Undergraduate Director
Dr. Donald H. Edwards
Regents’ Professor of Neuroscience
825 Petit Science Center
Tel: 404-413-5394
e-mail: dedwards@gsu.edu
Undergraduate Committee
Dr. Paul S. Katz, Neuroscience
Dr. Gennady Cymbalyuk, Neuroscience
Dr Eddy Nahmias, Philosophy
Undergraduate Administrator
Undergraduate Program Administrator
Email: yhilaire@gsu.edu
Phone: 404.413.3566
NEW NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR at GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
We are very pleased to announce the start of a B.S. degree program in Neuroscience at Georgia State University. Neuroscience is among the most rapidly growing scientific fields, addressing fundamental and health-related questions concerning the brains and behavior of animals and humans. Students interested in discovering how the brain works, or why cats behave differently from dogs, or how brains differ from computers, or why smoking is addictive will learn how to look for answers to these and other questions. Students with career goals in life science, health care, science education, mental health, information science, and behavioral science will find appropriate training as a Neuroscience major
Neuroscience is interdisciplinary, as shown by our faculty and the major course offerings. The faculty are drawn from twelve departments, including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Education, Law, Mathematics and Statistics, Neuroscience, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology (see http://neuroscience.gsu.edu/1476.html for a full list). They will teach courses in cell and molecular neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neuroethology (animal behavior), drugs and the nervous system, and medical neuroanatomy, among many others.
NEUR 3000 is the required introductory course to the major. It provides an overview of the neuroscience field and is a gateway to other courses in the major that will be taught beginning in spring semester. Students who have taken BIOL 4102 Neurobiology will have satisfied the requirement to take NEUR 3000. Many of the Neuroscience elective courses are already offered through other departments (e.g., BIOL 4094, Developmental Neurobiology). More advanced students may have already taken some of these courses; they can be applied towards a B.S. degree in Neuroscience.
Complete lists of courses and degree requirements are found in the University Catalogs.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES are available in the labs of Neuroscience faculty. Students learn how to conduct research, analyze data, interpret results, write scientific papers, and present the results publicly in collaboration with the faculty, postdocs, graduate students, technicians and other undergraduates in the lab. These experiences are individually arranged with the faculty director of each laboratory, and can provide course credit or financial support through faculty research grants or the Brains & Behavior Scholars Program (http://neuroscience.gsu.edu/brains_behavior.html).
PREPARATION FOR CAREERS OR ADVANCED TRAINING. Pursuit of a B.S. in Neuroscience degree will prepare the student for careers in biomedicine, mental health, and scientific research. It will also prepare the student for advanced graduate and professional training in medicine, law, and the many academic disciplines that contribute to neuroscience.
In addition to requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences for all undergraduate programs (e.g., residency, total number of hours towards degree: see http://www2.gsu.edu/~catalogs/2011-2012/undergraduate), the undergraduate degree in Neuroscience has the following requirements for its program of study:
Majors should complete the following:
1. Undergraduate Core Curriculum Areas A-E, as required by the university
2. Area F: Courses appropriate to the major, listed below
3. Area G: Major courses, listed below; and
4. Area H: Minor and Additional courses, listed below (if needed)
Alternatives are available to some core and major requirements. These alternatives could be negotiated with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Areas A-E: Core Curriculum Requirements and Recommendations
1. Recommended course in area A:
Math 1113 Precalculus (or any higher-level mathematics course) (3)
2. Recommended courses in Area B:
Phil 1010 Critical Thinking (2)
3. Recommended courses in Area D:
Either: Phys 1111K Introductory Physics I (4) and Phys 1112K Introductory Physics II (4) or: Phys 2211K Principles of Physics I (4) and Phys 2212K Principles of Physics II (4)
4. Area D Math requirement:
Any one math course not taken in area A from the following choices: Math 2211 (4), or 2212 (4), or any comparable higher-level math. Note that once they are approved as satisfying University System of Georgia core requirements, Math 2201 (4) or 2202, Calculus for Life Sciences I and II, may be substituted for Math 2211 and 2212, respectively.
Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Major Field (18 hours)
1. Required Courses (16 hours)
Biol 2107K Principles of Biology I (4)**
Biol 2108K Principles of Biology II (4)***
Chem 1211K Principles of Chemistry I (4)
Chem 1212K Principles of Chemistry II (4)
** Students who decide to major in Neuroscience after completing Biol 1103K may use Biol 1103K for credit toward Area F if they complete Biol 2108K and Biol 2800 before enrolling in major courses (Area G)
*** Students who decide to major in neuroscience after completing Biol 1103K and Biol 1104K may use these courses for credit toward Area F if they complete Biol 2800 before enrolling in major courses (Area G).
2. Recommended Course to complete Area F (2 hours)
Anth 2010 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3)
Biol 2240 Human Physiology (3)
Neur 2500 Neurobiology and Behavior (2) (Cross-listed with Biol 2500)
Biol 2800 Introduction to Molecular Biology (2)
Chem 2010 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (2)
Chem 2400 Organic Chemistry I (4)
Phil 2010 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
Psyc 1100 Natural Aspects of Psychology (2)
Psyc 2050 Introduction to Drugs and Behavior (3)
Psyc 2080 Sex, Evolution, and Human Behavior (3)
Area G: Major Courses (36 hours) (A grade of C or better is required in all area G courses)
1. Neuroscience Core Requirements (15 hours)
Neur 3000 Principles of Neuroscience (4)
Neur 3010 Neuroscience Laboratory (4) (lab) BEGINNING SPRING 2011
Neur 3020 The Scientific Method in Neuroscience (4) (CTW) BEGINNING SPRING 2011
Neur 4910 Topics in Neuroscience (3) (CTW) BEGINNING FALL 2012
2. Neuroscience Electives (at least 9 hours from the following list of courses, including 6 hours from courses with the NEUR prefix)
Neur 4100/Biol 4094 Developmental Neurobiology (4)
Neur/Biol 4115 Medical Neuroanatomy (4)
Biol 4130/Psych 4130 Sensation and Perception (3)
Neur 4420/Biol 4241/Psych 4630 Hormones and Behavior (4)
Neur 4010 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (4)
Neur 4020 Cognitive Neuroscience (4)
Neur 4030 Computational Neuroscience (4)
Neur 4040 Neuroethology (4)
Neur 4050 Statistics for Neuroscience (3)
Neur 4150/Psyc 4050 Drugs and the Nervous System
Neur/Psyc 4110 Physiological Psychology (3)
Neur 4700 Neural Plasticity (4)
3. Neuroscience-related Electives (at least 12 hours from courses on the list below, or from the list of Neuroscience Electives above, if the course is not being used to fulfill the Neuroscience Electives requirement)
Anth 4300 Human Evolution (3)
Biol 3440 Fundamentals of Evolution (3)
Biol 3800 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
Biol 3810 Molecular Cell Biology Lab (3)
Biol 3840 Animal Biology (3)
Biol 3850 Animal Biology Lab (1)
Biol 3900 Genetics
Biol 3910 Genetics Lab (1)
Biol 4014K Invertebrate Biology (4)
Biol 4015K Vertebrate Biology (4)
Biol 4045K General Ecology (4)
Biol 4074 Developmental Biology (4)
Biol 4102 Neurobiology (4)
Biol 4240 Endocrinology (4)
Biol 4242 Circadian Rhythms (4)
Biol 4246 Advanced Human Physiology (4)
Biol 4248 Cell Physiology (4)
Biol 4630 Enzymology (3)
Biol 4640 Fundamentals of Bioinformatics
Biol 4744 Biostatistics (3)
Biol 4800 Principles of Cell Biology (4)
Math 4275 Applied Dynamical Systems (3)
Neur 4870 Honors Thesis: Research (3 to 6)
Neur 4880 Honors Thesis: Writing (3)
Neur 4980 Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience (up to 3 hours may be applied to requirement)
Phil 4130 Philosophy of Science (3)
Phil 4330 Philosophy of Mind (3)
Phil 4340 Philosophy of Cognitive Science (3)
Phys 3500 Electronics (3)
Phys 4710 Functional Neuromimaging (3)
Psyc 3140 Abnormal Psychology (3)
Psyc 4100 Cognitive Psychology (3)
Psyc 4116 Primate Behavior (3)
Psyc 4120 Learning (3)
Psyc 4140 Introduction to Psychophysiology (4)
Psyc 4560 Psychology of Animal Behavior (3)
Psyc 4660 Applied Animal Behavior (3)
Pre-Medicine Concentration
A pre-medicine concentration is available for B.S. in Neuroscience majors. Please contact the Undergraduate Advisor of the NI for further information.
Pre-med students are also required to take:
Chem 2400 Organic Chemistry I (4)
Chem 3410 Organic Chemistry II (4)
Chem 3100 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2)
Chem 3110 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
Chem 4600 Biochemistry (5)
Minor in Neuroscience
Students who wish to minor in Neuroscience must take Neur 3000 Principles in Neuroscience and at least 12 additional hours in Neuroscience courses (any courses with Neur prefix). A grade of C or higher is required in all courses counting toward the minor.
Area H: Minor and Additional Courses
1. Students majoring in Neuroscience are not required to take a minor.
2. Students majoring in Neuroscience must take additional courses as electives to complete 120 hours. Students are encouraged to choose electives from the lists above.
Area G: Major Courses (36 hours)
1. Neuroscience Core Requirements (15 hours)
NEUR3000 Principles of Neuroscience. Prerequisites: Biol 2108K, Chem 1212K. 4 lecture hours per week. Comprehensive basis for understanding brain research, major discoveries in neuroscience, and the methods employed for those achievements. Topics include the neural basis of learning and memory, sensory perception, motor control, neurological diseases, drug action, and behavior.
4.000 Credit Hours
NEUR3010 Neuroscience Laboratory. Pre- or co-requisites: Neur3000 (Principles of Neuroscience) and either Math2201 (Calculus of for Life Sciences I) or Math2202 (Calculus for Life Sciences II) or any comparable higher-level math course. Two lecture and six laboratory hours a week. Laboratory techniques in neuroscience, including intra- and extracellular electrophysiology, computational methods, molecular and cellular neuroscience, neuroanatomy, immunocytochemistry, and neuroethology.
4.000 Credit Hours
NEUR3020 The Scientific Method in Neuroscience. (CTW) Pre-requisite: Neur3000. Provides experience in research design, data analysis and written scientific communication needed for advanced neuroscience courses. Assignments emphasize the student’s ability to express critical thinking through writing.
4.000 Credit Hours
NEUR4910 Topics in Neuroscience. (CTW) Pre-requisite: Neur3000, Neur3010, Neur3020. An in-depth treatment of a specific topic in neuroscience, using this topic to develop skills in research design, data analysis, and written communication of results, emphasizing students’ ability to express critical thinking through writing.
3.000 Credit Hours
Course Planner for Full-Time Neuroscience Major*
|
|
Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
|
First Year |
Area A: ENGL 1101 (3) Area E course (3) A: MATH 1113 or higher (3)
TOTAL: 15 hours |
A: ENGL 1102 (3)
TOTAL: 16 hours |
|
Second Year |
F: BIOL 2108K (4) Area C course (3) Area E course (3)
TOTAL: 14 hours |
NEUR 3000 Principles (4) D: PHYS 2211K or 1111K (4) Area E course (3) TOTAL: 13-15 hours |
|
Third Year |
NEUR 3020 Sci Method (4) NEUR 3010 Lab (4) D: PHYS 2212K or 1112K (4) Area E course (3)
TOTAL: 15 hours |
NEUR 4XXX elective 1 (3-4) NEUR 4XXX elective 2 (3-4) Area H elective (3-4) Area H elective (3-4) Area H (3) elective as needed**
TOTAL: 15-17 hours |
|
Fourth Year |
NEUR 4XXX elective 3 (3-4) Area H elective (3-4) Area H (3) elective as needed TOTAL: 15-17 hours |
NEUR 4910 Topics (3) Area H elective (3-4) Area H (3) elective as needed
TOTAL: 15-17 hours*** |
* This schedule of courses represents just one of many possible sequences (e.g., it does not include taking any summer courses or any AP/IB credits students may have).
Adjustments must be made for students who cannot take 15-17 hours per semester.
** Neuroscience majors are, of course, welcome and encouraged to take more than the 15 hours of required neuroscience electives (and more than the 120 hours required for graduation).
The Pre-Medicine Concentration requires Chem 2400, 3410, 3100, and 3110. These courses can be applied to Area H.
*** Students must have 39 hours at Georgia State University taken at the 3000/4000 level for the residency requirements, and complete at least 120 hours for graduation.