Undergraduate Studies Catalog

INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSCIENCE MINOR

www.parmly.luc.edu/neuro

Director: W. Yost

OBJECTIVES

The interdisciplinary neuroscience minor is the interdisciplinary science-based study of the nervous system as the organ for behavior. The minor is an interdisciplinary liberal arts study of the nervous system that exposes students to issues of the relationship among the brain, the mind, behavior, evolution, and the existence of humans and other animals in our complex world. Since the nervous system is the organ for behavior, neuroscience is an interdisciplinary study area that cuts across traditional fields in the biological and behavioral sciences. The minor is intended for Loyola undergraduates who plan to attend graduate or professional school in the life sciences. However, any Loyola undergraduate who takes the appropriate prerequisites can participate in the interdisciplinary neuroscience minor.

Course requirements are designed to expose students to a range of topics dealing with the nervous system and behavior. The seminar in neuroscience provides a forum for integrating this information to understand the complex nature of behavior and its neural basis. The laboratories in neuroscience train students to use modern neuroscience laboratory techniques in a state-of-the-art neuroscience laboratory teaching facility and exposes them to the excitement of the empirical study of the nervous system and its role in behavior. The minor allows students to seek their own basis for integrating the wide range of topics that pertain to the study of the nervous system and exploring the neural basis of behavior.

The interdisciplinary neuroscience minor includes the rich opportunities for neuroscience education at the Lake Shore Campus and those at Loyola University Medical Center. The minor will expose students to programs at both campuses including those of the Parmly Hearing Institute, the Neuroscience and Aging Institute, and the neuroscience graduate program. Students are challenged to understand issues of both basic neuroscience research and its applications, including those related to health care. The overall goal of the interdisciplinary neuroscience minor is to educate, stimulate, and challenge students to investigate the neural basis of behavior. Additional information about the interdisciplinary neuroscience minor and neuroscience can be found www.parmly.luc.edu/neuro.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

The Neuroscience Minor consists of 20 credit hours, including the following:

• NEUR 300 Neuroscience Seminar (1 credit; two semesters required)
• NEUR 301 Neuroscience Lab I (3 credits)
• NEUR 302 Neuroscience Lab II (3 credits)
• BIOL 362 Neurobiology (3 credits)
• PSYC 240/BIOL 240 Psychology & Biology of Perception (3 credits)
• PSYC 305/BIOL 241 Brain & Behavior (3 credits)

• ANTH 103 Biological Background for Human Social Behavior (3)
• ANTH 320 Animal Behavior (3)
• ANTH 324 Human Evolution (3)
• ANTH 325 Primatology: Behavior & Ecology (3)
• PHIL 273 Knowledge & Reality: Science (3)
• PHIL 276 Knowledge & Reality: Cognition & Mind (3)
• PHIL 387 Philosophy of the Mind (3)

Since most courses for the minor have prerequisites, please note the following course sequencing guidelines. Also, note that many students declare the minor later in their college careers and are able to complete the requirements in a more limited time frame.

BIOL 101, 102; PSYC 101; CHEM 101, 102 (or 105, 106) should be taken during the first two years.

PSYC 240/BIOL 240, PSYC 305/BIOL 241, and additional elective ANTH or PHIL courses may be taken any time prerequisites have been met.

NEUR 300 Neuroscience Seminar classes (2) may be taken sophomore, junior or senior year.

BIOL 362 should be taken by junior year, preceded by Cell Biology 251.

NEUR 301 and 302 Neuroscience Lab I and II are usually taken senior year.

(Check course schedules to see if specific courses are offered fall and/or spring semesters).

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

300. Seminar in Neuroscience. (1)
Prerequisites: BIOL 101, 102; PSYC 101.
A seminar intended for neuroscience minors. The seminar introduces the students to the various neuroscience research activities that take place at Loyola University Chicago, including the Parmly Hearing Institute, Departments of Biology, Psychology, and Loyola University Medical Center, especially the neuroscience programs. Topics include research opportunities in neuroscience, ethics in neuroscience research, discussion of the brain and mind, and review of current neuroscience topics.

301. Laboratory in Neuroscience I. (BIOL 373) (PSYC 388)
Prerequisites: BIOL 362 and either PSYC 240 or 305.
The first of two laboratory courses intended for neuroscience minors taught in the neuroscience undergraduate teaching facility. The course covers anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and neurobiological modeling techniques used to study the nervous system and the brain. This course emphasizes learning basic neuroscience laboratory techniques.

302. Laboratory in Neuroscience II. (BIOL 374) (PSYC 389)
Prerequisite: NEUR 301.
The second of two laboratory courses intended for neuroscience minors taught in the neuroscience undergraduate teaching facility. The course covers anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and neurobiological modeling techniques used to study the nervous system and the brain. This course prepares students to conduct independent research projects. Students will conduct one independent research project during the last part of the course.
The following are the additional required courses for the interdisciplinary neuroscience minor.

Biology

362. Neurobiology

PSYCHOLOGY

240. Psychology & Biology of Perception (BIOL 240)

305. Brain & Behavior (BIOL 241)

One of the following courses from ANTHROPOLOGY or PHILOSOPHY:

ANTH 103 Biological Background of Human Social Behavior

ANTH 320 Animal Behavior (BIOL 320)

ANTH 324 Human Evolution

ANTH 325 Primatology: Behavior and Ecology (BIOL 325)

PHIL 273 Knowledge & Reality: Science

PHIL 276 Knowledge & Reality: Cognition & Mind

PHIL 387 Philosophy of the Mind

Back to Undergraduate Studies Main