Neuroscience Minor
Coordinator: Associate Professor Wittstein
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of study, which examines the nervous systems of humans and other animals and advances the understanding of perceptions, human thought, emotion, behavior, and more. Neuroscience may integrate such disciplines as biology, chemistry, psychology, computer science, mathematics, statistics, exercise science, and philosophy, among others. This minor will help provide students with the fundamental knowledge and training needed to pursue careers and post-graduate studies in fields related to cognitive science, behavioral medicine, human development and aging, health and disease, rehabilitation, biomedical research, human-machine interactions and many other emerging disciplines.
Minor Requirements
Integrative Neuroscience: 8 sh
| NEU1100 | Integrative Neuroscience | 4 sh |
| NEU3100 | Special Topics in Neuroscience | 4 sh |
Disciplinary Neuroscience: 4 sh
Choose one of the following.
Neuroscience Electives: 12 sh
Select twelve hours from the courses below while meeting the following requirements:
- Electives must come from at least two different disciplines.
- At least four semester hours must be at the 3000 level or higher.
- Only one of BIO 3210 (Survey of Biochemistry), BIO 3200 (Biochemical Basis of Disease), and CHM 3510/CHM 3520 (Biochemistry 1 and Lab) can be counted toward the minor.
- Only one of ESS 3133 (Exercise Psychology) and ESS 3134 (Sport Psychology) can be counted toward the minor.
- Only one of BIO 3532 (The Biology of Animal Behavior) and PSY 3470 (Animal Behavior)
Some elective courses may have prerequisite courses not otherwise included in the Neuroscience minor.
- Any course with an NEU prefix may count toward neuroscience electives.
- Up to 4 SH of mentored undergraduate research (4998/4999) may count toward neuroscience electives.
- Additional courses may be considered for approval by the director of the program
Program Outcomes
Interdisciplinary Agility: Students will develop Interdisciplinary Agility by comparing, contrasting, and synthesizing the knowledge and skills among the various disciplines contributing to neuroscience. Interdisciplinary Agility will allow students to integrate multiple perspectives and viewpoints to enhance their understanding of ideas that span across the breadth of a liberal arts education.
Foundational and Applied Knowledge Base: Students will learn foundational knowledge and skills while also developing a comprehensive and integrative understanding of neuroscience. Students will apply their learning through coursework, as well as experiential and co-curricular activities that align with their values and goals.
Scientific Inquiry and Experimentation: Students will design and conduct neuroscience experiments, analyze data using appropriate computational and statistical techniques, interpret results to draw meaningful conclusions about the function and behavior of nervous systems, and communicate those findings to others. Through hands-on experiences such as course-based research, mentored research, internships, practicum, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities, among others, students will be prepared to conduct research and professional activity with a thorough understanding of ethical principles, integrity, and equity in scientific fields and practices involving both humans and non-humans.
Communication and Collaboration: Students will practice effective communication and collaboration by demonstrating proficiency in written, oral, and visual communication of scientific concepts for a range of audiences that integrates knowledge from multiple scientific fields, and by reflecting on the role of effective communication in advancing scientific understanding and collaboration.
Total Credit Hours: 24