Academic Register 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Neuroscience, B.S.
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The major in neuroscience is designed for students with interests that intersect the fields of biology, psychology, and computer science. Neuroscience focuses on the relationships among brain function, information processing, and behavior. Researchers in this field come from widely disparate backgrounds, including cognitive psychology, clinical neuropsychology, neuroimaging, neurobiology, molecular biology, genetics, neuroethology, biopsychology, physiology, neurology, psychiatry, philosophy, and computer science. Thus, research questions are considered from many different levels, and many different converging methodologies are used.
The neuroscience major consists of three tracks: The Bioscience track, the Cognitive track, and the Computational track.
- The Bioscience track focuses on the biological basis of neural development, function, and plasticity. Students will develop an understanding of the nervous system and its role in cognition, perception, and action at the molecular, cellular, and systems level.
- The Cognitive track provides students with an understanding of how neural networks and brain mechanisms give rise to specific mental processes and behavior. Students begin with the processes that have been traditionally studied in the area of cognitive psychology, but can tailor the program to include phenomena that are traditionally studied in developmental or clinical psychology as well.
- The Computational track focuses on issues related to developing computational models of neuronal and mental processes. Students will develop an understanding of artificial intelligence that uses biologically plausible methods.
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Requirements for the Major:
The neuroscience major consists of four parts: (1) a core of required courses that all majors must take; (2) required courses in one of three tracks-bioscience, cognitive, or computational; (3) general electives; (4) a senior writing requirement. Unless noted below, course descriptions are listed under their home departments. It is not possible to be an interdepartmental major in Neuroscience.
1. Required courses for all neuroscience majors:
2. Required and cognate courses in one of three tracks:
Required Courses:
Any TWO from the following list: Students must also take the following cognate courses:
Required Courses:
Any TWO from the following list: Students must also take the following cognate courses:
Required Courses:
Any TWO from the following list: Students must also take the following cognate courses:
3. Electives. TWO additional courses from the following list:
4. Senior writing requirement. Either:
(a) One of the following senior seminars:
(b) A two- or three-term senior thesis. Students must register for senior thesis courses in the department of their thesis advisor:
Psychology thesis advisors:
Thesis advisors from other departments:
Contact the Neuroscience program director(s) first. Requirements for Honors:
In addition to meeting college-wide requirements, honors in psychology requires: (1) a minimum grade point average of 3.30 in the major (including thesis grades, but not including the CHM or MTH cognate courses listed in #2 above, or more than one term of independent study); (2) a minimum of three grades of A or A- in the required courses for all majors (see #1 above); (3) and satisfactory completion of a senior thesis with a minimum grade of A-; and (4) presentation of the student’s work, usually at the Steinmetz Symposium. Any faculty member in the Psychology, Biology, or Computer Science departments may advise a senior thesis; faculty members not in those departments must be affiliated with the Neuroscience program in order to advise senior theses. Students are advised to start the process of finding a thesis topic and advisor as early in the junior year as possible.
Course Selection Guidelines for the Neuroscience Major:
It is recommended that students in this major start with BIO 110 , BIO 112 , and PSY 210 as these courses are prerequisites for Neuroscience students to take the neuroscience-related courses in the Psychology department without taking PSY 100 (Introduction to Psychology), which does not count toward the Neuroscience major. After completing PSY 210 , Neuroscience students may take other Psychology courses without first completing PSY 100 . Students are strongly encouraged to take PSY 210 , PSY 200 , BIO 225 , and CSC 103 or CSC 106 as early as possible, preferably in the sophomore year. CSC 106 is preferred over CSC 103 , but both satisfy the same requirement. Students are also advised to take CHM 101 prior to taking BIO 225 . Although not required, it is typical that Cognitive Track majors take senior seminars in the Psychology department, and Bioscience Track majors take senior seminars in the Biology department. Normally, courses taken outside of Union College will not be counted toward the major. However, exceptions can be made under extenuating circumstances on an ad-hoc basis. To receive Neuroscience credit for courses taken elsewhere, students must contact the program director(s) to request permission, and the courses must match a Union course or have similar neuroscience content to Union courses that do receive credit.
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