The major in neuroscience is designed for students with interests that intersect the fields of biology and psychology. Neuroscience focuses on the relationships among brain function, cognitive processing, and behavior. Researchers in this field come from widely disparate backgrounds, including cognitive psychology, clinical neuropsychology, neuroimaging, neurobiology, neuroethology, bio-psychology, physiology, neurology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, philosophy, genetics, and computer science. Thus, research questions are considered from many different levels, and many different converging methodologies are used.
The neuroscience major consists of two tracks: the bioscience track, the cognitive track. A computational track is expected to be added in the 09-10 school year. The bioscience track focuses on the biological basis of neural development, function, and plasticity. Students will develop an understanding of the nervous system and its role in cognition, perception, and action at the molecular, cellular, and systems level.
The cognitive track provides students with an understanding of how neural networks and brain mechanisms give rise to specific mental processes and behavior. Students begin with the processes that have been traditionally studied in the area of cognitive psychology, but can tailor the program to include processing that is traditionally studied in developmental or clinical psychology as well.
Once approved by New York State, the computational track will focus on issues related to developing computational models of neuronal and mental processes. Students will develop an understanding of artificial intelligence that uses biologically plausible methods.
Program Co-directors: Quynh Chu-La-Graff (Biology), Stephen Romero (Psychology)
Burns, Anderson-Hanley, Chabris, Weisse and Romero (Psychology); Fleishman, Kirkton, Olberg, and Chu-LaGraff (Biology); Martin (Philosophy); Barr and Striegnitz (Computer Science), Cervone (Math)
The neuroscience major consists of four parts: (1) A core of required courses; (2) required courses in one of three tracks, bioscience, cognitive, or computational; (3) general electives; and (4) a senior writing requirement. Unless listed below, course descriptions are listed under their home departments.
It is recommended that students in this major start with Biology 101 and 102 then Psychology 210 as these courses are prerequisites for neuroscience students to take the neuroscience related courses in the Psychology Department without taking Psych 100 (introduction to psychology)
1. Required courses for all neuroscience majors:
Students must also take the following cognate courses: Math 110, Chemistry 101 and 102 (or Chemistry 110). Math 112 and one term of physics are also recommended.
2. Classes for one of the two tracks
Bioscience track- Any TWO from the following list:
4. Senior writing requirement
(a) ONE of the following senior seminars:
-or-
(b) A two- or three-term senior thesis or senior research project that integrates biology and psychology. Students should register for senior thesis or research in the department that corresponds to their neuroscience track. For the Bioscience track: BIO 497, 498, 499. For the Cognitive track: PSY 498 and 499 or PSY 487, 488, and 489.
Option (b) is strongly recommended.
Requirements for Honors: In addition to fulfilling college-wide honors requirements, to earn honors in neuroscience, a student must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.3 in the major (including thesis grades, but not including the cognate courses), a minimum of three grades of A or A- in courses in the major exclusive of the thesis, and satisfactory completion of a senior thesis with a minimum grade of A-.
Requirements for the Minor: Six courses listed in sections 1, 2a, or 2b above with at least one course from 2a and one course from 2b. The minor must also include at least 2 courses whose primary designation is in Biology and 2 courses whose primary designation is in Psychology. For Biology and Psychology Majors, only 2 courses counted for the major may also count toward the minor.
