May 26, 2024

Undergraduate Bulletin 2021-2022

Undergraduate Bulletin 2021-2022 Archived Bulletin

Neuroscience, B.S.

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Julia S. Omarzu, Ph.D., Chair

General Education
Major
Electives

The neuroscience major as an inherently interdisciplinary program has a built-in flexibility which allows students to double major and connect neuroscience with their interests in other areas. Popular choices for double major include psychology, biology and biochemistry. Career plans for neuroscience majors may include graduate school, business and industry, allied health fields (including medical school, nursing school, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology and physician’s assistant) or professional settings in the medical, research or academic fields.

The minor in neuroscience serves students in various majors who may have an interest in head injury, brain trauma, mental health counseling, and/or the brain basis of learning and/or development.

Student Learning Outcomes - Neuroscience

Students will be able to identify core concepts of neuroscience.
Students will interpret, evaluate, and contextualize peer-reviewed literature to enhance understanding of core neuroscience concepts and to independently learn new methodologies and technologies in the field of neuroscience.
Students will be able to apply and synthesize principles from neuroscience and other relevant disciplines to formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and collect and analyze data to state a conclusion.
Students will be able to communicate neuroscientific information in a clear, reasoned manner, both verbally and in writing, to different audiences.
Effectively use knowledge (skills and conceptual understanding) from neuroscience and other relevant disciplines.

General Education

Foundations Courses

Explorations Courses

Creativity, Aesthetics, & Design (EC)

L.COM 121 - Acting I-EC Credits: 3
L.COM 158 - Introduction to Television Production-EC Credits: 3
L.COM 221 - Directing for Stage & Screen-EC Credits: 3
L.COM 250 - Classical Theatre-EC Credits: 3
L.COM 251 - Modern Theatre-EC Credits: 3
L.COM 285 - World Cinema-AA, EC Credits: 3
L.EGR 105 - Introduction to Engineering Design-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 221 - World Literature: Beginnings to Middle Ages-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 234 - The Fractured Fairy Tale-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 236 - Writing the Midwest Landscape-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 239 - Creative Nonfiction Writing-AA, EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 240 - The Nature of Nature in Ireland-AI, EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 241 - Mississippi River: Lore & Legacy-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 251 - Literature of the Frontier & American West-AA, EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 253
L.ENG 290 - Canadian Imagination-AC, EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 291 - Ancient Greek Literature-EC Credits: 3
L.ENG 292 - Ancient Latin Literature-EC Credits: 3
L.HIS 148 - Russian History through Novels-EC Credits: 3
L.HIS 178 - East Asian History in Hollywood Films-EC Credits: 3
L.MAT 107 - Patterns and Perspective: Math in Art and Music - EC Credits: 3
L.MUS 101 - Music Theory I-EC Credits: 3
L.PHI 111 - Introduction to Philosophy: J-Term-EC Credits: 3
L.RST 160 - Worship: Foretaste of Heaven-EC Credits: 3
L.SPA 280 - Critical Analysis-EC Credits: 3

Identity, Culture, & Society (EI)

L.BUS 251 - From Mortgages to Madoff: Financial Fun in the 2000s-EI Credits: 3
L.COM 131 - Media and Society-EI Credits: 3
L.COM 141
L.COM 150 - Meditation: Less Technology-More Sense of Self-EI Credits: 3
L.COM 286 - Identity & Community in Rock & Roll-AI, EI Credits: 3
L.CRJ 278 - Crime, Justice, and Pop Culture Diplomacy: Field Work in South Korea-EI Credits: 3
L.EDU 265 - Multicultural Education-AC, EI Credits: 3
L.ENG 252 - The Law in American Film & Fiction-AA, EI Credits: 3
L.ENG 267 - Gender, Disability, and War-AI, EI Credits: 3
L.ENG 277 - Rhetoric and Political Engagement-EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 175 - Themes in World History-EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 182 - Islamic Civilizations-EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 230 - Community & Identity in the American West-AI, EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 235 - Race & Gender Reform in the United States-AC, EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 239 - United States Women’s History-AC, EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 243 - The Crusades-EI Credits: 3
L.HIS 285 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict-EI Credits: 3
L.LIB 150
L.MUS 214 - World Music and Cultures-EI Credits: 3
L.PHI 110 - Introduction to Philosophy-EI Credits: 3
L.PHI 250
L.POL 101 - Issues in American Politics-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 121 - Issues in Global Politics-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 131 - Foundations of Western Political Thought-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 202 - Congress & the Presidency-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 215 - Nationalism-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 232 - American Political Thought-EI Credits: 3
L.POL 251 - The Politics of Global Sustainability-AC, EI Credits: 3
L.PSY 215 - Human Sexuality-EI Credits: 3
L.PSY 233 - Human Motivation-EI Credits: 3
L.RST 110 - Jesus & the Gospels-EI Credits: 3
L.RST 150 - Community of Hope: Christianity, Culture, and Salvation-EI Credits: 3
L.RST 205 - Islam in America-EI Credits: 3
L.SCW 130 - Introduction to Social Welfare-EI Credits: 3
L.SCW 270 - Self-Care and the Helping Professions-EI Credits: 3
L.SMG 280 - Women in Sport-AI, EI Credits: 3
L.SOC 101 - Sociology in Action-EI Credits: 3
L.SOC 115 - Introduction to Sociology-EI Credits: 3
L.SOC 250 - Aryan Societies-AC, EI Credits: 3

Scientific Inquiry & Innovation (EC)

L.BIO 115 - Principles of Biology I-ES Credits: 4
L.BIO 235 - Plants & Human Health-ES Credits: 3
L.BIO 259 - Issues in Environmental Biology-AH, ES Credits: 4
L.BIO 260 - The Human Body in Health and Disease-ES Credits: 4
L.CHE 103
L.CHE 263 - Chemistry of Sustainability- AH, ES Credits: 3
L.EGR 116 - Intro to Programming with Robotics-ES Credits: 4
L.KIN 121 - Personal & Community Health Credits: 3
L.PSY 285 - Drugs & Human Behavior-ES Credits: 4

Additional Course

Vocations Courses

Catholic Traditions (CT)

L.CTL 230 - The Displaced Person-CT Credits: 3
L.HON 230 - Catholic Traditions-CT Credits: 3
L.HON 235 - Catholic Traditions-CT Credits: 3
L.LIB 230
L.LIB 235

Values in Action (VX)

L.BUS 265 - Financial Ethics-VX Credits: 3
L.CRJ 377 - Black and Blue: U.S. Law Enforcement-VX Credits: 3
L.ENG 293
L.EXP 240 - Global Service Learning-AC, VX Credits: 3
L.HIS 279 - Gandhi the Interfaith Peace-Builder-AV, VX Credits: 3
L.PHI 311 - Business Ethics-AV, VX Credits: 3
L.POL 321 - War and Pacifism-AV, VX Credits: 3
L.RST 320 - Belief, Unbelief & the Good Life Credits: 3
L.RST 371 - Catholic Social Teachings Credits: 3
L.SCW 370 - Social Policy: Formulation & Analysis-VX Credits: 3
L.SMG 270 - Ethics in Sports-VX Credits: 3

Call to Participation (CP)

L.LIB 320 - Call to Participation-CP Credits: 3
L.LIB 325 - Call to Participation-CP Credits: 3

Integrative Capstone

Integrative Capstone (IN)

L.BIO 487 - Senior Seminar Research Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 2
L.BIO 488 - Senior Seminar Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 2
L.BUS 490 - Business Seminar-IN Credits: 3
L.CHE 489 - Senior Seminar I: Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 1
L.COM 490 - Public Relations Senior Seminar & Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 3
L.COM 491 - Media Studies Capstone-IN Credits: 3
L.CRJ 480 - Senior Seminar-PJ, IN Credits: 3
L.EDU 490 - Capstone Seminar & Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 2
L.EGR 490 - Engineering Capstone Design I-PJ, IN Credits: 3
L.ENG 490 - Senior Literature Capstone-PJ, IN Credits: 3
L.ENG 491 - Senior Thesis Seminar-PJ, IN Credits: 3
L.HIS 490 - The Professional Historian-IN Credits: 3
L.KIN 492 - Internship in Kinesiology I-IN Credits: 2-4
L.MUS 450 - Senior Capstone-IN Credits: 1
L.PSY 490 - Senior Seminar-IN Credits: 3
L.SCW 446 - Field Instruction & Portfolio-PJ Credits: 4.5
L.SCW 447 - Field Instruction & Portfolio-PJ Credits: 4.5
L.SCW 448 - Field Instruction & Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 9-12
L.SPA 490 - Senior Seminar & Portfolio-PJ, IN Credits: 3

Requirements for the major in Neuroscience (B.S.):

The required and supporting courses for the neuroscience major must be completed with a cumulative 2.000 GPA. Summer research experience is highly recommended for neuroscience majors. See the Center for Experiential Learning for more information on internship possibilities. Students interested in graduate school should seek at least one year of experience in research before applying to graduate school. Beyond the minimum requirements listed below and in addition to further study in possible neuroscience electives, some additional recommended electives are as follows

¹ The courses selected cannot count toward another major.

L.MAT 150 - Calculus of One Variable I-FM Credits: 4
L.CIT 110 - Principles of Computing and IT Credits: 3
OR
L.CSC 115 - Introduction to Programming Credits: 4
L.PSY 231 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
L.PHY 210 - Elements of Physics I-QR Credits: 4
L.PHY 211 - Elements of Physics II Credits: 4
L.BIO 115 - Principles of Biology I-ES Credits: 4
L.BIO 115L - Principles of Biology I Lab Credits: 1
L.CHE 111 - General Chemistry I Credits: 3
L.CHE 111L - General Chemistry I Lab Credits: 1
L.PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
L.PSY 201 - Brain and Behavior Credits: 3
L.NEU 201 - Behavioral Neuroscience Credits: 3
L.NEU 202 - Research Experience Credits: 1
L.NEU 490 - Junior Seminar I Credits: 1 (Spring)
L.NEU 491 - Senior Seminar II-IN Credits: 1 (Spring)
Content Basics within Disciplinary Focus (200-300 level course) ¹Credits: 3-4
Content Basics within Disciplinary Focus (200-300 level course) ¹Credits: 3-4

Select one course(s) from:

L.BIO 277 - Biostatistics-QR Credits: 3 AND
L.BIO 278 - Experimental Design Credits: 1
L.PSY 211 - Research Methods & Statistics I Credits: 3 AND
L.PSY 212 - Research Methods & Statistics II Credits: 3

Select two courses from:

L.BIO 345 - Neurobiology Credits: 3
L.NEU 211 - Techniques in Neuroscience Credits: 3 (J Term, odd years)
L.NEU 281 - Exploring the Brain through TBI Credits: 3
L.NEU 301 - Neuropsychiatric Diseases Credits: 3
L.NEU 311 - Hormones and Behavior Credits: 3
L.NEU 391 - Functional Neuroanatomy Credits: 4

Minor

Neuroscience, Minor