PROPOSED CHANGES TO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, NEUROSCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM IN
THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES CHAPTER IN THE UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG, 20122014
Type of Change
X Degree Program Change
1.
NAME OF DEGREE PROGRAM: B.S. NEUROSCIENCE
2.
IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IS YES, THE COLLEGE MUST
CONSULT NEAL ARMSTRONG WHO WILL DETERMINE WHETHER SACS-COC APPROVAL IS
NEEDED.
 Is this a new degree program? Yes or no?
Yes
 Does the program offer courses that will be taught off campus? Yes or no?
No
 Will courses in this program be delivered electronically? Yes or no?
No
3.
EXPLAIN CHANGE TO DEGREE PROGRAM:
3a. Indicate pages in the undergraduate catalog where changes will be made.
Begin the Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience page 557 (approximately), before the Bachelor of Science in
Nutrition and after the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science.
4.
GIVE A DETAILED RATIONALE FOR CHANGE. INDIVIDUAL CHANGES SHOULD BE LISTED
SEPARATELY.
Neuroscience, the study of the nervous system, advances the understanding of human thought, emotion, and
behavior. Neuroscientists use tools ranging from computers to special dyes to examine molecules, nerve cells,
networks, brain systems, and behavior. From these studies, they learn how the nervous system develops and
functions normally and what goes wrong in neurological disorders.
Only in recent decades has neuroscience become a recognized discipline. It is now a unified field that
integrates biology, chemistry, and physics with studies of structure, physiology, and behavior, including human
emotional and cognitive functions.
What is the mind? Why do people feel emotions? What are the underlying causes of neurological and
psychiatric disorders? These are among the many mysteries being unraveled by neuroscientists.
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system—including the brain, the spinal cord, and networks of
sensory nerve cells, or neurons, throughout the body. Humans contain roughly 100 billion neurons, the
functional units of the nervous system. Neurons communicate with each other by sending electrical signals long
distances and then releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters, which cross synapses—small gaps between
neurons.
Critical components of the nervous system are molecules, neurons, and the processes within and between
cells. These are organized into large neural networks and systems controlling functions such as vision, hearing,
learning, breathing, and, ultimately, all of human behavior. Much of what is known about the mechanisms
underlying these functions was first discovered through animal studies and then confirmed in humans.
Through their research, neuroscientists work to:
• describe the human brain and how it functions normally;
• determine how the nervous system develops, matures, and maintains itself through life; and
• find ways to prevent or cure many devastating neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Neuroscience research includes genes and other molecules that are the basis for the nervous system,
individual neurons, and ensembles of neurons that make up systems and behavior.
At the molecular level, neuroscientists use tools such as antibodies and gene probes to isolate and identify
proteins and other molecules responsible for brain function. Molecular biologists isolate and describe the genes
that produce the proteins important to neuron function.
Neuroanatomists study the structure and organization of the nervous system. With special dyes, they detect
specific neurotransmitters and mark neurons and synapses with specific characteristics and functions.
Developmental neuroscientists study how the brain grows and changes. They define chemicals and processes
neurons use to seek out and connect with other neurons and maintain connections.
Cognitive neuroscientists study functions such as perception and memory in animals by using behavioral
methods and other neuroscience techniques. In humans, they use non-invasive brain scans—such as positron
emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging—to uncover routes of neural processing that occur
during language, problem solving, and other tasks.
Behavioral neuroscientists study the processes underlying behavior in humans and in animals. Their tools
include microelectrodes, which measure electrical activity of neurons, and brain scans, which show parts of the
brain that are active during activities such as seeing, speaking, or remembering.
Advanced computer systems are enabling neuroscientists to devise models of neurons and their connections
in the brain—how humans perform complex tasks. This work may lead to computer programs that understand
speech and respond to spoken questions.
Clinical neuroscientists—psychiatrists, neurologists and other medical specialists—use basic research
findings to develop diagnostic methods and ways to prevent and treat neurological disorders that affect millions
of people.
Neuroscience research is pushing the envelope on one of science's last and most daunting frontiers—the
brain. This work holds great promise for understanding and treating stroke, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease,
and other illnesses (edited from the Society for Neuroscience website).
Currently at UT, in the College of Natural Sciences, neuroscience is represented by the Neurobiology
Option in the School of Biological Sciences.
Within the school, the Bachelor of Science degree is offered with over ten different tracks. Each of these
tracks is a specialization with a small selection of electives needed to complete the tract. The purpose of this
framework is to allow lateralization within the college and maintain retention as students’ interests change. It
effectively trains students as broadly trained biologists with a limited specialization in neurobiology within the
context of biological science. However, as discussed above, the relatively new and rapidly growing discipline of
neuroscience has an inherently interdisciplinary breath that reaches beyond biological scientists. Contemporary
neuroscience includes researchers with backgrounds and professional degrees in biological sciences, behavioral
sciences, physical sciences, clinical sciences, and engineering, as illustrated by the diverse backgrounds of the
faculty of the section of neurobiology.
Multidisciplinary training in neuroscience has come to be expected for faculties and for admission to firstrate graduate students. Undergraduate neuroscience degrees are becoming common among top universities. The
proposed Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience degree will meet the goal of a rigorous, interdisciplinary
program in neuroscience, which provides a foundation in the related scientific and mathematical disciplines and
a three-course specialization in one of these areas. Distinctive features of the program are an emphasis on solid
quantitative, statistical, mathematical, and computational approaches and on hands-on lab experience.
To remain competitive with peer institutions, this degree is offered such that students will leave the
University with a far greater repertoire of neuroscience courses than currently offered and with a much stronger
foundation in science and practical laboratory experiences. Students exiting from UT with the degree will be
better prepared for graduate and professional work in the neurosciences.
Students are expected to enter the gateway sequence as sophomores. This sequence will still allow for the
lateralization that is built into the current School of Biological Sciences, but will also promote recruitment from
other departments and colleges at the sophomore and junior level. Lastly, the degree will increase retention in
the college for those students who select the major due to the dedicated course load.
The degree has 107-111 structured hours, including University and college requirements. This will allow
migration into the College of Natural Sciences and within the college with no increase in residence time at the
University.
The separate degree is not intended to supplant the current Neurobiology (Option IV) degree, but rather to
augment the program that the college and school have in place. Students wishing to continue graduate work in
neuroscience will be better served, and the University will be better represented.
5.
SCOPE OF PROPOSED CHANGE
5a. Does this proposal impact other colleges/schools? If yes, then how?
Yes
Twelve hours of psychology coursework are one of six options for nine hours in supporting coursework in
the degree plan.
If yes, impacted schools must be contacted and their response(s) included:
Person communicated with: James Pennebaker, Chair of Psychology
Richard Flores, Senior Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts
Date of communication: August 15, 2011
Response:
Approved
5b. Does this proposal involve changes to the core curriculum or other basic education requirements (42hour core, signature courses, flags)? If yes, explain:
No
5c. Will this proposal change the number of hours required for degree completion?
No
6. COLLEGE/SCHOOL APPROVAL PROCESS
Department approval date:
August 30, 2011
College approval date:
September 8, 2011
Dean approval date:
September 26, 2011
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NEUROSCIENCE
The Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience provides a strong foundation in the core sciences and related
mathematical disciplines, along with a three-course specialization in one of six areas: biology, chemistry, computer
science, mathematics, physics, or psychology. Distinctive features of the program include an emphasis on
developing the quantitative, statistical, mathematical, and computational skills required in neuroscience, and
meaningful hands-on laboratory experience.
PRESCRIBED WORK
All students pursuing an undergraduate degree must complete the University’s core curriculum, described in chapter
2. The core includes courses in language, literature, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts.
In addition, students seeking the BS NEU must complete the following degree-level requirements. In some cases,
courses that fulfill degree-level requirements also meet the requirements of the core.
1. Two courses with a writing flag or a substantial writing component. One of these courses must be upperdivision. Courses with a writing flag or a substantial writing component are identified in the Course
Schedule. They may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified.
2. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or 408N, 408S, and 408M; Mathematics 362K or Statistics and Scientific
Computation 321.
3. An eight-semester-hour sequence of coursework in physics chosen from the following: Physics 301, 101L,
316, and 116L; 303K, 103M, 303L, and 103N; 317K, 117M, 317L, and 117N.
4. Chemistry 301 or 301H, 302 or 302H, and 204.
5. Biology 311C and 311D, or Biology 315H and 325H, and Biology 206L.
6. Three additional majors-level courses selected from one of the following supporting disciplines:
a) Biology: Biology 325 or 325H, 320, 344, and 349.
b) Chemistry: Chemistry 328M and 128K, 328N and 128L, 339K or 369, 353 or 353M
c) Computer Science: Computer Science 312, 314, Statistics and Scientific Computation 335, 374E.
d) Mathematics: Mathematics 427K, 340L or 341, 358K or 378K, Statistics and Scientific Computation
329C, Students who chose Statistics and Scientific Computation 321 for requirement 2, may not also count
Mathematics 358K.
e) Physics: Physics 335, 338K, 355.
f) Psychology: Psychology 301, 323, 353K, 355.
7. Neuroscience 330 or Biology 365R, and Neuroscience 335.
8. Neuroscience 366M and 366N.
9. Twelve-semester-hours of laboratory courses chosen from the following: Biology 365L, 366L, 366P, 366S,
and 377 (Undergraduate Research). The same section of Biology 377 (Undergraduate Research) may not
count toward requirement 11 if used to fulfill this requirement.
10. Six-semester-hours of upper-division neuroscience to be chosen from: Biology 337 (Topic: Evolutionary
Neuroscience), 337 (Topic: Sensory Neuroscience), 337 (Topic: Genetic Analysis of Behavior and
Disease), 337 (Topic: Computational Neuroscience), 337 (Topic: Foundations of Neuroimaging), 337
(Topic: Visual Neuroscience), 359K, 365N, 365T, 365W, 366C, 366D, 366F.
11. Three additional semester hours of either Biology 377 (Undergraduate Research) or 379H (Honors Tutorial
Course). The research topic in Biology 377 or 379H must relate to neuroscience and be approved in
advance by the faculty adviser.
12. At least eighteen semester hours of upper-division coursework in biology and neuroscience must be
completed in residence at the University. All students must complete at least thirty-six semester hours of
upper-division coursework.
13. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 120 semester hours.
SPECIAL REQUI REMENT S
Students must fulfill the University-wide graduation requirements given in chapter 1 and the college requirements
given earlier in this chapter. They must also earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course
required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades
and the grade point average is given in General Information.