Neuroscience
Overview
Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. It encompasses questions about the structure and function of the nervous system, neural development and plasticity, and how behaviors and cognition arise from the brain. Neuroscience is an inherently multidisciplinary area of study, integrating approaches from a diverse set of fields at many levels of analysis.
Minor Requirements
COURSEWORK
Students must complete six neuroscience-related courses to complete the minor. At least three of the classes cannot be counted towards the student’s major and must be classes offered by departments outside the student’s major department. Electives from outside departments allowed for a student’s major cannot be double-counted for the Neuroscience minor.
Two introductory courses from different departments selected from the following:
| BIO 130 | Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 units |
| COGS 101 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 4 units |
| COGS 104 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 4 units |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 units |
Methods or Statistics Requirement
One methods or statistics course selected from the following:
| BIO 268 | Biostatistics | 4 units |
| PSYC 200 | Methods in Psychological Science | 4 units |
| COGS 201 | Empirical Methods in Cognitive Science | 4 units |
Neuroscience Elective I:
At least two courses selected from the following and offered by different departments. Please note that the only PSYC 490 that applies to the Neuroscience minor is the seminar taught by Dr. Dess or Dr. Chapman.
Students looking to use PSYC 322 to satisfy a minor requirement must also successfully complete PSYC 322L.
Neuroscience Elective II:
A final elective class can be selected from the 300 level classes listed above in Core Courses or one of the following 200- or 300-level classes in Biology, Cognitive Science, Kinesiology or Psychology.
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Renee Baran
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Macalester College; Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley
Nancy Dess
Professor, Psychology; Advisory Committee, Kinesiology; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., U.C. Los Angeles; Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Carmel Levitan
Associate Professor, Cognitive Science; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., U.C. Berkeley
Joseph Schulz
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.S., Indiana University; Ph.D., U.C. San Diego
Aleksandra Sherman
Assistant Professor, Cognitive Science; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., Rutgers University; Ph.D., Northwestern University
Kerry Thompson
Associate Professor, Biology; Advisory Committee, Biochemistry; Advisory Committee, Neuroscience
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., U.C. Los Angeles