Neuroscience

Learning Outcomes for the Program in Neuroscience

The major in Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program of 16 courses designed to provide students with an appreciation of diverse approaches to understanding the function of nervous systems, as well as the ability to conduct investigations within a particular subfield of interest. Students majoring in Neuroscience complete:

1. A common core: Includes seven courses and three electives.

2. A sequence of four electives determined in consultation with an adviser in Neuroscience, and

3. A two-semester or one-semester thesis on a topic related to the four course elective specializations. Students who choose the one-semester thesis option are required to take 5 course electives.

The major provides good preparation for graduate work in biology, neuroscience, and a variety of other programs including medical school or other graduate health professions programs. Admission to particular advanced degree programs may require additional course work. All courses for the neuroscience major must be taken as a letter grade.

Intercollegiate Coordinator: T. Borowski

Pitzer Faculty Advisers: D. Brown, T. Justus, B. Keeley, D. Moore.

Keck Science Faculty Advisers: G. Agarwal, M. Coleman, J. Monroy, T. Solomon-Lane, S. Watson

Requirements for the Major

1. Common Core (7 courses)

• Introductory Biology (two semesters: BIOL 043L KS -BIOL 044L KS  or equivalent).
• Basic Principles of Chemistry (two semesters: CHEM 014L KS -CHEM 015L KS ). 
• NEUR 095 JT -Foundations of Neuroscience  or equivalent.
• Neuroscience 1*: Cellular Molecular Neuroscience: Neuroscience 148L KS.
• Neuroscience 2*: Systems Neuroscience: Neuroscience 149 KS.

*NEUR 095 is a prerequisite for NEUR148L KS and NEUR149 KS.

2. Common Core Electives (3 courses): Choose any 3 courses (0.5 credit labs do not count):

• General Physics for the Life Sciences: (one semester of PHYS 030L KS ,PHYS 031L KS ,PHYS 033L KS , or PHYS 034L KS  ). Only one semester of physics will count.
• Mathematics: MATH 031 PZ  (Calculus II) or Calculus IIS PO or an approved equivalent course.
• Computer science:Biology 133L KS, CS 5 (Harvey Mudd), MATH042 SC, MATH043 SC, or an approved equivalent course.
• Research Methods: PSYC 092 PZ , PSYC 104 SC /PSYC 104L SC , PSYC 110 CM /PSYC 111L CM  or approved equivalent course.

3. Elective Course Specializations (4-5 courses depending on thesis):

   1. A coherent grouping of four elective courses to be determined in consultation with an advisor in Neuroscience. Areas in which a student may elect to specialize include, but are not limited to:

      • Behavioral Neuroscience
      • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
      • Systems Neuroscience
      • Clinical Neuroscience
      • Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Computational Neuroscience
      • Motor Control
      • Neuropharmacology
      • Philosophy of Neuroscience
      • Developmental Neuroscience

The student may also self-design an elective course specialization with the approval of their academic advisor. All elective specializations must include at least one upper division course in Neuroscience.

Students studying abroad are allowed to use a maximum of two courses towards their elective course specialization. Abroad courses used for the major must be approved by the Neuroscience coordinator.

   4.Senior Thesis (1 or 2 courses)

1. A one- or two-semester Senior Thesis on a topic related to the student’s elective course specialization.
   • NEUR188L KS Senior Reserach in Neuroscience
   • NEUR190L KS Senior Thesis in Neuroscience
   • NEUR191 KS* one-semester Senior Thesis

*Students who choose the one-semester thesis option are require to take 5 course eletive for the elective course specialization.