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Neuroscience Oversight Committee: J. S. Taube (Chair), D. J. Bucci, L.
P. Henderson.
MAJOR IN NEUROSCIENCE
Neuroscience is a broad interdisciplinary field requiring a rigorous
preparation in basic science. Students in this discipline are expected to
understand introductory neuroscience, cell biology and statistics. They are
also expected to gain competency in calculus, chemistry, physics or computer
science. These prerequisites are fundamental to understanding contemporary
experimental methods in neuroscience.
Required courses are also intended to provide a strong background in the
measurement of behavior. Then, students are expected to choose a set of
electives that will lead them towards a research project with a specific
emphasis in neuroscience. For example electives in Computer Science and
Mathematics could be selected that emphasize computational methods, leading
towards a senior research project in computational neuroscience. Alternatively,
a student might choose electives emphasizing cell or molecular biology, leading
towards a research project in cellular neurobiology. The list of electives is
adaptive. Students develop an elective list with an advisor that is subject to
approval by the Neuroscience Oversight Committee.
A central mission of the new major is to encourage students to work closely
with sponsoring faculty to learn experimental methods in neuroscience. As their
culminating experience, students are expected to engage in research in
neuroscience under the direction of a faculty advisor. Faculty in the
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences provide a core resource for
research opportunities for students, however neuroscience research
opportunities for undergraduate majors also involve faculty in the College of
Arts and Sciences in other departments, the School of Medicine, and the Thayer
Engineering School, subject to approval by the Neuroscience Oversight
Committee.
Potential majors are encouraged to begin planning their course of study by
the end of their first year.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
Prerequisites - 7 courses
Psychology 6 (Introduction to Neuroscience)
Psychology 10 (Statistics and Experimental Design) or equivalent
Biology 12 (Cell Biology)
Four of the following:
Mathematics 3, 4 (Introduction to Calculus, Calculus with Applications)
Chemistry 5, 6 (General Chemistry)
Physics 3, 4 (General Physics I, II)
Computer Science 5, 15 (Introduction to Computer Science)
Engineering Sciences 20 (Introduction to Computer Science with Applications
in Engineering)
Required - 7 courses
Psychology 26 (Physiological Psychology)
Psychology 65 (Physiology of Behavior)
Psychology 21 (Perception) or Psychology 28 (Cognition)
Four electives approved by the Neuroscience Oversight Committee. One of
these must be 70's or higher. Students may use the electives to emphasize
different areas of interest within neuroscience, such as physiology,
computational, cognitive, cell or molecular neuroscience. The following are
among the courses that could be used for developing the major.
Biology 25 (Animal Behavior)
Biology 34 (Neurobiology)
Biology 37 (Endocrinology)
Biology 39 (Computational Molecular Biology)
Biology 63 (Developmental Genetics)
Biology 74 (Advanced Neurobiology)
Biology 79 (Genetics and Physiology of Behavior)
Education 50 (The Reading Brain)
Education 58 (Language Acquisition)
Psychology 50 (Issues in Neuropsychology)
Psychology 51 (Issues in Information Processing)
Psychology 60 (Principles of Brain Mapping)
Psychology 64 (Laboratory in Sensory Psychology)
Psychology 80s (seminar courses with a neuroscience emphasis)
For the 2006-2007 year the following courses may also be counted as
electives:
Psychology 52 (Animal Behavior and Learning)
Psychology 52 (Developmental Psychopathology)
Psychology 53 (Emotion)
Psychology 80 (Functional Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases)
Psychology 81 (The Broken Brain)
Psychology 82 (Transgenic Approaches in Behavioral Neuroscience)
Psychology 86 (The Neural Basis of Consciousness)
Psychology 87 (Nature and Nurture)
Culminating experience (Cannot be used to satisfy the electives
requirement)
Students are expected to engage in research in Neuroscience under the
direction of a faculty advisor for their culminating experience.
Psychology 90-(Independent Neuroscience Research) This course is designed to
enable students to engage in independent laboratory research under the
direction of a neuroscience faculty member. Students may take up to two terms
of independent research. Students are required to write a final report of their
research.
or:
Psychology 91-(Honors Neuroscience Research) This course is designed to
enable especially qualified students, usually seniors, to engage in independent
laboratory research under the direction of a neuroscience faculty member.
Students must take at least two terms of Psychology 91. A student must have a
minimum grade point average of 3.30 in the major and 3.00 overall to enroll and
must enroll by the Fall term of the senior year. The honors thesis will be
evaluated by a two-person thesis committee approved by the Neuroscience
Committee. Thesis committee members must be identified prior to the student
signing up for Psychology 91. The thesis committee must include a regular
faculty member of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The other
individual must have an active academic appointment at Dartmouth. A prospectus
of proposed research is due by the end of the fall term for approval by the
Neuroscience Committee. The student is expected to submit a written thesis,
give a presentation and pass an oral examination administered by the thesis
committee. The thesis committee will make recommendations to the Neuroscience
Committee regarding the awarding of Honors or High Honors. A student must have
a minimum GPA of 3.50 to attain high honors.
MINOR IN NEUROSCIENCE
D. J. Bucci (Psychological and Brain Sciences), S. J. Vélez (Biological
Sciences)
The Minor in Neuroscience is jointly sponsored by the Department of
Biological Sciences and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. It
is intended to provide formal recognition for students who have concentrated
some of their academic work in the interdisciplinary area of Neuroscience. The
courses come from the Departments of Biological Sciences and Psychological and
Brain Sciences. The minor can accommodate majors in either department as well
as majors in all other departments. The minor requires seven courses: two
prerequisites, two required courses, and three electives. Many of the courses
may require permission of the instructor in addition to prerequisite
courses.
Prerequisites:
Introductory Psychology: Psychology 1, or Introduction to Neuroscience:
Psychology 6;
AND Introduction to Cell,
Molecular, and Developmental Biology: Biology 12.
Required courses: (Prerequisites as shown.)
Neurobiology: Biology 34 (Psychology 6 or Biology 12)
Physiology of Behavior: Psychology 65 (Psychology 6, or Psychology 1 and 26,
or Biology 34, and permission)
Electives: The electives are in two categories, biology and
psychology. For the remaining three courses in the minor you may pick one
course from the biology list and two from the psychology list or the reverse
(see remarks under 'Other Issues' below). These courses require prerequisites
as listed.
Biology
Human Physiology: Biology 35 (Biology 12).
Advanced Neurobiology: Biology 74 (Biology 34).
Animal Behavior: Biology 27 (Biology 15 or 16). You cannot count both
Biology 27 and Psychology 67 toward the minor.
Psychology
Physiological Psychology: Psychology 26 (Psychology 1). Cannot be taken
after Psychology 65.
Brain Mapping: The Methods: Psychology 60 (Psychology 1 or 6, and 10, and
one course from the 20's series, and permission)
Sensory Psychology: Psychology 64 (Psychology 1 or 6, and permission)
Experimental Study of Animal Behavior: Psychology 67 (Psychology 1 or 6, and
10, and permission). You cannot count both Psychology 67 and Biology 33 toward
the minor.
Issues in Neuropsychology: Psychology 50. (Prerequisites vary; check
specific course.)
Seminars in psychology: Psychology 80-87. (Appropriate seminars as
approved). Prerequisites vary; check specific course.
Other Issues:
1. A standard minor in Neuroscience may be approved by the advisors to the
minor, Professors Bucci (Psychology) or Vélez (Biology).
2. Psychology majors who wish to obtain a Neuroscience Minor must make their
one-course selection from Psychology and their two-course selection from
Biology. Biology majors must do the reverse. This allows the Psychology or
Biology major to obtain a Neuroscience minor by only taking two additional
courses in the major. (Courses cannot count toward both the major and
minor.)
SUMMARY FOR MINOR IN NEUROSCIENCE
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Prerequisites
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Elective Courses
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Specified
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Unspecified
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Psychology 1 or
Psychology 6
and
Biology 12
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Biology 34
Psychology 65
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Three courses: either one from Biology and two from Psychology or the
reverse.
Biology 27, 35, 37, 74
Psychology 26, 50, 60, 64, 67, appropriate seminars (80-87)
Special restrictions apply to some courses. See above description.
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