Program Overview

---

Introduction to the BA in Neuroscience Program

The undergraduate major in Neuroscience is designed to explore the complexities of the nervous system, from the functional neuroanatomy of sensory processing to the cellular features and molecular mechanisms that lead to neurodegenerative disorders. This program aims to prepare students for careers in neuroscience or other natural sciences, both in academia and private industry, while nurturing skills and competencies that apply to various postgraduate trajectories.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Major in Neuroscience will:

1. Master the fundamentals of neuroscience, spanning the breadth of the field, from the theoretical to the experimental, and across multiple levels of analysis.
2. Write effectively for a scientific audience, synthesizing and citing the scientific literature, writing clearly, concisely, logically, and objectively, and adhering to the conventions of the most common formats in the field.
3. Demonstrate competency in the scientific method, evidence-based reasoning, and experimental design.

Requirements

• Seventeen 4-unit courses are required for the Neuroscience major, including:
  • Seven basic natural science courses that provide an appropriate background for neuroscience.
  • Five core neuroscience courses.
  • Five electives, with courses grouped into three principal domains of neuroscience (Neurobiology, Cognitive, and Computational) or non-neuroscience topics that provide useful knowledge or skills for specific postgraduate paths.
• The major carries a Breadth Requirement, where students must complete electives in at least two of the three groups.
• The major also carries a Research Requirement, which can be completed in one of three ways:
  1. Successful completion of CAS NE 102/116 and NE 203/218.
  2. Successful completion of a 4-unit faculty-mentored independent research course as a junior or senior.
  3. Successful completion of an upper-level lab elective course from Group 1, 2, or 3.
• A grade of C or higher is required for major units in all courses, except for the two Required Basic Science chemistry courses, where a grade of C– or higher is required.

Required Basic Science Courses

• Two courses in chemistry: CAS CH 101 and 102 (or CH 101 and 116; or CH 109 and 110; or CH 109 and 112).
• Two courses in physics: CAS PY 105 and 106 (or PY 211 and 212; or PY 241 and 242; or PY 251 and 252).
• Two courses in calculus, computer science, and/or data science, selected from the following options:
  • Two calculus courses: CAS MA 123 (or MA 121) and CAS MA 124 (or MA 122).
  • One calculus course and one computer science course: CAS MA 121/122/123/124 and CAS CS 111.
  • One calculus course and one data science course: CAS MA 121/122/123/124 and CDS DS 110 (or DS 100).
• One course in statistics: CAS NE 212; can alternatively be satisfied with a two-course sequence of CAS MA 115 and 116 (or MA 213 and 214).

Required Core Courses

• CAS NE 101, NE 102* (or NE 116), NE 202, NE 203 (or NE 218*), and NE 204.
• Note: NE 102/116 is a prerequisite for NE 203/218.

Upper-Level Electives

• Choose five courses from the following list, ensuring courses are taken in at least two of the three groups (Groups 1, 2, and 3) to satisfy the Breadth Requirement.
• Up to two courses may come from the Restricted List, which will not satisfy the Breadth Requirement or the Research Requirement.
• One 4-unit faculty-mentored independent research course completed as a junior or senior can be used as one elective and will satisfy the Research Requirement.

Group 1: Neurobiology

• CAS BI 599, NE 230, NE 322, NE 349, NE 445, NE 455, NE 481, NE 503, NE 520, NE 525, NE 535, NE 542, NE 556, NE 561*, NE 589, NE 594, NE 598, SAR HS 549.

Group 2: Cognitive

• CAS NE 234, NE 323, NE 327, NE 328, NE 329, NE 333, NE 337, NE 338, NE 456, NE 490, NE 499, NE 521, NE 528, NE 529, NE 531, NE 532, NE 544, NE 592.

Group 3: Computational

• CAS CN 510, CN 530, CS 542 (or CDS DS 340), CS 565, MA 242, MA 565, MA 573, MA 578, NE 449, NE 530, NE 593.

Restricted List Electives

• Maximum of 2 toward the major.
• CAS BI 203 (or BI 213or BI 218), BI 315, CH 203 (or CH 211or CH 218), CS 111† (or CDS DS 110†), CS 112, MA 226, MA 416; CDS DS 210; ENG EK 125.

Research-for-unit Electives

• Maximum of 1 toward the major.
• CAS NE 391, 392, 393, 491, 492, 493, or 401.

Prehealth Students

• Prehealth students majoring in neuroscience should visit the Pre-Professional Advising office as early as possible to discuss prehealth requirements.

Transfer Courses

• Petitions for approval of transfer courses must be submitted via email to the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience’s Program Administrator and will be evaluated by the Director.

Honors in the Major

• Neuroscience students may pursue honors in the major by completing the year-long Honors Research in Neuroscience sequence of CAS NE 401 and 402.
• Students may apply in the summer prior to their senior year, provided they meet the GPA requirement (3.4 or higher) and have at least one term or summer of prior research experience in the lab in which they propose to complete their Honors Research.
• The application consists of a concise research proposal outlining the project to be completed, along with consent of the proposed faculty mentor.
• If approved, students will graduate with Honors in Neuroscience if they successfully complete their year-long research project with grades of B+ or higher in both NE 401 and NE 402, which requires:
  • Dedicating 12–16 hours per week to their research project.
  • Preparation and submission of a 35-to-50-page honors thesis presenting the research project in the style of a scientific manuscript.
  • Successful defense of the thesis in front of a committee of three faculty members.