Overview of the Undergraduate Program
Neural science is a collection of disciplines unified by a concern for
the function of the brain. Experimental approaches in neural science vary
from analyses of molecular and cellular mechanisms in nerve cells and groups
of nerve cells to behavioral and psychological studies of whole organisms.
Theoretical tools include mathematical and computational modeling approaches
that have proved useful in other areas of science. Experimental questions
include issues related to biophysical and neurochemical mechanisms within
single nerve cells, functional neural circuits consisting of small numbers
of neurons, the behavior of large systems of neurons, and the relationship
between the activity of elements of the nervous system and the behavior of
organisms.
The undergraduate Neural Science curriculum blends courses from many of
the basic sciences as a foundation for higher level work in Neural Science.
Minimum requirements for graduation include:
- 7 courses in Neural Science (29 pts) or 6 courses and
Physics II
- 3 courses in Biology (12 pts)
- 2 courses in Chemistry (12 pts)
- 1 course in Psychology (4 pts)
- 1 course at the Calculus level in mathematics (4 pts)
- 1 elective course in either Biology or Experimental Psychology. (4 or more pts)
Additional requirements for Honors Track
- Tutorial Research/Honors Seminar (4)
- 2 laboratory courses (4)
- Thesis
Additional recommended courses include:
- Introduction to Computer Science (4 pts)
Pre-health students must satisfy additional requirements:
- Physics I (5 pts)
- Organic Chemistry I & II with Labs (12 pts)
Who To Contact:
For further information and advising interested students should either
contact the Administrative Director of Students or should make an advising
appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies by contacting the
Administrative Director.
Administrative Director of Students
Center for Neural Science
4 Washington Place, Rm 809
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: 212-998-7779
Email: dugs@cns.nyu.edu
Requirements for Declaring a Neural Science Major
Only the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Neural Science (or a faculty
member in the department designated by the director) may declare a student a
Neural Science Major. Advisors at the College Advising office, and DUGSs in
other departments, cannot declare a student a Neural Science major. In order
to be eligible to declare a Neural Science major, a student must have grades
of C or better in all courses required for the major that have been completed
at the time of declaration.
Specific Course Requirements for the Major
Neural Science Courses:
The first course students take in Neural Science is Introduction to Neural
Science, taught annually in the Fall; this course should be taken in the
sophomore year after a student has completed the first 2 courses of the
Biology Core sequence (Bio I, Bio II). Following Introduction to Neural
Science, students take each of two higher level Neural Science courses:
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, taught annually in the Fall, and Behavioral
and Integrative Neuroscience, taught annually in the Spring; these courses
should be taken in the Junior year.
Physics for Neuroscience (or Physics II)
is offered annually in the Spring and is recommended prior to
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience.
Please note that Physics for Neuroscience may not be
taught in spring 2009 so students completing the physics requirement
after the 2007-2008 may be required to take both Physics I and II.
Students then take three of the Neural Science elective courses:
e.g., Developmental Neurobiology, Computational Neuroscience, or Special
Topics in Neural Science. Students with an interest in computational neuroscience
should take at least one course in computer science, normally Introduction to
Computer Science.
Biology Courses:
Neural Science majors are required to take the first 3 courses of the
Biology core curriculum: Principles of Biology I, II, and Molecular and Cell
Biology I. The first two of these courses are preparation for Introduction to
Neural Science. In addition, they can then choose to take one or more courses
from a selection of upper level (and G.1000 level) offerings in the Biology
curriculum (see attached list).
Psychology Courses:
Neural science majors are required to take a statistics course. For the year
2007-08, the required course is V89.0010 or G89.2228.
Majors can then choose to take one or more courses from a selection
of advanced Experimental Psychology offerings (see attached list).
Chemistry Courses:
Neural Science majors are required to take 2 chemistry courses with the associated labs: College Chemistry I & II. Pre-Health note: Pre-health students
must also take Organic Chemistry I & II.
Physics Courses:
Pre-health students must also take General Physics I in addition to
Physics for Neuroscience (if offered) or General Physics II.
Mathematics Courses:
All Neural Science majors must take Calculus I. There is room in the
curriculum in the event that students require precalculus-level mathematics.
Computer Science Courses:
Introduction to Computer Science is recommended for all students,
but not required.
Grading and Academic Performance Requirements
The minimum acceptable grade in courses required for the major is C. These
academic standards must be maintained in order for major standing to continue.
Honors
Students must apply to the DUGs for admission to the Honors Track. Students
requesting Honors status must receive a B or better in Introduction to
Neural Science, achieve a grade point average of 3.65 or better in all
courses required for the major and 3.65 over all courses taken for credit.
Students should also demonstrate a genuine interest in research. Students
must conduct at least one semester of research with a faculty member affiliated
with the Center for Neural Science (or an otherwise approved faculty member).
The student must submit an honors thesis that must be accepted for Honors
standing by the faculty sponsor and the DUGS. Presentation of the thesis
work at NYU's annual Undergraduate Research Conference is required.
Minors
There is no Minor concentration in Neural Science. Neural Science courses
can be taken as electives through the Biology or Psychology Departments for
interested students. Students wishing to major in Neural Science and declare
a Minor in another science department must take 1-2 additional courses in
that department, beyond those required for the major (one for Chemistry,
two for Biology and Psychology).
Morse Academic Plan
All students must meet the additional requirements of the College, as laid
out in the Morse Academic Plan (MAP), in order to have a broad well-rounded
liberal arts education. Neural Science students need to satisfy the Expository
Writing, Foreign Language, and Foundations of Contemporary Culture components
of the MAP. In addition, students must pass the English Writing Proficiency
exam administered by the Expository Writing program.
Psychology Double-Major
For students wishing to double major in Psychology and Neural Science:
G89.2228001 (Psych Stats) and V80.0202 (Behav & Integ Neurosci) can be used
toward the degree in both majors. If the student chooses to fulfill the
'Biology/Psychology' elective requirement with a Psychology course, this
course can not be one used toward the Psychology degree.
Point distributions for the Neural Science Major
The courses comprising the major tally to 65 points (73 for Honors track).
For pre-health students, the additional required courses (Physics I and Org.
I & II with lab) bring the major point total to 82 (90). Points associated
with each required course are listed below.
V80.0100 Introduction to Neural Science (4); Fall only
V80.0202001 Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience (4); Spring only
V80.0202002 Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience labs for Honors track (2); Spring only
V80.0210001 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (4); Fall only
V80.0211002 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience labs for Honors track (2); Fall only
V80.0301 Tutorial Research (4) [Not required for non-Honors track Students]
V80.0205 Physics for Neuroscience (5) [if offered] or V85.0012
General Physics II (5)
V23.0011 Principles of Biology I (4)
V23.0012 Principles of Biology II (4)
V23.0021 Molecular and Cell Biology I (4)
V25.0101/0103 College Chemistry I plus lab (6)
V25.0102/0104 College Chemistry II plus lab (6)
G89.0010001 Intermediate Statistical Methods (3)
V63.0121 Calculus I (4)
Electives:
3 in Neural Science (12)
1 in either Biology or Psychology (4).
Acceptable Electives in Biology and Psychology
Psychology:
V89.0020 Learning
V89.0021 Lab in Animal Learning
V89.0022 Perception
V89.0044 Lab in Perception
V89.0029 Cognitive Psychology
V89.0028 Lab in Human Cognition
V89.0055 Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Medicine
V89.0056 Psycholinguistics
Biology
V23.0025 Animal Physiology
V23.0026 Developmental Biology
V23.0030 Genetics
V23.0050 Immunology
G23.1046 Biochemistry I
G23.1055 Biophysics I
G23.1501 Mathematics in Medicine and Biology
G23.1502 Computers in Medicine and Biology
Neural Science Course Checklist
Note that unless otherwise indicated, no grade of less than C is
allowed as fulfillment of any requirement. A grade of less than C
in any requirement makes a student ineligible to continue as a
Neural Science major.
| Student name: | |
Student ID: | |
| Number |
Name |
Points |
Grade |
| V80.0100 |
Introduction to Neural Science (Fall) |
(4pts) |
_________
|
| V80.0202 |
Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience (Spring) |
(4pts) |
_________ |
| V80.0202 |
Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience Lab (Spring)
Note: only for Honors track students |
(2pts) |
_________ |
| V80.0210 |
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (Fall) |
(4pts) |
_________ |
| V80.0211 |
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Lab (Fall)
Note: only for Honors track students |
(2pts) |
_________ |
| V80.0301 |
Tutorial Research (Fall and Spring)
Note: not required for non-Honors track students |
(4pts) |
_________ |
 |
| V23.0011 |
Principles of Biology I |
(4pts) |
_________ |
| V23.0012 |
Principles of Biology II |
(4pts) |
_________ |
| V23.0021 |
Molecular and Cell Biology I |
(4pts) |
_________ |
|
| G89.0010001 |
Intermediate Statistical Methods |
(3pts) |
_________ |
|
| V25.0101/0103 |
College Chemistry I + lab |
(6pts) |
_________ |
| V25.0102/0104 |
College Chemistry II + lab |
(6pts) |
_________ |
|
| V80.0205 |
Physics for Neural Science or General Physics II (V85.0012) |
(5pts) |
_________ |
|
| V63.0121 |
Calculus I |
(4pts) |
_________ |
|
| Electives: |
| _________ |
_______________________________
(Neural Science) |
(12pts) |
_________ |
| _________ |
_______________________________
(Biology or Psychology) |
(4pts) |
_________ |
|
| Additional Pre-health requirements: |
| V25.0243/0245 |
Organic Chemistry I + lab |
(6pts) |
_________ |
| V25.0244/0246 |
Organic Chemistry II + lab |
(6pts) |
_________ |
| V85.0011 |
General Physics I |
(5pts) |
_________ |
|
|
Planned graduation date: ______________________________ |
|
|
Other majors/minors: ______________________________ |
|
Comments:
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For an Excel version of the checklist, click here
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