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Neuroscience (NEUROSCI)
Professor Williams, Director of Undergraduate Studies; Associate Professor White, Associate Director of
Undergraduate Studies
A major or a minor is available in this program. A certificate is available through 2013.
Like the inner workings of the brain itself, Neuroscience synthesizes discovery from diverse sources of
knowledge. The undergraduate curriculum in Neuroscience reflects this interdisciplinary perspective and challenges
students to explore knowledge derived from three levels of analysis: (1) the molecular and cellular level; (2) the
level of neural circuits within which cells are organized and interconnected; and (3) the level of behavior where the
functions of neural circuits and systems, including human cognition, are manifest. A comprehensive understanding
of neuroscience requires knowledge of each level and integrative learning across levels.
The principal strength of this transdepartmental program is that it provides rich opportunities for undergraduate
students to study brain science with faculty from diverse disciplines who bring their complimentary perspectives and
expertise to the classroom and laboratory. Thus, the undergraduate curriculum in Neuroscience is truly a joint,
interdisciplinary major/minor that draws faculty and courses from several departments, chiefly the Department of
Psychology & Neuroscience and the Department of Biology, both of which are in Trinity College of Arts and
Sciences. There are also important contributions from the Department of Neurobiology in the Duke University
School of Medicine and the Biomedical Engineering Department in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke
University. Furthermore, the broad impact of discovery in neuroscience now extends beyond these academic
disciplines where neuroscientists collaborate and regularly interact with experts in ethics, law, business, social
sciences, philosophy, the arts, and the humanities. Accordingly, our neuroscience curriculum reflects this broad
interdisciplinary platform for discovery and learning, with a rich offering of experiences that reflect the exciting
growth of neuroscience and its increasing relevance to real-world problems.
GATEWAY COURSES
101. Biological Bases of Behavior: Introduction and Survey (B). NS, STS One course. C-L: see Psychology 106
193FS. Neurobiology of Mind. NS One course. C-L: see Neurobiology 193FS; also C-L: Psychology 193FS
195FS. Neuroeconomics: The Neurobiology of Decision Making. NS, SS One course. C-L: see Neurobiology
195FS
CORE COURSES
201. Fundamentals of Neuroscience (B). NS, STS One course. C-L: see Psychology 275; also C-L: Biology 224
211. Brain and Behavior (B). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 276
212. Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (B, C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 257; also C-L:
Philosophy 249
223. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. NS One course. C-L: see Biology 223
ELECTIVES—RESEARCH
150. Research Practicum. Introduction to faculty-directed research, often preparing the student for independent
study. Preliminary research activities include readings, regular research discussions, and, for some, data collection
and analysis, as a means to explore the potential for the more formally planned and intensive Research Independent
Study and the greater level of commitment required; does not obligate student or faculty to subsequent Research
Independent Study. Instructor consent required. Satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading only. Instructor: Staff. Half
course.
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493. Research Independent Study 1. R First term of Research Independent Study in a subfield of neuroscience of
special interest to student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Concludes with submission of a substantive
written report containing background, methods, and significant analysis and interpretation of data. Meets general
requirement of a curriculum Research (R) course. Open to students after completion of 2 NEUROSCI courses; preapproval of project by supervising faculty and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience required. May be
repeated with new faculty mentor or continued in NEUROSCI 494. Instructor: Staff. One course.
494. Research Independent Study 2. R Second term of Research Independent Study in a subfield of neuroscience
of special interest to student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Concludes with submission of a substantive
written report containing background, methods, and significant analysis and interpretation of data. Meets general
requirement of a curriculum Research (R) course. Open to students continuing same project as for NEUROSCI 493;
pre-approval of project by supervising faculty and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience required. May
be repeated with new faculty mentor or continued in NEUROSCI 495. Instructor: Staff. One course.
495. Research Independent Study 3. R Third term of Research Independent Study in a subfield of neuroscience of
special interest to student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Concludes with submission of a substantive
written report containing background, methods, and significant analysis and interpretation of data. Meets general
requirement of a curriculum Research (R) course. Open to students continuing same project as for Neuroscience
493-494; pre-approval of project by supervising faculty and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience
required. May be repeated with new faculty mentor or continued in Neuroscience 496. Instructor: Staff. One course.
496. Research Independent Study 4. R Fourth term of Research Independent Study in a subfield of neuroscience
of special interest to student, under the supervision of a faculty member. Concludes with submission of a substantive
written report containing background, methods, and significant analysis and interpretation of data. Meets general
requirement of a curriculum Research (R) course. Open to students continuing same project as for Neuroscience
493-495; pre-approval of project by supervising faculty and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience
required. Instructor: Staff. One course.
ELECTIVES—REGULAR
111FS. The Neuroscience of Reading & Language Comprehension. NS, R One course. C-L: see Linguistics
211FS
116FS. Neuroscience and Human Language. NS, SS One course. C-L: see Linguistics 216FS; also C-L: Russian
216FS
116S. Neuroscience and Human Language. NS, SS One course. C-L: see Linguistics 216S; also C-L: Russian
216S
241D. Flaubert's Brain: Neurohumanities. ALP, CCI One course. C-L: see French 481D; also C-L: Literature
246D
258. Decision Neuroscience. NS, SS, STS One course. C-L: see Psychology 258
267. Neuroethics. EI, NS, SS, STS Focus on emerging ethical controversies concurrent with advances in
neuroscience. Background material covered: concepts and methods in neuroscience; theories of ethics and morality
from philosophy, law, and other fields. Ethical topics covered: biological bases of morality; emotions and decision
making; neuroeconomics and neuromarketing; pathologies of mind and behavior; volition and legal culpability.
Course format: combined lectures, discussion, interactive activities, with case studies and real-world examples (e.g.,
neuroimaging as legal evidence). Prior coursework in neuroscience and/or ethical inquiry recommended. Instructor:
Huettel, Sinnott-Armstrong. One course. C-L: Psychology 278, Philosophy 353, Study of Ethics 269
277. Looking Inside the Disordered Brain (B, A). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 277
280. Social and Affective Neuroscience (B,C). CCI, NS, SS One course. C-L: see Psychology 280
281. Neuroscientific Approaches to Social Behavior (B,C,S,P). NS, R One course. C-L: see Psychology 281
290S. Special Topics in Neuroscience. Topics vary by semester. Instructor: Staff. One course.
301L. Electrophysiology (AC or GE). One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 301L
350. Pharmacology: Drug Actions and Reactions. One course. C-L: see Pharmacology and Cancer Biology 350
360. Drugs, Brain, and Behavior (B). NS One course. C-L: see Pharmacology and Cancer Biology 360; also C-L:
Psychology 274
363. Behavior and Neurochemistry (B, P). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 273
366S. Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. NS, W One course. C-L: see Psychology 376S
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373. Behavioral Neuroimmunology: Brain and Behavior in Health and Disease (B). NS One course. C-L: see
Psychology 279
376. Contemporary Neuroscience Methods. NS Examine the wide spectrum of methods commonly used in the
field. Techniques range from molecular/genetic to electrophysiology and whole brain imaging. Includes interaction
with scientist practicing the technique, virtual lab experiment and data analysis. Minimum prerequisites:
Neuroscience 193FS or Neuroscience 101 (Psychology 106) or Biology 201L or consent of the instructor. Instructor:
Roberts. One course. C-L: Psychology 313
378. Perception and the Brain. NS, R One course. C-L: see Psychology 308
380L. Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain. NS, STS Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain. Overview of
the structure of the human brain and spinal cord with team-based learning approaches and laboratory-based
discovery. Hands-on examination of human brain specimens with guided explorations of external and internal brain
structures. Dissections of human brains to facilitate discovery. Extensive use of interactive digital media to explore
the gross anatomy of the central nervous system and the organization of the major neural systems underlying
sensory, motor and cognitive function. Analysis of actual clinical cases representing a variety of neurological
disorders. Minimum prerequisites: Neuroscience 101 or 201 and instructor consent. Instructor: White. One course.
C-L: Psychology 375L
382. Functional Neuroimaging (B,C). NS, R One course. C-L: see Psychology 303
383. Brain Waves and Cognition (B, C). NS, R One course. C-L: see Psychology 302
385L. Integrative Neuroscience Laboratory. NS, R, W Discovery learning aimed at a single neuroscience
research question across multiple levels of analysis (molecular, cellular and behavioral). Experimentation will occur
in a model organism (Drosophila) and may include PCR, live cell imaging and behavioral conditioning experiments.
Research teams will generate novel scientific data and discuss findings with faculty, post-docs and graduate students
from across the neuroscience community. Minimum Prerequisites: Neuroscience 193 or 101, and Biology 201L or
202L, and Neuroscience 201. Instructor: Roberts. One course.
390S. Special Topics in Neuroscience. Topics vary by semester. Instructor consent required to assure sufficient
background knowledge. Instructor: Staff. One course.
421S. Biology of Nervous System Diseases. NS One course. C-L: see Biology 421S; also C-L: Psychology 477S
422. Neural Circuits and Behavior. NS Perception and behavior at the level of single neurons and neural circuits.
Operation of neural circuits, and experimental and theoretical approaches used to unravel them. Progress from
sensory systems (how sensory stimuli are represented) to motor systems (how behavioral output is controlled) to
"decision-making circuits" in the brain. A range of model systems including electric fish, songbirds, squids, fruitfly,
c. elegans, mice, primates etc. Design principles and constraints that have shaped the nervous system during
evolution will be discussed. Prereq: Bio 101L or Bio 102L and one course in Neurosciences. Instructor: Bhandawat.
One course. C-L: Biology 422
427S. Current Topics in Sensory Biology. NS One course. C-L: see Biology 427S
451S. Emotions and the Brain (B, C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 451S
461S. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (B, C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 461S
465S. The Neuroscience of Stress (B,C,A). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 475S
471S. Reward and Addiction (B). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 471S; also C-L: Pharmacology and Cancer
Biology 471S
472S. Neuroscience and Cognitive Aging (B, C). NS, R, W One course. C-L: see Psychology 372S
473S. The Neurobiology of the Pain System: Its Function and Dysfunctions. NS, R, W One course. C-L: see
Psychology 473S
499S. Current Research in Neuroscience. EI, NS, R, W A formal research and training component of the Trinity
College Forum in Neuroscience that includes review of directed reading and research in both theoretical and
experimental neuroscience. Emphasis on the development of the ability to critically evaluate empirical research and
to construct mathematical or deductive/inductive models. Final project includes preparation of a formal research
proposal and a review of the role of ethics in science. Enrollment in an independent study and consent of instructor
required. Instructor: Meck. One course. C-L: Psychology 499S
501S. Cognitive and Neurolinguistics. NS, R, SS One course. C-L: see Linguistics 501; also C-L: Russian 510
502. Neural Signal Acquisition (GE, IM, EL). One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 502
503. Computational Neuroengineering (GE, EL). One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 503
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510. Brain and Language (B, C). NS One course. C-L: see Linguistics 510; also C-L: Psychology 575
511. Theoretical Electrophysiology (GE, EL). One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 511L
515. Neural Prosthetic Systems. One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 515
517S. From Neurons to Development: The Role of Epigenetics in Plasticity. NS One course. C-L: see Biology
517S
521S. Visual Processing. NS One course. C-L: see Biology 521S
523. Development of Neural Circuits. NS One course. C-L: see Biology 523
533. Essentials of Pharmacology and Toxicology. One course. C-L: see Pharmacology and Cancer Biology 533
555S. Topics in Philosophy of Mind. CZ, R, STS, W One course. C-L: see Philosophy 555S
560. Molecular Basis of Membrane Transport (GE, MC, EL). One course. C-L: see Biomedical Engineering 560
584S. Hormones, Brain, and Cognition (B, C). NS, R One course. C-L: see Psychology 684S
590S. Special Topics in Neuroscience. Topics vary by semester. Undergraduate as well as Graduate/ Professional
students. Instructor: Staff. One course.
669S. Affective Neuroscience (B, C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 669S
672S. Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory (C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 672S
682S. Exploring the Prefrontal Cortex (B). NS, R, W One course. C-L: see Psychology 682S
685S. Biological Pathways to Psychopathology (A(P),B,C). NS One course. C-L: see Psychology 685S
THE MAJOR
For the B.S. Degree
Requirements: 7 co-requisites and 10 courses in major (8 of 10 courses must be 200-level or higher , 1 or more
courses must be from the 375-389 range - Laboratory and Methods courses, and 1 or more courses must be from
400-level or higher-Seminars).
Co-requisites (7 courses required). Foundational coursework is required in the disciplines of Biology,
Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics that may be completed concurrently with courses in the major. In Biology,
one of the two 'gateway' courses, Biology 201L-Gateway to Biology: Molecular Biology or Biology 202L-Gateway
to Biology: Evolution & Genetics, will satisfy the pre-/co-requisite for the Neuroscience major. Please note that AP
credit will not be granted for the Biology pre-/co-requisite. In Chemistry, students have two options that reflect the
diverse interests of neuroscience majors across levels of analysis. One option is completion of sufficient general
chemistry (Chemistry 101DL- Core Concepts in Chemistry or Chemistry 110DL-Honors Chemistry: Core Concepts
in Context) to then complete one term of organic chemistry (Chemistry 201DL-Organic Chemistry). The second
option is completion of one term of general chemistry (Chemistry 101DL-Core Concepts in Chemistry or Chemistry
110DL-Honors Chemistry: Core Concepts in Context), without the added requirement of organic chemistry.
Students who elect this second Chemistry option must also complete one term of Computer Programming
(Engineering 110L-Computational Methods in Engineering or Computer Science 101-Program Design and Analysis
I). For students who are especially interested in molecular/cellular neuroscience, we encourage the first option. The
second option should appeal to students who are interested in computational, cognitive or theoretical neuroscience.
In Mathematics, two terms of calculus are required (Mathematics 111L-Laboratory Calculus I and Mathematics 122Introductory Calculus II or Mathematics 112L-Laboratory Calculus II or their equivalent). If a student has AP credit
for Mathematics 111, then Mathematics 122L-Introductory Calculus II with Application may be taken to satisfy the
Mathematics pre-/co-requisite. In Physics, two terms of calculus - based physics are required, which may be
satisfied by one of the following two sequences or their equivalent: Physics 141L-General Physics I followed by
Physics 142L-General Physics II, or Physics 151L General Physics: Mechanics followed by Physics 152L General
Physics: Electricity and Magnetism.
Gateway courses (1 course required). One of three "gateway" courses should be the first of the 10 courses that a
student would complete in fulfillment of the Major in Neuroscience. For students admitted into the "Exploring the
Mind" Focus Program, Neuroscience 193FS-Neurobiology of Mind or Neuroscience 195FS-Neuroeconomics: the
Neurobiology of Decision Making will satisfy this gateway requirement. For all other students, NEUROSCI 101Biological Basis of Behavior: Introduction and Survey is the gateway to the Major.
Core courses (3 courses required). There are three core courses in the major in Neuroscience that reflect the
three levels of inquiry described above: Neuroscience 223-Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology; Neuroscience 201Fundamentals of Neuroscience, which addresses neural circuits and systems, and either Neuroscience 212-
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Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience, which focuses on human cognition, or Neuroscience 211-Brain and
Behavior, which focuses on animal models that are used to study behavioral systems.
Statistics (1 course required). Neuroscience majors are required to master the elements of statistical design and
practice that support the analysis and interpretation of neuroscientific data. Any one of the following courses will
satisfy this curricular requirement: Statistics 101-Data Analysis and Statistical Inference, Statistics 102-Introductory
Biostatistics, Statistics 111-Probability and Statistical Inference, Statistics 130-Probability and Statistics in
Engineering, or Psychology 201-Applications of Statistical Methods in Psychology.
Electives (5 courses required). Neuroscience majors are required to explore the breadth and depth of the field by
fulfilling five course requirements in Neuroscience, with at least one elective being a seminar course or a term of
independent study. Seminar, small-lecture, and laboratory elective offerings are drawn from a dynamic list of
approximately 50 courses that are offered by five Departments in Trinity College, as well as Departments in the
School of Medicine and the Pratt School of Engineering. The Capstone requirement (see below) will be fulfilled
within the elective offerings.
Capstone (1 experience required). Neuroscience majors are required to complete a capstone experience that
facilitates integration of knowledge and understanding across levels of analysis. There are three means by which
this capstone requirement may be satisfied. A student may complete two terms of Independent Study working under
the mentorship of a faculty-investigator on a single project that would carry-over across these two terms. The
second means is completion of one of the laboratory (carrying the L designation) or methods courses in
Neuroscience. The third means for fulfilling the capstone requirement is completing Neuroscience 499S-Current
Research in Neuroscience. This seminar course is also a requirement for Graduation with Distinction in
Neuroscience (see below).
For the BS2 Degree for BME Majors in the Pratt School of Engineering
Requirements:7 pre-/co-requisites and 10 courses in major (8 of 10 courses must be 200-level or higher, 1 or
more courses must be from the 375-389 range - Laboratory and Methods courses, and 1 or more courses must be
from 400-level or higher-Seminars. All of the requirements for the BS degree listed above must be met with the
following changes; Biomedical Engineering 301L/Neuroscience 301L Electrophysiology is required, the
recommended course in statistical sciences is (Statistics 130 Probability and Statistics in Engineering). Of the 4
additional Neuroscience electives, no more than 2 electives may be cross-listed between Neuroscience and
Biomedical Engineering, and none of the 4 may count toward fulfillment of requirements for the BME major. Allied
courses do not count, except by permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience.
For the A.B. Degree
Requirements: 6 co-requisites and 10 courses in major (8 of 10 courses must be 200-level or higher, 1 or more
courses must be from the 375-389 range - Laboratory and Methods courses, and 1 or more courses must be from
400-level or higher-Seminars).
Co-requisites (6 courses required). Foundational coursework is required in the disciplines of Biology,
Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics that may be completed concurrently with courses in the major for completion
of the A.B. degree. In Biology, one of the two 'gateway' courses, Biology 201L-Gateway to Biology: Molecular
Biology or Biology 202L-Gateway to Biology: Evolution & Genetics, will satisfy the pre-/co-requisite for the
Neuroscience major. Please note that AP credit will not be granted for the Biology pre-/co-requisite. In Chemistry,
students are required to complete one term of general chemistry (Chemistry 101DL-Core Concepts in Chemistry or
Chemistry 110DL-Honors Chemistry: Core Concepts in Context), without the added requirement of organic
chemistry. Students must also complete one term of Computer Programming (Engineering 110L-Computational
Methods in Engineering or Computer Science 101-Program Design and Analysis I). In Mathematics, one term of
calculus is required (Mathematics 111L-Laboratory Calculus I). In Physics, two terms of calculus -based physics
are required, which may be satisfied by one of the following two sequences: Physics 141L-General Physics I
followed by Physics 142L-General Physics II, or Physics 151L General Physics: Mechanics followed by Physics
152L General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism.
Gateway courses (1 course required). One of three ‘gateway’ courses should be the first of the 10 courses that a
student would complete in fulfillment of the Major in Neuroscience. For students admitted into the “Exploring the
Mind” Focus Program, Neuroscience 193FS-Neurobiology of Mind or Neuroscience 195FS-Neuroeconomics: the
Neurobiology of Decision Making, will satisfy this gateway requirement. For all other students, Neuroscience101Biological Basis of Behavior: Introduction and Survey is the gateway to the Major.
Core courses (3 courses required). There are three core courses in the major in Neuroscience that reflect the
three levels of inquiry described above: Neuroscience 223-Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology; Neuroscience 201-
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Fundamentals of Neuroscience, which addresses neural circuits and systems, and either Neuroscience 212Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience, which focuses on human cognition, or Neuroscience 211-Brain and
Behavior, which focuses on animal models that are used to study behavioral systems.
Statistics (1 course required). Neuroscience majors are required to master the elements of statistical design and
practice that support the analysis and interpretation of neuroscientific data. Any one of the following courses will
satisfy this curricular requirement: Statistics101-Data Analysis and Statistical Inference, Statistics 102-Introductory
Biostatistics, Statistics 111-Probability and Statistical Inference, Statistics 130-Probability and Statistics in
Engineering, or Psychology 201-Applications of Statistical Methods in Psychology.
Electives (5 courses required). Neuroscience majors are required to explore the breadth and depth of the field by
fulfilling five course requirements in Neuroscience, with at least one elective being a seminar course or a term of
independent study. Furthermore, for the A.B. degree, students must explore the broader impact of Neuroscience on
society. To do so, candidates for the A.B. degree must complete a course on ethical applications in Neuroscience,
Neuroscience 267-Neuroethics, or one of the following two course in Philosophy: Philosophy 212-Philosophy of
Mind or Philosophy/Neuroscience 555S-Topics in Philosophy of Mind. To complete the elective requirements for
the A.B. degree, students may choose from a variety of seminar, small-lecture, and laboratory offerings that are
drawn from a dynamic list of more than 50 courses offered by five Departments in Trinity College, as well as
Departments in the School of Medicine and the Pratt School of Engineering.
Capstone (1 experience required). Neuroscience majors are required to complete a capstone experience that
facilitates integration of knowledge and understanding across level of analysis. There are three means by which this
capstone requirement may be satisfied. A student may complete two terms of Independent Study working under the
mentorship of a faculty-investigator on a single project that would carry-over across these two terms. The second
means is completion of one of the laboratory (carrying the L designation) or methods courses in Neuroscience. The
third means for fulfilling the capstone requirement is completing Neuroscience 499S-Current Research in
Neuroscience. This seminar course is also a requirement for Graduation with Distinction in Neuroscience (see
below).
Please note that no more than two of the ten courses required for the Major may be used to satisfy the
requirements of another Major, Minor or Certificate.
Graduation with Distinction in Neuroscience
Neuroscience majors with a GPA of 3.5 or above in Neuroscience courses (not including pre-/co-requisites),
may apply for Graduation with Distinction in Neuroscience. They must also maintain at least this level of
performance throughout the remainder of their studies at Duke. Candidates for Distinction will conduct and
complete an original research project carried out as a two-term Research Independent Study in Neuroscience. A
substantial paper (thesis), usually based on empirical research and written in publication style, and a scientific poster
are required. In addition, an oral defense of the thesis will be evaluated by a Graduation with Distinction in
Neuroscience committee comprising three members. One member of your committee (either your mentor or one of
your two additional committee members) must be a neuroscience faculty member from an Arts and Sciences
department, or be a faculty member who teaches regularly in Undergraduate Neuroscience. One member of your
committee can be a postdoctoral fellow or an advanced graduate student who has completed her/his preliminary
exam. Both the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Associate Director are available as committee members
and should be consulted if there is a question about committee membership.
Either following completion of the two-terms of independent study or, more commonly, concurrent with
completion of the second-term of independent study, students aspiring to Graduate with Distinction in Neuroscience
will take Neuroscience 499S-Current Research in Neuroscience. This spring-term seminar course includes review
of directed reading and research in both theoretical and experimental neuroscience, as well as discussion of the
students' independent study projects. Emphasis is placed on the development of the ability to critically evaluate
empirical research and to construct mathematical or deductive/inductive models. The final project in this course
includes preparation of a formal research proposal and a review of the role of ethics in science.
Evaluation of the student for Distinction is based on the written thesis, an oral poster presentation and the oral
examination before the Distinction committee. The Distinction committee will then decide whether the overall
performance of the candidate qualifies for Graduation with Distinction in Neuroscience (only one distinction level is
recognized). Finally, Graduation with Distinction in Neuroscience research projects will be presented as scientific
posters in April during an undergraduate research forum.
THE MINOR
Requirements for students in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences: 5 Neuroscience courses.
• The minor in Neuroscience for students in Trinity College requires a minimum of five Neuroscience
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courses from gateway, core and elective course offerings. Four of the courses must be 200-level or
higher and at least two courses must be from the core or gateway offerings (with no more than one
gateway course counting).
Please note that no more than two of the five courses required for the Minor may be used to satisfy the
requirements of another Major or Minor.
Requirements for Biomedical Engineering Majors in the Pratt School: 5 Neuroscience courses.
The minor in Neuroscience for Biomedical Engineering majors in the Pratt School requires a minimum of five
Neuroscience courses from gateway, core and elective course offerings. For Biomedical Engineering majors that
were admitted into the "Exploring the Mind" Focus Program, Neuroscience 193FS-Neurobiology of Mind or
Neuroscience 195FS-Neuroeconomics: the Neurobiology of Decision Making will satisfy this gateway requirement.
For all other Biomedical Engineering students, Neuroscience 101-Biological Basis of Behavior: Introduction and
Survey is the gateway to the Minor in Neuroscience. Next, the BME major will complete Neuroscience 201Fundamentals of Neuroscience (which also satisfies the life science elective requirement for the BME major) or one
of the other core courses in Neuroscience (Neuroscience 211, 212, 223). The Biomedical Engineering major is also
required to complete Biomedical Engineering 301/Neuroscience 301-Electrophysiology for the Minor in
Neuroscience. Finally, completion of the Minor requires two Neuroscience electives that are not cross-listed in
Biomedical Engineering and do not also satisfy a requirement for the Biomedical Engineering Major.