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. Research experience in neuroscience is required, and students must apply to be accepted to 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 101 | Biological Principles I | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Required for the Minor (3 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NSCI 300 | Introduction to Neuroscience 1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
- 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 302 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 302L | Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 303 | Fundamental Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 405 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 460 | Advanced Human Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 461 | Advanced Human Anatomy | 3 |
| BIOL 505 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 530 | Histology | 4 |
| BIOL 534 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 541 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 541L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 543 | Comparative Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 553 | Genomics | 3 |
| BIOL 612 | Virology - Classical and Emerging Concepts | 3 |
| BIOL 614 | Stem Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 620 | Immunobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 634 | Biology of Neurological Diseases | 3 |
| BIOL 635 | Neurophysiology | 4 |
| BIOL 665 | Human Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 667 | Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms of Disease Pathogenesis | 3 |
| BMEN 321 | Biomonitoring and Electrophysiology | 3 |
| CSCE 555 | Algorithms in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| ELCT 220 | Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors | 3 |
| EXSC 351 | Acquisition of Motor Skills | 3 |
| EXSC 303 | Perceptual-Motor Development | 3 |
| NSCI 498 | Individual Research in Neuroscience | 1-6 |
| NSCI 560 | Advanced Topics in Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSCI 570 | Neuroscience Laboratory | 3 |
| PHIL 351 | Mind and Nature | 3 |
| PSYC 370 | Psychology of Consciousness | 3 |
| PSYC 400 | Survey of Learning and Memory | 3 |
| PSYC 405 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 450 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PSYC 503 | Psychology of Drug Use and Effects | 3 |
| PSYC 507 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYC 550 | Advanced Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PSYC 560 | Advanced Topics in Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYC 570 | Neuroscience Laboratory | 3 |
| PSYC 571 | Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory | 3 |
| PSYC 572 | Cognitive Psychology Laboratory | 3 |