Neuroscience Major

Location(s): On-Campus

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Director: Professor Fox
Associate Professor: Johnson

Neuroscience represents a relatively new but rapidly expanding area of study that brings together a variety of disciplines to explore the development, structure, functional activities and behavioral consequences of the nervous system. The neuroscience major at Moravian University emphasizes a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to understanding the intricate neural mechanisms underlying human and animal behavior. Students will experience a diverse yet integrated education focused on the relationship between biology and behavior from the introductory to advanced courses of study. Three areas of neuroscience emphasis have been developed (cellular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience) but all majors have a common core of courses.

As an interdisciplinary program, the neuroscience major draws upon the expertise of faculty in biology, psychology, philosophy, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. Completion of this program will culminate in a Bachelor of Science degree. Students considering postgraduate careers in neuroscience, experimental psychology, neuropsychology, pharmaceutical research, education, law and medicine are encouraged to pursue this major field of study.

Neuroscience Core Courses

Seven (7) courses serve as the core of this major.

Neuroscience CoRequisite Courses

Seven (7) co-requisites are required for this major.

CHEM 211 and CHEM 212 are required for those students pursuing an emphasis in cellular neurobiology or behavioral neuroscience. CSCI 120 and CSCI 121 are required in lieu of CHEM 211 and CHEM 212 for those students pursuing an emphasis in cognitive neuroscience.

Ethics course recommendations: due to the increased awareness of ethical implications associated with scientific research (for example, stem-cell research), it is important to educate neuroscience students in the field of ethics. Therefore, PHIL 222 - Ethics (M3), PHIL 224 - Applied Ethics , PHIL 259 - Medical Ethics (U1), PHIL 281 - Topics in Ethics or a similar course is strongly recommended.

Neuroscience Elective Courses

The neuroscience major is designed to provide students with an opportunity to focus on one of three areas of emphasis: cellular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, or cognitive neuroscience. Students should select three of the following electives from one area of emphasis and one from a different area of neuroscience interest.

a) Cellular Neurobiology

b) Behavioral Neuroscience

c) Cognitive Neuroscience

CSCI 260 - Artificial Intelligence
PHIL 251 - Philosophy of Psychology
or
PSYC 251 - Philosophy of Psychology
PSYC 315 - Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 320 - Mind and Brain
PSYC 376 - Seminar: Experimental/Cognitive Psy
NEUR 381 - Independent Study - NEUR 384
NEUR 386 - Internship - NEUR 389
NEUR 400 - Honors Project - NEUR 401 - Honors Project

Note:

Appropriate advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted for the above-mentioned electives with the prior approval of the neuroscience program director.