Neuroscience, BS

Program Description:

The Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Neuroscience. The curriculum offers students an in-depth foundation in 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 neuroscience. This is achieved via pedagogical best practices focused on engaging students in their learning such that they are actively involved in understanding neuroscience 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. It is supplemented with training in fundamental neuroscience research techniques, as well as opportunities to work with neuroscience 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, public policy, scientific writing, and law.

Admission Requirements

Students are eligible to be directly admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience program from high school by meeting the following criteria:

Have a high school grade point average > 3.00
ACT Math score > 22 or SAT Math score > 520

Students interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience that were not directly admitted from high school, including students wishing to change major and transfer students, must meet the following criteria:

Earned a grade of “C” or higher in the following courses:, BIO 1120, BIO 1120L, CHM 1210, and CHM 1210L or their equivalents
Completion of at least 15 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8.

Learning Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience 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.

Additional Information:

Program Requirements:

Note: Students must complete all CoSM courses, including courses required for the Program, with a grade of “C” or better. Students must also maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in their CoSM courses in order to remain in the program. Should a student’s GPA fall below 2.5, they will be given a one-semester probation to raise their GPA above the 2.5 minimum.

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 Literacy for the 21st Century 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. Neuroscience Core Requirements: 22 Hours

Second Year Introduction to Neuroscience:
PSY 3910 - Behavioral Neuroscience I Credit Hour(s): 3
and
PSY 3920 - Behavioral Neuroscience II Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
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
Neuroscience Core Courses:
NEU 1000 - Introduction to Neuroscience Research Credit Hour(s): 2
NEU 2000 - Introduction to the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program for Majors Credit Hour(s): 1
NEU 3100 - How the Nervous System Works I Credit Hour(s): 4
NEU 3200 - How the Nervous System Works II Credit Hour(s): 4
Laboratory Research Experience:
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
Senior Capstone:
NEU 4020 - Senior Capstone: Neuroscience Laboratory Research Credit Hour(s): 2
and
NEU 4990 - Independent Research in Neuroscience Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3 (1 hour)
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. Neuroscience Electives and Requirements: 12 Hours

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

ANT 3100 - Human Structure and Function I Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3100L - Human Structure Funct I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
ANT 3120 - Human Structure and Function II Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3120L - Human Structure and Function II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
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
NEU 3400 - Advanced Neuroscience Lab Techniques: Microscopy Credit Hour(s): 4
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: 34 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
BMB 4230 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

V. General Electives: 8 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 encourage 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.

Neuroscience, BS (GPS)