Neuroscience Major Requirements

Neuroscience is a broad, multidisciplinary field concerned with the nervous system, its components, and functional activities, including behavior and consciousness. How do nerve cells function and develop, and how do they communicate? How do brains work, and how have they evolved? What is the nature of consciousness, and the neural basis for behaviors and for human brain dysfunction? These are among the many questions being answered by contemporary neuroscience.

Neuroscience at Trinity involves faculty from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Philosophy, and Psychology. The major is designed to give students a fundamental grounding in the sciences, and the flexibility to direct their studies towards biological, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of neuroscience. A major in Neuroscience can lead to a career in scientific research, the health professions, and education, as well as business, law, or government. The Trinity major also prepares students for further study in graduate school and medical school. Students who are considering a major in Neuroscience should consult with the Neuroscience Director or a member of the Neuroscience Coordinating Committee as soon as possible to ensure the selection of an appropriate sequence of courses. Neuroscience students planning to attend graduate school for an advanced degree in any of the sciences are advised to take a course in statistics or statistical methods. Those who intend to enter a health related profession should also consult with a member of the Advisory Committee for the Health Professions.

NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR: The major requires fourteen courses, including seven core courses and seven courses from the list of electives. No course grade of less than C- may be counted toward the major.

Core course requirements:

Biology 152L. Organisms and Population

Biology 153L. Cells, Metabolism and Heredity

Chemistry 111L. Introductory Chemistry I

Chemistry 112L. Introductory Chemistry II

Neuroscience 201 Neurobiology

Neuroscience 301L. Introduction to Neuroscience Methodology

Neuroscience 302. Advanced Psychobiology

Electives:

Biology 221. Genetics

Biology 317. Biochemistry

Biology 319L. Animal Physiology

Biology 373L. Sensory Biology

Chemistry 401. Neurochemistry

Engineering 411. Electrophysiology

Neuroscience 311. Fundamentals of Neuroanatomy [New for Spring 2001]

Psychology 300. Developmental Psychobiology

Psychology 365. Cognitive Neuroscience

Psychology 392. Human Neuropsychology

Psychology 462. Clinical Psychobiology

Psychology 464. Neuropsychopharmacology

Philosophy 357. Issues in Cognitive Science

Philosophy 374. Minds and Brains

Neuroscience 425. Research in Neuroscience

Only one of the following courses may be used as an elective toward the Neuroscience Major:

Neuroscience 101. The Brain

Chemistry 140. This Is Your Brain

Psychology 261. Psychobiology

Psychology 262. Animal Behavior

Psychology 265. Drugs and Behavior

Psychology 293. Perception

Honors in Neuroscience—Honors in the major will be awarded to students who attain a B+ average in courses in the major at the 200 level and above and who also demonstrate superior performance in a research project, culminating in a thesis, an oral presentation, and a poster at the spring Science Symposium.

Courses at other Institutions—Students who wish major credit for course work at other institutions should submit to the director the name of the institution and the number, title, and catalogue description of the course. This information must be submitted in writing before the work is initiated and formal permission must be granted before the courses can be credited toward the major at Trinity, following the usual procedures established by the Office of International Programs.

Check List for course planning. Obtain a copy from your advisor or print this one.