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Neuroscience
Associate Professors: Berger, Holstein (Coordinator)
Assistant Professors: Andrew, Curtindale, Morrison (Coordinator)
- Major: Neuroscience
- Courses required for major: 14 (not including zero or 1 credit courses)
- Non-credit Colloquium: 1 semesters
- Capstone requirement: BIO 447, PSY 312, PSY 412, Independent Study, Honors Project, or clinical internship or research experience of at least 10 weeks full time; one semester of NEURO 449 Colloquium
- Minor: Neuroscience
The Neuroscience Program offers a Neuroscience major that applies to the Bachelor of Science degree as well as a minor in Neuroscience.
Major Requirements
The neuroscience major is designed for students who are interested in theory and research on the mind, brain, and nervous system. The neuroscience major consists of 9 required courses, 5 elective courses, and a capstone experience.
NEURO 210 Introduction to Neuroscience I and NEURO 211 Introduction to Neuroscience II provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the fundamental structure and function of the brain that includes laboratory experiences across the breadth of current neuroscience research. These core courses train students to access, read, and critically analyze primary neuroscience literature, develop hypotheses, design and carry out experiments, analyze data, present the results, and engage in discussion of ethical issues related to neuroscience research. The five elective courses allow students to explore interdisciplinary developments in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology that enrich and extend our understanding of the brain and of human thought and behavior. The Capstone Research or Internship experience ensures that students can apply their neuroscience knowledge outside of a traditional classroom setting.
Required core courses:
| BIO 110 |
Introduction to Biology I |
| BIO 111 |
Introduction to Biology II |
| CHEM 122/123 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHEM 124/125 |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II |
| NEURO 210 |
Introduction to Neuroscience I |
| NEURO 211 |
Introduction to Neuroscience II |
| PSYCH 110 |
Introduction to Psychology |
| NEURO 449 |
Neuroscience Colloquium |
Math Requirement (2 courses)
| CPTR 125 |
Introduction to Computer Science |
| MATH123 |
Statistics |
| MATH 127 |
Precalculus |
| MATH 128 |
Calculus |
| MATH 214 |
Multivariate Statistics |
Elective Courses (5 courses)
For their five elective courses, students choose two courses from Group 1, two from Group 2, and one from Group 3 below.
For students who double major in Biology/Neuroscience or Psychology/Neuroscience, the elective courses shift to maintain the interdisciplinary nature of the Neuroscience major. Students double majoring in Biology and Neuroscience must complete one course from Group 1, three from Group 2, and one from Group 3. Students double majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience must complete three courses from Group 1, one from Group 2, and one from Group 3.
Group 1: Natural Sciences
Students are required to take at least one course from the following four:
| BIO 222 |
Genetics |
| BIO 323 |
Human Physiology |
| BIO 338 |
Human Anatomy |
| BIO 435 |
Cell Biology (recommended) |
Additional electives for Group 1:
| BIO 322 |
Neurogenetics |
| BIO 342 |
Animal Behavior |
| BIO 347 |
Immunology |
| BIO 447 |
Cell and Molecular Biology Research Methods—when not used for capstone |
| BIOCH 444 |
Biochemistry I |
| CHEM 219 |
Organic and Biochemistry |
| CHEM 222/223 |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHEM 224/225 |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II |
An Independent Study or Honors Project in Biology or Neuroscience not used to fulfill the capstone requirement, with approval from the Program Coordinator
Note: Students planning to apply for medical school or for non-clinical counseling Ph.D. programs should choose CHEM 222/223 or 224/225 rather than CHEM 219.
Group 2: Social Sciences
Students are required to take at least one course from the following five:
| PSY 237 |
Cognition |
| PSY 242 |
Drugs, Behavior, and Society |
| PSY 315 |
Clinical Neuroscience |
| PSY 432 |
Sensation and Perception |
| PSY 433 |
Biological Psychology |
Additional electives for Group 2:
| PSY 116 |
Abnormal Psychology |
| PSY 120 |
Child and Adolescent Development |
| PSY 212 |
Research Methods in Psychology |
| PSY 216 |
Abnormal Child Psychology |
| PSY 217 |
Lifespan Development |
| PSY 312 |
Psychology Research Proseminar—when not used for capstone |
| PSY 342 |
Health Psychology |
| PSY 412 |
Advanced Psychology Research Proseminar—when not used for capstone |
| SOC 210 |
Sociology of Mental Health and Illness |
| SOC 310 |
Medical Sociology |
An Independent Study or Honors Project in Psychology or Sociology not used to fulfill the capstone requirement, with approval from the Program Coordinator
Group 3: Cognate Courses
| ECON 347 |
Game Theory |
| PHIL 225 |
Symbolic Logic |
| PHIL 330 |
Knowledge and Reality |
| PHIL 333 |
Philosophy of Natural Science |
| PHIL 335 |
Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science |
| PHIL 340 |
Special Topics—when Neuroscience-related and approved by the Academic
Standards Committee
|
Experimental or topics courses may be considered for inclusion in the major, with approval from the Academic Standards Committee.
Capstone Requirement
Choose one of the five options and deliver a talk on this experience to faculty and fellow Neuroscience majors in Neuroscience Colloquium
-
- PSY 312 — Psychology Research Proseminar
- PSY 412 -- Advanced Psychology Research Proseminar
- BIO 447 — Cell and Molecular Biology Research Methods
- Lycoming College Independent study or Honors Project
- Clinical internship or research experience (includes NSF REU programs) of at least 10 weeks full time
Writing Courses
A list of courses that, when scheduled as W courses, count toward the Writing Requirement, can be found on the Registrar’s website and in the GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS section of the catalog.
Minor Requirements
The interdisciplinary minor in Neuroscience requires six courses, including the two core courses and at least 3 elective courses outside the student’s major.
Two core courses required for all minors
-
- NEURO 210 — Introduction to Neuroscience I
- NEURO 211 — Introduction to Neuroscience II
Four electives, at least three of which must be outside the student's major, chosen from:
| BIO 222 |
Genetics |
| BIO 322 |
Neurogenetics |
| BIO 323 |
Human Physiology |
| BIO 347 |
Immunology |
| BIO 342 |
Animal Behavior |
| BIO 435 |
Cell Biology (recommended) |
| BIOCH 444 |
Biochemistry I |
| BIO 447 |
Cell and Molecular Biology Research Methods |
| CHEM 122/123 |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (recommended) |
| CHEM 219 |
Organic and Biochemistry |
| CHEM 222/223 |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CPTR 125 |
Introduction to Computer Science |
| PHIL 330 |
Special Topics—with approval of Coordinator |
| PHIL 335 |
Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science |
| PHIL 340 |
Special Topics when Neuroscience-related and approved by the Academic Standards Committee |
| PSY 212 |
Research Methods in Psychology |
| PSY 237 |
Cognition |
| PSY 242 |
Drugs, Behavior, and Society |
| PSY 312 |
Psychology Research Proseminar |
| PSY 315 |
Clinical Neuroscience |
| PSY 342 |
Health Psychology |
| PSY 412 |
Advanced Psychology Research Proseminar |
| PSY 432 |
Sensation and Perception |
| PSY 433 |
Biological Psychology |
| SOC 310 |
Medical Sociology |
Independent Studies or Honors Thesis Research Projects in Biology, Psychology, or Neuroscience: N80-N89 Independent Study, 490-491 Independent Study for Departmental Honors.
Note: Independent Studies and Honors Thesis projects require advance consultation with the project advisor and both Neuroscience Major coordinators, and advance approval of a formal application by the Individual Studies Committee. Research projects outside of Biology, Psychology, and Neuroscience may be considered for fulfillment of the minor requirements, with approval by the Academic Standards Committee.
Experimental or topics courses may be considered for inclusion in the minor, with approval from the Academic Standards Committee.
Recommendations:
Students should design their Neuroscience major or minor in consultation with a program coordinator. Students are encouraged to schedule the two required courses NEURO 220-221 after taking BIO 110-111, but before beginning their senior year when course rotations allow. Students are also encouraged to attend neuroscience-related presentations at BIO 449 Biology Colloquium during each of their four years of study.
Students minoring in Neuroscience and planning to attend non-clinical counseling graduate school are strongly encouraged to take CHEM 222/223 Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, CHEM 224/225 Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II, and BIOCH 444 Biochemistry I and to complete an Independent Study or Honors Project in Biology, Psychology, or Neuroscience with a neuroscientist faculty member.
210
INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE I
An introduction to the study of neuroscience for students planning to major or minor in Neuroscience. Major topics include cellular, molecular, and developmental approaches to neuroscience. The laboratory component includes experimentation and exploration of current neuroscience literature. Four hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIO 110 and 111.
211
INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE II
An introduction to the study of neuroscience for students planning to major or minor in Neuroscience. Major topics include behavioral and systems approaches to neuroscience. The laboratory component includes experimentation and exploration of current neuroscience literature. Four hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIO 110 and 111.
449
NEUROSCIENCE COLLOQUIUM
Allows students to present their capstone experiences and the relevant background literature to fellow Neuroscience students and faculty members. Required of majors in their junior or senior year. One hour per week. Pass/Fail. Non-credit course.
N80-N89
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Studies are experimentally oriented and may include either laboratory or clinical field work. May include fly neurogenetics, mouse developmental neuroscience, parasite neurotransmission, or rodent behavior studies.
490-491
INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR HONORS
Neuroscience studies that are more in-depth or technically demanding than a regular Independent Study project. May include fly neurogenetics, mouse developmental neuroscience, parasite neurotransmission, or rodent behavior studies.