Neuroscience
The interdisciplinary neuroscience minor is designed to allow students an opportunity to explore the fast-growing field of neuroscience from multiple perspectives. Students develop an in-depth understanding of nervous-system function in a structured and rigorous way while pursuing a major in another discipline. The minor draws from multiple departments and programs, including biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, world languages and literatures, mathematical sciences, philosophy, physics, and psychology.
Minor Requirements
A minimum of 22 semester credits (six courses), distributed as follows:
- BIO 252 Introduction to Neuroscience, PSY 252 Introduction to Neuroscience, or PSY 280 Brain and Behavior.
- One 300- or 400-level neuroscience course with laboratory, chosen from the following:
Behavioral Genetics Neurobiology Behavioral Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience
- One 300- or 400-level neuroscience course chosen from the following:
Behavioral Genetics Neurobiology Special Topics in Biology (when the focus is neuroscience) Behavioral Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience Drugs and Behavior Advanced Topics in Neuroscience - Three elective courses chosen from the following list. At least one of these courses must be from biology or chemistry, and at least one must be from outside of biology and chemistry. Students are strongly encouraged to take neuroscience electives outside of their own major, and may ask the program director for permission to use only courses from outside their major.
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Senior Research (when topic has been approved by Neuroscience Program Committee) Biological Core Concepts: Mechanisms (cannot apply if major is biology or BCMB) Human Genes and Disease Animal Behavior Developmental Biology Physiology Behavioral Genetics Neurobiology Special Topics in Biology (when the focus is neuroscience) Biology Senior Thesis (when topic has been approved by Neuroscience Program Committee) Structural Biochemistry Senior Research (when topic has been approved by Neuroscience Program Committee) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Philosophy of Language Philosophy of Mind Biomedical Imaging Thinking, Memory, and Problem Solving Cognition Behavioral Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience Health Psychology Drugs and Behavior Advanced Topics in Psychology (when topic has been approved by Neuroscience Program Committee) Advanced Topics in Neuroscience Senior Thesis (when topic has been approved by Neuroscience Program Committee) Introduction to Linguistics
At least 12 semester credits must be exclusive to the minor and may not be used in any other set of major/minor requirements.
Faculty
Norma Velázquez Ulloa. Associate professor of biology. Behavioral Genetics, Neuroscience, Developmental Biology, Neurophysiology, Cell Biology. PhD 2009 University of California at San Diego. BS 2002 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Todd Watson. Associate professor of psychology. Cognitive neuroscience, brain and behavior, statistics. PhD 2005 State University of New York at Stony Brook. MA 2000 Radford University. BS 1997 Pennsylvania State University.
Tamily Weissman. Professor of biology. Neurobiology. PhD 2004 Columbia University. BA 1992 Pomona College.