Neuroscience, B.S.

Neuroscience asks how the brain and body produce our sensations, our thoughts, our behavior and the behavior of other animals. Neuroscientists address fundamental and health-related questions that affect every aspect of our lives and society. To answer them, neuroscience bridges the biological, chemical, physical, behavioral and computational sciences, as well as philosophy, engineering, and medicine. Neuroscience is among the fastest growing fields of science and medicine. Neuroscience is interdisciplinary, as shown by the Neuroscience Institute’s faculty and the neuroscience course offerings. Faculty are drawn from multiple departments, including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Communication, Education, Law, Mathematics and Statistics, Neuroscience Institute, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology (see neuroscience.gsu.edu/faculty/ for a full list). They teach courses in cell and molecular neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neuroethology (animal behavior), drugs and the nervous system, cognitive neuroscience, neuroethics, and medical neuroanatomy, among many others. For questions about the major, students should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies who will help connect them with an appropriate faculty member.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Additional Courses areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Core IMPACTS Areas

Students may select any of the course options listed in each Core IMPACTS area. However, specific recommendations for certain areas are listed below. These recommended courses are not required in the Core IMPACTS areas, but are required for the major. If not taken in the core, then they must be taken in the Field of Study or Additional Courses area.

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills

Recommended (one of the following):

MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours

Institutional Priority

The following is suggested but not required of the major:

PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours

Technology, Mathematics & Sciences

Recommended lab sequence

PHYS 2211K - Principles of Physics I 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
Note: This lab sequence may be a prerequisite for neuroscience electives or neuroscience-related electives in the Major Area below.

Recommended course

Select one of the following:

MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours
A mathematics course with a higher number.

Note: MATH 2201, MATH 2202, MATH 2211, or MATH 2212 may be prerequisites for neuroscience electives or neuroscience related electives in Area G2 or G3 below.

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (16 Hours)

BIOL 2107 - Principles of Biology I 3 Credit Hours
and
BIOL 2107L - Principles of Biology I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108 - Principles of Biology II 3 Credit Hours
and
BIOL 2108L - Principles of Biology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 1211K - Principles of Chemistry I 4 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1212K - Principles of Chemistry II 4 Credit Hours
Notes:
- Students who decide to major in neuroscience after completing BIOL 1103K may take it for credit toward the Field of Study Area if they complete BIOL 2108 , BIOL 2108L , and BIOL 2800 before enrolling in Major Area courses.
- Students who decide to major in neuroscience after completing BIOL 1103K and BIOL 1104K may use these courses for credit toward the Field of Study Area if they complete BIOL 2800 before enrolling in Major Area courses. Students meeting these requirements should contact the department for approval to take courses with BIOL 2108 and BIOL 2108L as prerequisites.
- All courses above ending in K may also be offered as separate lecture and lab (L) courses. The combined (K) courses and separate lecture and lab (L) courses cover the same subject matter and are equivalent courses.

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area. Any credit hours exceeding 18 earned to complete the Core IMPACTS and Field of Study area requirements will count toward the Additional Courses Area.

ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2240 - Introduction to Human Physiology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2800 - Introduction to Molecular Biology 2 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 2000 - Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2050 - Introduction to Drugs and Behavior 3 Credit Hours

Major Area (36 Hours)

Neuroscience Core Requirements (18 Hours)

Complete the following courses:

NEUR 2010 - Professional Development in Neuroscience 2 Credit Hours
NEUR 3000 - Principles of Neuroscience I 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 3001 - Principles of Neuroscience II 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 3020 - The Scientific Method in Neuroscience-CTW 4 Credit Hours

Select one of the following laboratory courses:

NEUR 4000 - Neuroscience Laboratory 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4001 - Computational Neuroscience Laboratory 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4002 - Neurogenetics Laboratory 4 Credit Hours
Students may take more than one of the laboratory courses above. Credit hours beyond the first completed laboratory course will be applied to the neuroscience-related electives requirement.

Neuroscience Electives (10 hours)

Select at least 10 hours from the following list of courses:

NEUR 4010 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4020 - Cognitive Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4040 - Neuroethology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4050 - Statistics for Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4060 - Neurophysiology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4070 - Sensory Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4080 - Clinical Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4100 - Developmental Neurobiology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4115 - Medical Neuroanatomy 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4150 - Drugs and the Nervous System 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4200 - Neuroscience of Memory 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4250 - Neuroscience of Motivation and Emotion 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4330 - Functional Neuroimaging 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4340 - Neurophysics 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4370 - Applied Dynamical Systems 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4420 - Hormones and Behavior 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4576 - Neurovirology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4820 - Contemporary Neuroscience Research Seminar 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4910 - Topics in Neuroscience 1 to 4 Credit Hours

Neuroscience-Related Electives

Select at least 8 hours from the list of Neuroscience Electives courses above or from the list of courses below.
Other neuroscience-related electives not on this list may fulfill this elective requirement with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Neuroscience Courses

NEUR 2020 - Introduction to Neuroscience Research 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 3690 - Honors Readings 1 to 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 3910 - WomenLead in Science 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4870 - Honors Thesis I 1 to 6 Credit Hours
NEUR 4880 - Honors Thesis II 1 to 6 Credit Hours
NEUR 4900 - Advanced Neuroscience Laboratory 1 to 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4920 - Internship in Neuroscience 1 to 5 Credit Hours
(up to 5 hours of NEUR 4920/NEUR 4921/NEUR 4930 combined may be applied to requirement)
NEUR 4921 - Career Experience in Neuroscience 1 Credit Hours
(up to 5 hours of NEUR 4920/NEUR 4921/NEUR 4930 combined may be applied to requirement)
NEUR 4930 - Internship in Science Education 1 to 5 Credit Hours (up to 5 hours of NEUR 4920/NEUR 4921/NEUR 4930 combined may be applied to requirement)
NEUR 4950 - Supplemental Laboratory in Neuroscience 1 Credit Hours
NEUR 4970 - Study Abroad in Neuroscience 1 to 6 Credit Hours (up to 6 hours may be applied to requirement)
NEUR 4980 - Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience 1 to 5 Credit Hours (up to 5 hours may be applied to requirement)

Additional Courses

ANTH 4300 - Human Evolution 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3440 - Fundamentals of Evolution 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3800 - Molecular Cell Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3810 - Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory-CTW 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3840 - Animal Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3850 - Animal Biology Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 3900 - Genetics 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3910 - Genetics Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 4045K - General Ecology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4074 - Developmental Biology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4240 - Endocrinology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4246 - Advanced Human Physiology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4248 - Cell Physiology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4630 - Enzymology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4744 - Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4800 - Principles of Cellular Biology 4 Credit Hours
BMSC 3701 - Global Regulatory and Legal Requirements of Quality 3 Credit Hours
BMSC 4701 - Product Development and Validation 3 Credit Hours
BMSC 4702 - Risk and Failure Analysis 2 Credit Hours
CHEM 4600 - Biochemistry I 5 Credit Hours (unless used to meet requirement for Pre-Medicine Concentration)
MATH 2652 - Differential Equations 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2641 - Linear Algebra I 3 Credit Hours
MATH 4010 - Mathematical Biology 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 4100 - Energy, Metabolism and Obesity 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3330 - Mind and Brain 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4130 - Philosophy of Science 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4330 - Philosophy of Mind 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4340 - Philosophy and Cognitive Science 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4770 - Moral Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 3500 - Electronics 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 3140 - Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 4100 - Cognitive Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 4120 - Learning 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 4140 - Introduction to Psychophysiology 4 Credit Hours
PSYC 4560 - Psychology of Animal Behavior 3 Credit Hours

Concentration Areas

Pre-Medicine Concentration

Additional Courses Area

Students majoring in Neuroscience are encouraged, but not required, to take a minor.
Students majoring in Neuroscience must take additional courses as electives to complete 120 hours. Students are encouraged to choose electives from the lists above.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. To graduate with distinction in the Neuroscience major, the student must have at least a 3.5 GPA in the major and a 3.5 GPA overall, and must be in good academic standing. The Undergraduate Program Committee may make rare exceptions (e.g. for students with a record of outstanding research or other accomplishments in neuroscience).