Table of Contents

3445 Neuroscience

Programs Offered:

  • Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
    • Pre-Medical Concentration
  • Minor in Neuroscience
  • Dual B.S./M.S. Program in Neuroscience

Neuroscience Institute
Georgia State University
880 Petit Science Center
neuroscience.gsu.edu

Nancy G. Forger, Interim Director
Joseph J. Normandin, Director of Undergraduate Studies

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/contact-us-2/ni-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 Undergraduate Coordinator who will help connect them with an appropriate faculty member.

Academic Advisement for Undergraduate Students

Academic advisement for undergraduate students is provided through the University Advisement Center (freshman through junior status/fewer than 90 hours) and the college’s Office of Academic Assistance (senior status/90 or more hours). See section 3040 for additional information.

B.S. in Neuroscience

Program Degree Requirements

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see section 3030) and the University Degree Requirements (see section 1400).

Area A:

  • Recommended course: MATH 1112 College Trigonometry (3) or MATH 1113 Precalculus (3) or higher level MATH course. MATH 1113 recommended.

Area B:

  • Recommended course: PHIL 1010 Critical Thinking (2)

Area D:

  • Recommended courses (select one of the sequences below):
  • PHYS 1111K Introductory Physics 1 (4) and PHYS 1112K Introductory Physics II (4)
  • PHYS 2211K Principles of Physics I (4) and PHYS 2212K Principles of Physics II (4)
  • Required course: Any mathematics course not taken in Area A from the following choices: MATH 2201, MATH 2202, or any comparable higher-level math.

Area F: Courses Appropriate for the Major (18)

  1. Required Courses (16):
  2. Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in Area F:
    • ANTH 2010 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3)
    • BIOL 2240 Human Physiology (3)
    • BIOL 2800 Introduction to Molecular Biology (2)
    • CHEM 2400 Organic Chemistry I (3)
    • NEUR 2000 Brain Basics: Introduction to Neuroscience (3)
    • PHIL 2010 Introduction to Philosophy (3)
    • PSYC 2050 Introduction to Drugs and Behavior (3)
  • Students who decide to major in neuroscience after completing BIOL 1103K may take it for credit toward Area F if they complete BIOL 2108K and BIOL 2800] before enrolling in major courses (Area G).
  • Students who decide to major in neuroscience after completing BIOL 1103K and BIOL 1104K may use these courses for credit toward Area F if they complete BIOL 2800 before enrolling in major courses (Area G).
  • All courses above ending in K are commonly offered as separate lecture and lab (L) courses by GSU’s Perimeter College. The combined (K) courses and separate lecture and lab (L) courses cover the same subject matter and are considered equivalent courses.
  • Any credit hours exceeding 18 earned to complete the Areas A-F requirements will count toward elective hours.

Area G: Major Courses (36)

(A grade of C or better is required in all area G courses)

  1. Neuroscience Core Requirements (16)
    • NEUR 3000 Principles of Neuroscience I (4)
    • NEUR 3001 Principles of Neuroscience II (4)
    • NEUR 3020 The Scientific Method in Neuroscience-CTW (4)
    • NEUR 4000 Neuroscience Laboratory (4)
  2. Neuroscience Electives (at least 10 hours from the following list of courses):
  3. Neuroscience-related Electives (at least 10 hours from courses on the list below, or from the list of Neuroscience Electives above, if the course is not being used to fulfill the Neuroscience Electives requirement). Other neuroscience-related electives not on this list may fulfill this elective requirement with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Pre-Medicine Concentration

A pre-medicine concentration is available for B.S. in Neuroscience majors. Please contact the Undergraduate Coordinator for further information.

Pre-med students are also required to take:

Minor in Neuroscience

Students who wish to minor in Neuroscience must take NEUR 3000 and at least 12 additional hours in Neuroscience courses (any courses with NEUR prefix).  A grade of C or higher is required in all courses counting toward the minor.

Area H: Minor and Additional Courses

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

Dual B.S./M.S. Program in Neuroscience

The Neuroscience Institute offers a dual Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Neuroscience. The dual degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs.

Students must be formally accepted into the dual degree program by the Neuroscience Institute and College of Arts and Sciences to be able to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. Additionally, acceptance into the dual program does not constitute admission to the master’s program. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.

Information about the dual program, including application instructions and program requirements, can be found at cas.gsu.edu/dual-degrees/.

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).