2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Combined Physiology and Neuroscience, BS & Physiology and Neuroscience, MS


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Program Description

The Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology offers a combined 4+1 program leading to Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees over a five year plan of study. The program allows 9 credit hours of overlapping courses, where credit is given at both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level facilitating both BS and MS completion in five years.

The Program’s coursework focuses on foundational topics related to cellular and systems level physiology and neuroscience. Two different tracks will be available to complete the master’s degree requirements, a course option or a thesis option.  The thesis option is supplemented with training in fundamental research techniques, as well as opportunities to work with faculty members on cutting-edge research.

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, and scientific writing.

Admission Requirements

Only exceptionally well-prepared students are admitted to the program.  Qualified applicants must have the following:

  • At least 90 credit hours by the end of the semester in which they are applying;
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on all undergraduate coursework, including undergraduate credits earned at other institutions and transferred to Wright State;
  • Completion of NEU 3100, NEU 3200, as well as BMB 4210 and BMB 4230 or BMB 4001 with grades of “B” or better;
  • Approval of the undergraduate program director;
  • Approval of the graduate program director.

Program Learning Outcomes

The main goal of our program is to prepare students for careers in fields related to physiology and neuroscience and/or admission into graduate and further professional degree programs. The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience portion of the program is focused on in-depth neuroscience content knowledge centered around four main learning goals: organization of the nervous system, cellular neurophysiology, information processing, and neural networks and behavior. In addition to the content knowledge, neuroscience majors will develop an array of broadly applicable skills, including: independent learning, ability to critically evaluate evidence, proficiency in a variety of laboratory research techniques, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, effective communication, quantitative literacy, ability to implement the scientific process, ability to problem solve, and research design competency.  Additionally, within the Physiology and Neuroscience Master of Science program students will undertake course work and/or research to provide expert level knowledge, critical reasoning, scientific analysis, and experimental design skills in order to prepare students for a career in the sciences or for further professional study.

For More Information

Program Requirements:


Note:  At the undergraduate level students must complete all CoSM courses required for the Program with a grade of “C” or better.  However, NEU 3100, NEU 3200, as well as BMB 4210 and BMB 4230 or BMB 4001 must be completed with grades of “B” or better for admission into the program.

I. Wright State Core: 44 Hours


Element 1 - Communication: 6 Hours


Element 2 - Mathematics: 4 Hours


Required:

Element 3 - Global Traditions: 6 Hours


Element 4 - Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours


Element 5 - Social Sciences: 7 Hours


Required Course:

Element 6 - Natural Sciences: 8 Hours


Required courses:

Additional Core Courses: 10 Hours


Required courses:

II. Neuroscience Core Requirements: 25 Hours


III. Neuroscience Electives and Requirements: 12 Hours


V. General Electives: 8 Hours


Total: 120 Hours


Master of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience - Thesis Option


Note that 9 hours of graduate courses will have already been completed during the undergraduate degree.  These courses are the following three, PN 6200, PN 6400 and PN 6550.

Core Courses (Required): 13 Hours


PN 7900 is taken twice.

Experiential Component (Required): 6 Hours


Electives: 2 Hours


Any of the listed courses can be used to complete the necessary 30 hours for the Master of Science degree in Physiology and Neuroscience.

Total: 141 Hours


Master of Science in Physiology and Neuroscience - Course Option


Note that 9 hours of graduate courses will have already been completed during the undergraduate degree.  These courses are PN 6200, PN 6400 and PN 6550.

Core Courses (Required): 15 Hours


PN 7900 is taken twice.

Experiential Component (Required): 4 Hours


Electives: 2 Hours


Any of the listed courses can be used to complete the necessary 30 hours for the Master of Science degree in Physiology and Neuroscience.

Total: 141 Hours


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