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Minor in Neuroscience

The Minor in Neuroscience is administered by the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences (PBS) and is overseen by the Neuroscience Steering Committee.

The minor in neuroscience is intended to provide formal recognition for students who have concentrated some of their academic work in the interdisciplinary area of neuroscience. The minor can accommodate majors from all other departments, including Biology. 

Curriculum

The Neuroscience Minor comprises

  • 1 Prerequisite course
  • 2 Core Courses
  • 3 Elective Courses

See Headings below for details

This checklist will guide you in preparing a succesful request for approval of your minor plan.

Prerequisite Course

  • PSYC 6 Introduction to Neuroscience

Notes:

  • The prerequisite course CANNOT be taken as an NRO.
  • For the class of 2022 and beyond, PSYC 1 is no longer accepted as a prerequsite for the Neuroscience minor.
Must complete two

Core Courses

  • PSYC 35 Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience (BIOL 12 Cell Structure & Function can replace PSYC 35)
  • PSYC 36 Systems Neuroscience with Laboratory
  • PSYC 37 Behavioral Neuroscience

Note:

  • Core courses CANNOT be taken as an NRO.
Must complete three

Elective Courses

You may choose from the list below as well as the Approved Neuroscience Elective Course list (see link below). Note: One course must be at the 50s level or higher.

  • PSYC 21 Perception
  • PSYC 22 Learning
  • PSYC 28 Cognitive Psychology*
  • PSYC 35 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (if not taken as a core course)
  • PSYC 37 Behavioral Neuroscience (if not taken as a core course)
  • PSYC 38 Cognitive Neuroscience*
  • PSYC 40 Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
  • PSYC 50s level, 80s level, and other approved electives:

At the beginning of each academic year, the Neuroscience Steering Committee will announce which other courses qualify for elective credit. Below is a link to the currently approved Electives that count towards the Neuroscience minor.  We recommend that you not save a copy of this pdf to your computer at the beginning of the year, but instead use this link each time you wish to access this list.  This is because we may add classes as the year progresses and those updates will appear here.

​​​​​​​​​​Approved Neuroscience Elective Courses for 2024-2025​​​​​​​​​ (Revised November 25, 2024)

Previously approved courses:

​​​​Approved Neuroscience Elective Courses for 2023-2024​​​

​​​​​​​​Approved Neuroscience Elective Courses for 2022-2023 ​​

Notes:

  • Elective courses CANNOT be taken as an NRO.
  • While it is highly likely that subsequent offerings of a course would also count as an elective, it is not guaranteed.  This is because the instructor may change and/or the amount of neuro-relevant content may change over time. Please consult each year's list of approved electives to be sure the course you plan to take counts as an elective!
  • Not all 50s, 51s, 52s, and 80s-level courses count for neuroscience credit. You MUST consult the list of Approved Neuroscience Elective Courses for each year (via the link above).
  • Courses that are taken as part of another major/minor cannot be used as elective courses for Neuroscience.
  • For permission courses at 60's and 80's level, students should fill out an online permission form.
  • *You cannot earn credit for both PSYC 28 and PSYC 38.