Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field in both academia and industry. The neuroscience preparation program offered by the Department of Biological Sciences is appropriate for those students interested in:
- graduate study in neuroscience
- neuroscience research in combination with careers in medicine, pharmacology, or dentistry
- neuroscience technical positions in academia, medicine, or industry
The program has both a research and a standard course-oriented option. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue the research option since neuroscience careers almost exclusively involve research. The Neuroscience Program provides stipends and support for undergraduate research during the summer of the third year, on a competitive basis. The specialized portion of the curriculum does not begin in earnest until the end of the third year, and hence well qualified students can join relatively late in their undergraduate careers.
A generally appropriate curriculum is outlined below, but interested students should contact the Neuroscience Program for detailed course selection advice.
First Year
| | | Second Year
| |
| Course | Hours
| | Course
| Hours
|
| CHEM 151-153 | 15
| | PHYS 251-253
| 15
|
MATH 263A&B or 266A&B
| 8
| | CHEM 301-304 or 305-307
| 11 or 9
|
BIOS 170-173
| 14
| | BIOS 320, 325, 330, 333
| 16
|
PSY221 or MATH 250,215
| 5 or 8
| | Tier I English
| 5
|
Tier I English
| 5
| | 3 quarters foreign language (if needed)
| (12)
|
Tier II A&S course
| 4
| | | |
Total Hours
| 51 or 54
| | Total Hours
| 47 (59) or 45 (57)
|
Third Year
| | | Fourth Year
| |
| Course | Hours
| | Course
| Hours
|
| BIOS 303 or 430 | 6
| | Tier II A&S course
| 4
|
BIOS 342, 343, 354, 355, 413, 414, 463
| 21
| | 2 A&S courses
| 10
|
4 A&S courses (1 fulfilling Junior comp.)
| 18
| | Tier III
| 4
|
Foreign language (if necessary)
| (12)
| | Choose RESEARCH or COURSE option
|
|
Total Hours
| 45 (57)
| | Total Hours
| 44-53
|
Research Option (3.2 gpa in 30 hrs of BIOS required)
|
| Course | Hours
|
BIOS 494H (fall and winter quarters)
| 8
|
BIOS 495H (spring quarter)
| 4
|
BIOS 415 or 417
| 4
|
1 of BIOS 407, 418, 462, 473
| 8-12
|
Course Option
|
|
Course
| Hours
|
BIOS 414, 415, 417
| 12
|
2 of BIOS 407, 418, 462,473
| 8-12
|
