May 16, 2026  
2025-2026 Course of Study Bulletin 
  
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2025-2026 Course of Study Bulletin

Neuroscience (B.S.)

Faculty/Staff

Gerard M. J. Beaudoin, III, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biology
Matthew S. Binder, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Kwan Cheng, Ph.D., Williams Endowed Professor in Interdisciplinary Physics, Physics and Astronomy
Christina Cooley, Ph.D. , Associate Professor, Chemistry
Kah-Chung Leong, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology
Dany Munoz Pinto, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Engineering Science
Kimberley A. Phillips, Ph.D., Director, Professor, Psychology

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience is a multi-disciplinary program designed to provide an understanding of the nature and functioning of the nervous system from the molecular to the behavioral level. Courses, taught by faculty from the Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy departments, offer a broad spectrum of topics and approaches to the study of neural systems, structure, and function. The major offers an opportunity for students to engage in supervised research in neuroscience and related areas and provides valuable experience to students interested in pursuing careers in the health professions or graduate study. Double majors in neuroscience and biology are not permitted.

Requirements for the major

I. Specific Degree Requirements (51-55 Credit Hours)

A. Core curriculum in neuroscience (9 hours):

B. Supporting courses in biology (12 hours):

C. Supporting courses in chemistry (11 hours):

D. Supporting courses in psychology (7 hours):

E. Four elective courses from the following (12-16 hours).

Biology
Chemistry
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics and Astronomy
Psychology

II. University Requirements:

Completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 120 credit hours.

Admission to Major

How to apply

Full acceptance in the major is granted when the following requirements are met:

  1. Completion of PSYC 1300 , NEUR 2110 , NEUR 2310 , BIOL 1311 /BIOL 1111 , and CHEM 1311  with grades of C- or better in each class.
  2. An overall grade point average of at least 2.0.

Students may seek provisional acceptance into the major after completion of two of the above listed courses with grades of C- or better in each class.

Students must develop an Individual Development Plan (IDP) at the time of major declaration. The IDP is a written articulation of a student’s academic and vocational goals; the desired skills, knowledge, and experiences needed to attain those goals; and discuss how their proposed program of study will move them toward these goals. The IDP should also include planned upper-level electives and the role each of these courses will aid in attaining those goals. The IDP should be submitted to the Program Director when the major is declared. The IDP will be shared with the assigned Neuroscience advisor. The IDP provides opportunities for the student to reflect on their progress toward their goals.

A student may not earn a major in Neuroscience and another major in Biology. A student may not earn a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Biology or Psychology. If a student wishes to major in both Neuroscience and Psychology, a maximum of two Psychology elective courses can be used to satisfy requirements for the Neuroscience major.

Honors Program

Requirements

To be eligible for graduation with Honors in Neuroscience, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.33 in all courses taken prior to the semester before graduation, a grade point average in neuroscience courses (core, supporting and electives) of at least 3.50, and “A” in NEUR 4395  and NEUR 4396 .

To apply for graduation with Honors in Neuroscience, students should address a written request for consideration to the Faculty Advisory Committee. The request must be received no later than the first full week of the student’s final semester before graduation. The decision to confer or not to confer Honors will be made by the Faculty Advisory Committee and the Research Supervisor and will be based on the quality of the written thesis and its oral presentation in a colloquium.