Neuroscience Minor

The Neuroscience minor is designed for students going into graduate studies in neuroscience, animal behavior, psychology or medicine. Students develop a strong background of how the nervous system works, from the social and behavioral to the cellular and molecular levels. Beyond core requirements, students may focus on topics of specific interest in the very broad field of neuroscience.

There is no application for the Neuroscience minor.

Degree Requirements (18 Hours)

Eighteen credit hours are required to satisfy the minor. Students must complete the required three credit Introduction to Neuroscience course and 15 credit hours of neuroscience electives. No more than 9 credit hours can be applied for each course designator (e.g., PSYC, BIOL, NSCI, etc.).

Additional honors courses or other specialized courses in the neurosciences may also satisfy the minor requirements provided the course substitutions are approved by the director of the neuroscience minor. No more than a total of six credits of independent study credits may count towards the minor.

Required Prerequisites

These courses may apply to a student's Carolina Core or College Requirements.

Course Title Credits
BIOL 101Biological Principles I3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
Total Credit Hours6

Required for the Minor (3 Hours)

Course Title Credits
NSCI 300Introduction to Neuroscience 13
Total Credit Hours3
1

This course is cross-listed with PSYC 455. Students who have previously taken PSYC 455 can have it count towards this requirement

Electives (15 hours)

Select courses from the following list.  Up to 6 credits of independent study in neuroscience may count in the Elective group.  Sometimes Honors courses and special topics courses in neuroscience are offered and these are approved on a semester by semester basis by the director of the neuroscience minor. 

Note that many of the courses below have prerequisites and/or co-requisites. Course instructors can always give permission to take the course without the listed prerequisites and/or co-requisites and you should consult with individual instructors if you think that you have an adequate background and would like to take the course. 

Course Title Credits
BIOL 302Cell and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 302LCell and Molecular Biology Laboratory1
BIOL 303Fundamental Genetics3
BIOL 405Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology3
BIOL 460Advanced Human Physiology3
BIOL 461Advanced Human Anatomy3
BIOL 505Developmental Biology3
BIOL 530Histology4
BIOL 534Animal Behavior3
BIOL 541Biochemistry3
BIOL 541LBiochemistry Laboratory1
BIOL 543Comparative Physiology3
BIOL 553Genomics3
BIOL 612Virology - Classical and Emerging Concepts3
BIOL 614Stem Cell Biology3
BIOL 620Immunobiology3
BIOL 634Biology of Neurological Diseases3
BIOL 635Neurophysiology4
BIOL 665Human Molecular Genetics3
BIOL 667Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Disease Pathogenesis3
BMEN 321Biomonitoring and Electrophysiology3
CSCE 555Algorithms in Bioinformatics3
ELCT 220Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors3
EXSC 351Acquisition of Motor Skills3
EXSC 303Perceptual-Motor Development3
NSCI 498Individual Research in Neuroscience1-6
NSCI 560Advanced Topics in Neuroscience3
NSCI 570Neuroscience Laboratory3
PHIL 351Mind and Nature3
PSYC 370Psychology of Consciousness3
PSYC 400Survey of Learning and Memory3
PSYC 405Cognitive Psychology3
PSYC 450Sensation and Perception3
PSYC 503Psychology of Drug Use and Effects3
PSYC 507Cognitive Neuroscience3
PSYC 550Advanced Sensation and Perception3
PSYC 560Advanced Topics in Neuroscience3
PSYC 570Neuroscience Laboratory3
PSYC 571Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory3
PSYC 572Cognitive Psychology Laboratory3