Neuroscience Concentration

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Life scientists have come to recognize that an understanding of how the brain, the “organ of consciousness,” functions and endows human beings with the capacity to know, to feel, and to value, requires a multidisciplinary research effort. The Neuroscience Concentration introduces students to a field of science that has experienced an explosion of information and technological innovation. It provides students with a model for understanding how the conventional boundaries separating disciplines appearing to be incompatible can evaporate when new intellectual challenges confront us. In keeping with the liberal arts tradition, the concentration provides students with an opportunity to explore another dimension of our humanity—the biological substrate of all our moral and mental faculties.

Requirements

The Neuroscience Concentration requires a minimum of six courses and involves two components:

1. Required Courses

a.

PSY 303 - Psychological Research-Behavioral Neuroscience (= BIO 331)

b.

Students must take at least one of the following two courses. Taking both is highly recommended; if both are taken one may be considered as an elective toward the concentration.

2. Electives

At least three electives chosen from a list annually reviewed and approved by the Neuroscience Advisory Committee (one from outside student’s major and one—and only one—must be independent study/research):

Note

No more than two courses in the concentration may also be counted toward the major. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses applied toward the concentration.

Application Procedures

The Neuroscience Concentration is administered by the Neuroscience Advisory Committee. The faculty liaison is Dr. Julio Ramirez. Students shall submit a written proposal to the Advisory Committee by the last day of the spring semester of the junior year. The proposal should specify the courses that will be used to satisfy the concentration requirements. If any of the courses are to be independent studies, research courses, or seminars, the student must provide the Advisory Committee with a complete description of that course before the semester of enrollment. Certification of completion of all requirements for the concentration is made by the Registrar upon recommendation of the Neuroscience Advisory Committee.