Physiology and Neuroscience, BS

Program Description:

The Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Physiology and Neuroscience. The curriculum offers students an in-depth foundation in physiology and neuroscience developed from the ground up by an interdisciplinary team of Wright State University faculty. This program uniquely emphasizes how prerequisite coursework from multiple fields of science relates to and can be applied to physiological and neuroscientific concepts. This is achieved via pedagogical best practices focused on engaging students in their learning such that they are actively involved in understanding these concepts and ideas and fostering scientific creativity and critical thinking.

The Program's coursework focuses on foundational neuroscience topics related to cellular neuroscience, physiological neuroscience, and behavioral neuroscience. Additionally, coursework will be complemented with foundational physiology and anatomy topics related to homeostasis, metabolism, and the function and structure of various organ systems of the body. These will be supplemented with training in fundamental research techniques, as well as opportunities to work with faculty members on cutting-edge research in these fields.

This Program will aid in students being competitively prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including, but not limited to: scientific research, medicine, education, biotechnology, public policy, scientific writing, and law.

Admission Requirements

All students are eligible to be directly admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience program.

Program Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience program is focused on in-depth physiology and neuroscience content knowledge centered around four main learning goals: organization of the various systems of the body, cellular and organ system physiology, peripheral and central information processing, and how various systems of the body work together to elicit behavioral and physiological responses to conditional needs. As such, graduates will be able to:

Map out the various systems of the body.
Predict direct changes to the physiology of cells and organ systems, as various perturbations occur.
Describe how the body senses, processes, and perceives stimuli to elicit a response.
Model how various organ systems work together to meet the biological needs of an organism due to intrinsic or extrinsic demands.

In addition to the content knowledge, physiology and neuroscience majors will develop an array of broadly applicable skills, including being able to:

Independently search for existing scientific data and techniques.
Critically evaluate results; identifying the methods used to obtain them, and how to interpret them.
Proficiently use a variety of laboratory research techniques to address scientific questions.
Collaborate with colleagues, including peers, faculty, and staff.
Effectively communicate scientific information in both oral and written formats.
Implement the scientific process to address both hypothetical and actual scientific questions.
Problem-solve by identifying the variables and resources available.
Design effective and logical research experiments to address scientific questions.

Additional Information:

Program Requirements:

Note: Students must complete all CoSM courses, including courses required for the Program, with a grade of “C” or better.

I. Wright State Core: 44 Hours

Element 1 - Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2 - Mathematics: 4 Hours

Required:

MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4
or
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3 - Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4 - Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5 - Social Sciences: 7 Hours

Required Course:

PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 1010L - Introduction to Psychology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

Element 6 - Natural Sciences: 8 Hours

Required courses:

SM 1010 - Scientific Thought and Reasoning Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 10 Hours

Required courses:

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2

II. Physiology and Neuroscience Core Requirements: 28 Hours

Physiology and Neuroscience Core Courses:
NEU 1010 - Introduction to the Neuroscience Program Credit Hour(s): 1
NEU 1020 - The Neuroscience of Learning Credit Hour(s): 1
NEU 2010 - Introduction of Neuroscience Research Credit Hour(s): 2
NEU 3100 - How the Nervous System Works I Credit Hour(s): 4
NEU 3200 - How the Nervous System Works II Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3100 - Human Structure and Function I Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3100L - Human Structure Funct I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
and
ANT 3120 - Human Structure and Function II Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3120L - Human Structure and Function II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
Laboratory Research Experience:
A 4000-level NEU elective course may count if 2 semesters of research have been completed.
NEU 3400 - Advanced Neuroscience Lab Techniques: Microscopy Credit Hour(s): 4
or
PSY 3930 - Behavioral Neuroscience Methods Credit Hour(s): 4
or
BIO 3050 - Animal Physiology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 3050L - Animal Physiology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
or
BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
BIO 3140R - Molecular Biology Laboratory Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
or
BMB 3850 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
or
PSY 3830 - Cognitive Neuroscience Methods Credit Hour(s): 4
Senior Capstone:
5 credits of NEU 4990 must be completed for the NEU 4990 Capstone requirement.
NEU 4020 - Senior Capstone: Neuroscience Laboratory Research Credit Hour(s): 2
and
NEU 4990 - Independent Research in Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
OR
NEU 4030 - Senior Capstone: Neuroscience Review Article Credit Hour(s): 2
and
NEU 4040 - Senior Capstone: Neuroscience Experimental Design Credit Hour(s): 2

III. Physiology and Neuroscience Electives and Requirements: 12 Hours

Select four courses from the list below. One must be an NEU course. Up to 1 non-listed 3000- or 4000-level PSY course may count towards the four courses.

BIO 3050 - Animal Physiology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 3050L - Animal Physiology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 4020 - Current Literature in Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4420 - Advanced Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4460 - Advanced Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4400 - Human Microbiome Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4444 - Cell Signaling Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4450 - Medical Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4700 - Molecular Biology of RNA Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4750 - Molecular Biology of Cancer Credit Hour(s): 3
NEU 3400 - Advanced Neuroscience Lab Techniques: Microscopy Credit Hour(s): 4
NEU 4200 - Neuronal-Immune System Cross-Talk in Homeostasis Credit Hour(s): 3
NEU 4400 - Developmental Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 3
NEU 4500 - Neuron-Glia Biology and Disease Credit Hour(s): 3
NEU 4600 - Computational Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 3
NEU 4990 - Independent Research in Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
PSY 3000 - Psychology Core Special Topics Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
PSY 3010 - Research Methods in Psychology I Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 3010L - Research Methods in Psychology I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PSY 3020 - Research Methods in Psychology II Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 3020L - Research Methods in Psychology II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PSY 3210 - Cognition and Learning Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3710 - Perception Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3820 - Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3910 - Behavioral Neuroscience I Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3920 - Behavioral Neuroscience II Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 3930 - Behavioral Neuroscience Methods Credit Hour(s): 4
PSY 4910 - Psychobiology of Stress Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 4920 - Clinical Neuroscience Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 4930 - Behavioral Neuroscience Education Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 4940 - Animal Behavior Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 4950 - Sexuality and Endocrinology Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 4960 - Fetal Behavior Capstone Credit Hour(s): 3
SM 2100 - Interdisciplinary Scientific Inquiry - ASK Credit Hour(s): 3

IV. Related Course Requirements: 31 Hours

BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
and
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
and
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
and
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
OR
PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
and
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
and
PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
and
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
BMB 4210 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I Credit Hour(s): 3
and
BMB 4230 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
BMB 4001 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3 (if premed)
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

V. General Electives: 5 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The graduation planning strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a four-year time period. However, each student’s strategy to completion may be unique. Therefore, students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs, or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

Physiology and Neuroscience, BS (GPS)