Neuroscience (BS)
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Neuroscience to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.
Advising Notes
Important Notes for Neuroscience majors from Advising:
- The course recommendations for Neuroscience majors are appropriate for both students on a pre-health track and for students not pursuing a pre-health track.
- This major is great for students with strong interests in both psychology and biology. The coursework in the first year is the same for students in both the Cognitive Behavioral and Molecular Cellular concentrations, so if you’re not certain which you prefer, you have time to switch between the two.
- Additionally, students interested in a double major or minor in Neuroscience and either Biology or Psychology will have several options to do so with little issue.
- When registering for your courses, it's a good idea to prioritize lab courses first. Labs often require a significant chunk of time in a single day, sometimes spanning several hours. By registering for these early, you can plan your schedule around these time-intensive commitments and avoid conflicts with other classes or responsibilities. This will help you manage your workload and ensure you're not overloading yourself with back-to-back commitments.
- If you receive a math placement of 161, that means you are eligible to take either MATH 131: Applied Calculus (3 credits) or MATH 161: Calculus (4 credits), two different Calculus tracks. You can learn more information about the differences between Math 161 and Math 131 here. For your major, MATH 131 is the department recommendation as it will be tailored to the math that you will need and will leave more room in your schedule for other coursework.
- Your ability to complete this major in eight semesters may be impacted if you do not begin with your recommended calculus course placement in your first semester.
- Don’t forget to check the AP/IB guide to ensure you know if you have any incoming credit that will count towards your Core requirements.
- If you have transfer credit for PSYC 101, we recommend you replace that course with Core.
- If you are a pre-med student, consider taking SOCL 101 as it is a pre-med requirement.
First Semester Course Recommendations
As a Neuroscience major, you will enroll in the following courses:
BIOL 101 (3 credits) and BIOL 111 (1 credit)
PSYC 101 (3 credits)
One of the following math courses based on your math placement (3 credits):
- MATH 100 or MATH 117 or MATH 118 or MATH 131
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
From here, your math placement will have you enroll in either Plan A or Plan B.
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 17-18 credits.
Plan A: If you have a math placement of MATH 118 or above, you will register for:
- CHEM 160 (3 credits) and CHEM 161 (1 credit)
One of the following Core classes (Pick only one course per category, 3 total credits):
- College Writing Seminar: UCWR 110, based on writing placement
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, or HIST 104
- Foundational Philosophical Knowledge: PHIL 130
- Foundational Literary Knowledge: UCLR 100M, UCLR 100C, or UCLR 100E
- Foundational Theological Knowledge: THEO 100 or THEO 107
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
- Artistic Knowledge: (see options in the Undergraduate Catalog)
Plan B: If you have a math placement of MATH 117 or below you will register for:
Two of the following Core classes (Pick only one course per category, 6 total credits):
- College Writing Seminar: UCWR 110, based on writing placement
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, or HIST 104
- Foundational Philosophical Knowledge: PHIL 130
- Foundational Literary Knowledge: UCLR 100M, UCLR 100C, or UCLR 100E
- Foundational Theological Knowledge: THEO 100 or THEO 107
- Foundational Societal & Cultural Knowledge: ANTH 100, PLSC 102, SOCL 101, or WSGS 101
- Artistic Knowledge: (see options in the Undergraduate Catalog)
Interdisciplinary Honors First Semester Course Recommendations
As a Neuroscience major, you will enroll in the following courses:
- BIOL 101 (3 credits) and BIOL 111 (1 credit)
One of the following math courses based on your math placement (3 credits):
- MATH 100 or MATH 117 or MATH 118 or MATH 131
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
Interdisciplinary Honors Requirements (6 credits)
- HONR 101
- HONR D101
From here, your math placement will have you enroll in either Plan A or Plan B.
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 17-18 credits.
Plan A: If you have a math placement of MATH 118 or above, you will register for:
- CHEM 160 (3 credits) and CHEM 161 (1 credit)
Plan B: If you have a math placement of MATH 117 or below you will register for:
- PSYC 101 (3 credits)
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Neuroscience to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.