Neuroscience, BS

Curriculum

The neuroscience major leads to a bachelor of science. It requires 128 hours of coursework:

• BELL core requirements: 53 hours
• Major requirements: 38-43 hours
• Major electives and research requirements: 16 hours
• General electives: 25 hours

See All Program Requirements

Courses you'll take:

NEU 1000 Seminar in Neuroscience: The course will help to provide students with the tools and skills necessary to successfully complete the neuroscience major requirements. The neuroscience seminar course will introduce students to BU resources including library resources, learning commons, career planning tools and faculty. This course will also help students develop a four-year plan for completing required courses, consider undergraduate research options and explore career paths.

NEU 2080 Introduction to Neuroscience: Students will be exposed to lectures and laboratory activities engaging biological and psychological frameworks of the nervous system. Students will be introduced to the biological machinery (cells, neural networks) making-up the nervous system, brain/cranial structures and basic functions (physiology) and complex neural systems related to sensation/perception, motor movement, attention and memory, stress, sexual development, emotion, aging and addiction.

NEU 4500 Neurobiology: An examination of the structure and function of the nervous system. The effects of molecular approaches to neuroscience and their impacts on the understanding of sensory, motor and cognitive functions of both simple and more complex systems will be addressed.

NEU 4700 Research in Neuroscience: Completion of an independent laboratory or field research project under the supervision of a neuroscience, biology and/or psychology faculty member. The student will write and present a research paper based on their research at the Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium.

PSY 2400 Research Methods: An introduction to the methods of psychological science. The topics will include the philosophy of the scientific approach, library research methods, basic research design, descriptive and inferential data analysis, writing research reports and ethical issues in research. The laboratory component will emphasize appropriate statistical analysis and interpretation of psychological data.

PSY 1200 Introduction to Psychological Science: An introductory course which surveys the field of psychology. The course emphasizes the scientific methods of the discipline and incorporates active learning experiences via the laboratory component.

CEM 1510 General Chemistry I and II: During the first semester of General Chemistry, covered topics include: atomic & molecular structure, chemical bonding models, stoichiometry, reactivity patterns and an introduction to the gas laws. Topics covered second semester include: Thermochemistry & Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, acid/base chemistry, electrochemistry and an introduction to chemical kinetics.

PHY 1110 Precalculus-Based Physics I and II: This course provides an introduction to the principles of linear and rotational motion, including Newton’s laws, energy, momentum and fluids. Quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the subject are developed utilizing precalculus. The 1120 course introduces the principles of simple harmonic motion, waves, Coulomb’s Law, electric fields and circuits, magnetism and optics. Quantitative as well as qualitative aspects of the subject are developed utilizing precalculus.

Neuroscience majors are uniquely equipped with a broad foundational training from the beginning in biology, chemistry, physics and psychology and can complete an introduction to neuroscience course as early as freshman year. Further in their training, students can tailor their upper-level courses to support their interests and future goals.

With ample opportunities to complement theoretical knowledge, students engage in hands-on exercises that increase comprehensive skills and small group work to foster collaboration. Students build strong academic, research and critical thinking skills equipping them for continuing their education or beginning their career in the field.