
  • Humanities and Fine Arts - Credits: 9
    • PHIL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy
    • One other course from a different humanities area.
    • One 3 credit course in Fine Arts
  • Social Science - Credits: 0
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking - Credits: 3
    • Analytical Thinking - Credits: 3
      • One 3 credit course in Analytical Thinking
      • PHIL 102 - Critical Thinking and Reasoning is highly encouraged.
    • Life and Physical Sciences - Credits: 0
      • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
• Multicultural and International Requirements - Credits: 0-6
  • Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
  • International, one 3 credit course required

Major Requirements - BS in Neuroscience - Credits: 81 - 91

Neuroscience Core Courses - Credits: 31

• PSY 101 - General Psychology
• NS 200 - Introduction to the Neuroscience Major
• PSY 210 - Introduction to Statistical Methods
• BIOL 300 - Principles of Genetics
• PSY 303 - Foundations of Neuroscience
• PSY 305 - Foundations of Perception
• PSY 422 - Psychopharmacology of Abused Drugs
• PSY 424 - Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
• PSY 425 - Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSY 428 - Cellular and Molecular Approaches to Behavior
• NS 490 - Capstone in Neuroscience

Neuroscience Electives - Credits: 12

• BIOL 445 - Cell Physiology
• KIN 465 - Neurophysiology of Movement
• PSY 316 - Foundations of Cognitive Psychology
• PSY 446 - Human Neuropsychology
• PSY 495 - Seminar
• PSY 498 - Advanced Independent Research

Science Requirements - Credits: 16

• BIOL 190A - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
• BIOL 190L - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
• BIOL 191A - Introduction to Organismal Biology
• BIOL 191L - Introduction to Organismal Biology Laboratory
• CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 122A - General Chemistry II
• CHEM 122L - General Chemistry Laboratory II

Upper Division Electives - Credits: 9

At least 9 credits of upper-division electives in any field to satisfy 42 upper division credit requirement.

General Electives - Credits: 13-23

Credits in any field needed to reach the minimum 120 credits.

Area of Concentration

Neuroscience Preprofessional Concentration - Credits: 50-60

The Neuroscience Preprofessional concentration covers neuroscience topics along with preparation for paths such as medical school.

Neuroscience Electives - Credits: 6

Choose 6 credits from the following courses.

• BIOL 445 - Cell Physiology
• KIN 465 - Neurophysiology of Movement
• PSY 316 - Foundations of Cognitive Psychology
• PSY 446 - Human Neuropsychology
• PSY 495 - Seminar
• PSY 498 - Advanced Independent Research

Science Requirements - Credits: 35

• BIOL 190A - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
• BIOL 190L - Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
• BIOL 191A - Introduction to Organismal Biology
• BIOL 191L - Introduction to Organismal Biology Laboratory
• CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 122A - General Chemistry II
• CHEM 122L - General Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 241L - Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences Lab I
• CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 242L - Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences Laboratory II
• CHEM 474 - Biochemistry I
• PHYS 151A - General Physics I
• PHYS 151L - General Physics I Lab
• PHYS 152A - General Physics II
• PHYS 152L - General Physics II Lab

Upper Division Electives - Credits: 12

At least 12 credits of upper-division electives in any field to satisfy 42 upper division credit requirement.

General Electives - Credits: 0-7

Credits in any field needed to reach the minimum 120 credits.

Total Credits: 120

Notes

1. Please speak with your academic advisor regarding placement into MATH 127 and CHEM 121A.
2. We highly recommend Humanities courses that can also satisfy either International or Multicultural requirements.
3. We highly recommend Fine Arts courses that can also satisfy either International or Multicultural requirements.
4. The Life and Physical Science courses are taken as part of the major degree requirements.
5. Due to this program being an interdisciplinary program, it does not adhere to the COLA General Education requirements.
6. There is currently no online-only option for this program.
7. A minimum C grade is required for courses used in the degree program.
8. 50% of department requirements must be completed in residence at UNLV.
9. A maximum of 4 PEX credits can be used toward graduation requirements.
10. At least 42 program credits must be upper division (300 - 400 level).