Neuroscience (BA/BS)
Neuroscience is for undergraduate students interested in studying the relationship between the brain and behavior. Coursework is jointly taught by biology, human physiology and psychology faculty to provide well-rounded training. Foundational courses are in biology, chemistry, human physiology, math, physics, and psychology. Upper division coursework focuses on three main areas of neuroscience: molecular/cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. Students can also take advanced skills courses in programming or computational techniques. They may also conduct cutting-edge research in a neuroscience lab.
Neuroscience graduates will have a strong understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system, demonstrate critical thinking, quantitative and analytical skills, and communicate effectively about neuroscience research.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad-based content knowledge and understanding of terminology and concepts in neuroscience at multiple levels of organization.
- Critically read and evaluate scientific information.
- Apply data analysis skills to understand neuroscience information.
- Communicate clearly and effectively about neuroscience information.
Neuroscience Major
As outlined below, the Neuroscience majors consists of the following components: 1) foundation courses in the natural sciences; 2) math and statistics coursework; 3) life science fundamentals; 4) a core neuroscience sequence; 5) upper-division elective courses; and 6) advanced skills courses and/or research experience. The total number of credits is 101-104.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses in Natural Sciences (46-52 credits): | ||
| BI 221Z & BI 222Z & BI 214 | Principles of Biology I: Cells and Principles of Biology II: Organisms and General Biology IV: Biochemistry and Genetics | 15-18 |
| or BI 281H & BI 282H & BI 283H | Accelerated Biology I: Cells, Biochemistry and Physiology and Accelerated Biology II: Genetics and Molecular Biology and Accelerated Biology III: Evolution, Diversity and Ecology | |
| CH 221Z | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| or CH 224H | Advanced General Chemistry I | |
| CH 222Z | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| or CH 225H | Advanced General Chemistry II | |
| CH 223Z | General Chemistry III | 4 |
| or CH 226H | Advanced General Chemistry III | |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics | 4 |
| or PHYS 251 | Foundations of Physics I | |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics | 4 |
| or PHYS 252 | Foundations of Physics I | |
| PHYS 203 | General Physics | 4 |
| or PHYS 253 | Foundations of Physics I | |
| PSY 201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| Select one of the options: | 3-6 | |
| Option A: 1 | ||
| General Chemistry I Laboratory and General Chemistry II Laboratory and General Chemistry III Laboratory | ||
| Option B: | ||
| Introductory Physics Laboratory and Introductory Physics Laboratory and Introductory Physics Laboratory | ||
| Math and Statistics Courses (8 credits): | ||
| MATH 246 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences I | 4 |
| or MATH 251Z | Differential Calculus | |
| PSY 302 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| or MATH 425 | Statistical Methods I | |
| or ANTH 470 | Statistical Analysis of Biological Anthropology | |
| Life Science Fundamentals (7 credits): | ||
| HPHY 211 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HPHY 212 | Scientific Investigation in Physiology | 4 |
| Core Neuroscience (13 credits): | ||
| BI 360 | Neurobiology | 4 |
| HPHY 321 | Human Anatomy I (or an equivalent Neuroanatomy course) 1 | 5 |
| PSY 304 | Biopsychology | 4 |
| Upper Division Electives: 2 | 16 | |
| Molecular/Cellular/Developmental | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Protein Toxins in Cell Biology | ||
BI 427 | ||
| Cellular Neuroscience | ||
| Developmental Neurobiology | ||
| Neural Development | ||
| Systems | ||
| Sensory Physiology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Motor Control | ||
| Sleep Physiology | ||
| Neurophysiology of Concussion | ||
| Movement Disorders | ||
| Clinical Neuroscience | ||
| Brain Mechanisms of Behavior | ||
| Hormones and Behavior | ||
| Cognitive | ||
| Cognition | ||
| Music and the Brain | ||
| Psychoactive Drugs | ||
| Learning and Memory | ||
| Human Performance | ||
| Perception | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Decision-Making | ||
| Cognitive Development | ||
| Advanced Skills Courses and Research Experience | 8 | |
| Research: [Topic] | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Research: [Topic] | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Research: [Topic] | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Applied Data Analysis | ||
| Total Credits | 98-104 | |
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Please contact the program's advisor for more information.
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16 required credits with at least 12 credits from 400-level courses; at least one course from each of the three area
Additional Requirements
- Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or better. Coursework transferred in from Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams are acceptable with a mark of P*.
- At least 34 credits of coursework applied to the major must be taken at the University of Oregon.
Honors Program in Neuroscience
To graduate with Honors in Neuroscience, the following requirements must be met:
- A completed Neuroscience Honors application with signature of a faculty research advisor from BI, HPHY or PSY
- Completion of all Neuroscience major requirements
- A minimum 3.5 GPA in all courses applied to the major
- At least three credits in BI 403/HPHY 403/PSY 403 Thesis or BI 401/HPHY 401/PSY 401 Research. (These credits may be applied to the advanced skills courses and research experience requirement).
- Completion of an honors thesis under supervision of a committee, consisting of one BI, HPHY, or PSY faculty member and at least one other committee member (Ph.D. student, postdoctoral scholar, or faculty) from BI, HPHY, or PSY.
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| CH 150Z | Preparatory Chemistry | 4 | |
| MATH 111Z | Precalculus I: Functions | 4 | |
| WR 121Z | Composition I | 4 | |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| CH 221Z | General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| CH 227Z | General Chemistry I Laboratory | One year of either chemistry lab or physics lab is required | 1 |
| MATH 112Z | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 4 | |
| WR 123 | College Composition III | 4 | |
| Credits | 13 | ||
| Spring | |||
| CH 222Z | General Chemistry II | 4 | |
| CH 228Z | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 | |
| MATH 246 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences I | Recommended instead of MATH 251Z | 4 |
| PSY 201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 | |
| Credits | 13 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| BI 221Z | Principles of Biology I: Cells | 5 | |
| CH 223Z | General Chemistry III | 4 | |
| CH 229Z | General Chemistry III Laboratory | 1 | |
| HPHY 211 | Medical Terminology | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | ||
| Winter | |||
| BI 222Z | Principles of Biology II: Organisms | 5 | |
| HPHY 212 | Scientific Investigation in Physiology | 4 | |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Spring | |||
| BI 214 | General Biology IV: Biochemistry and Genetics | 5 | |
| PSY 302 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 | |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Cultural literacy course | Global Perspectives or US: DIA | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| PSY 304 | Biopsychology | Neuroscience core course | 4 |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics | One year of either chemistry or physics lab is required | 4 |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| BI 401 | Research: [Topic] | Eight credits of research or advanced skills courses are required | 2 |
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Winter | |||
| HPHY 321 | Human Anatomy I (or an equivalent Neuroanatomy course) 1 | Neuroscience core course | 5 |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics | 4 | |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| PSY 401 | Research: [Topic] | If not involved in research, take an advanced skills course | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Spring | |||
| BI 360 | Neurobiology | Neuroscience core course | 4 |
| PHYS 203 | General Physics | 4 | |
| PSY 449 | Cognitive Neuroscience | Or other upper-division Cognitive course | 4 |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| HPHY 436 | Clinical Neuroscience | Or other upper-division Systems course | 4 |
| BI 430 | Analysis of Neural Data | Or other advanced skills course | 4 |
| Core-education course | Arts & Letters or Social Science | 4 | |
| Cultural literacy course | Global Perspectives or US: DIA | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| BI 322 | Cell Biology | Or other upper-division Molecular/Cellular/Developmental course | 4 |
| BI 461 | Systems Neuroscience | Four NEUR elective courses are required, at least three at the 400-level | 4 |
| Electives | Can include additional NEUR coursework | 7 | |
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Electives | Can include additional NEUR coursework | 15 | |
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Total Credits | 180 | ||
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Please contact the program's advisor for more information.