Neuroscience

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Teaching Faculty

Professors Bonebright, Ferrer, Kopper, Peszka, and Schmidt (chair)
Associate Professors Goadrich, Murray, and Penner
Assistant Professors Dow, Houck, Muscedere, and Taylor

Description

Neuroscience is a unique, interdisciplinary study of the development, organization, and function of the nervous system and its relationship to behavior and cognition in human and nonhuman animals. Because this requires an integration of knowledge from multiple levels of analysis, the neuroscience major at Hendrix College offers an interdisciplinary approach calling on methodologies from biology, psychology, philosophy, chemistry, and computer science. Students are given the tools they need to pursue the study of neuroscience including foundational knowledge and the opportunity to pursue appropriate research experience in the field. The flexibility in electives allows students to focus on their own interests from biochemical, behavioral-psychological, cognitive-philosophical, artificial intelligence, or even a unique interdisciplinary specialization. Working closely with their advisors, the neuroscience major prepares students with a competent interdisciplinary undergraduate foundation for graduate studies in a variety of fields.

Major in Neuroscience

14 courses distributed as follows:

BIOL 150 Cell Biology
CHEM 110 General Chemistry I or CHEM 150 Accelerated General Chemistry
PSYC 220 Brain and Behavior
PSYC 290 Statistics
or
MATH 215 Statistical Analysis
or
BUSI 250 Principles of Statistics
PHIL 350 Philosophy of Science
PHIL 390 Philosophy of Mind
BIOL 325 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
BIOL 425 Systems Neuroscience
NEUR 497 Neuroscience Senior Capstone
Five electives chosen from either group:

               Group A (no more than 2 courses):
                       BIOL 250 Genetics
                       CSCI 135 Robotics Explorations Studio
                       CSCI 150 Foundations of Computer Science
                       MATH 130 Calculus I
                       PHIL 245 Introduction to Logic
                       PSYC 295 Research Methods

               Group B (up to 5 courses):
                       BIOL/PSYC 300 Comparative Animal Behavior
                       BIOL 310 Developmental Biology
                       BIOL 320 Animal Physiology
                       BIOL 355 Advanced Cell Biology
                       BIOL 430 Immunology
                       BIOL 470 Advanced Genetics
                       CHEM 330 Biological Chemistry
                       CSCI 151 Data Structures and Object-Oriented Development
                       CSCI 235 Intelligent Robotics
                       CSCI 335 Artificial Intelligence
                       CSCI 385 Scientific Computing
                       PHIL 235 Philosophy of Cognitive Science
                       PHIL 280 Free Will, Agents, and Intentions
                       PHIL 320 Human Nature
                       PHIL 420 Neurophilosophy
                       PSYC 280 Introduction to Psychopharmacology
                       PSYC 320 Cognitive Psychology
                       PSYC 335 Sensation and Perception
                       PSYC 355 Evolutionary Psychology
                       PSYC 360 Behavioral Neuroscience
                       PSYC 366 Behavioral Endocrinology
                       RELI 385 Cognitive Linguistics in Theology

Senior Capstone Experience

In the spring of their senior year, neuroscience majors will take NEUR 497: Neuroscience Senior Capstone.

Minor in Neuroscience

6 courses distributed as follows:

PSYC 220 Brain and Behavior
BIOL 325 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
PHIL 390 Philosophy of Mind
Three electives chosen from the following:
      BIOL/PSYC 300 Comparative Animal Behavior
      BIOL 425 Systems Neuroscience
      CSCI 235 Intelligent Robotics
      CSCI 335: Artificial Intelligence
      PHIL 235 Philosophy of Cognitive Science
      PHIL 280 Free Will, Agents, and Intentions
      PHIL 320 Human Nature
      PHIL 350 Philosophy of Science
      PHIL 420 Neurophilosophy
      PSYC 280 Introduction to Psychopharmacology
      PSYC 335 Sensation and Perception
      PSYC 355 Evolutionary Psychology
      PSYC 360 Behavioral Neuroscience
      PSYC 366 Behavioral Endocrinology

Program Course Listings

The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

Neuroscience Courses

Neuroscience Courses

NEUR 497

Neuroscience Senior Capstone

An advanced seminar in neuroscience for senior neuroscience majors only. Topics are chosen by the neuroscience faculty and students have the opportunity to integrate and sythesize what they have learned in their neuroscience major.

Prerequisites
Recommended

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