Academic Programs Catalog

The Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience is for students who wish to pursue a career in which a broad-based knowledge of the structure and function of the nervous system is necessary, including careers in research, education, healthcare or business. It is also intended for those students who seek admission to graduate study in neuroscience or health-related professional schools.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience
 

1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience.
   
   The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Neuroscience major is met by completing Neuroscience 311L.  That course is referenced in item 3. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement. Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The  requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	One of the following groups of courses (8 or 9 credits):
   	(1)	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   		BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology					3
   		BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   	(2)	BS	181H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology					3
   		BS	182H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology					3
   		BS	191H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory					2
   	(3)	LB	144	Biology I: Organismal Biology					4
   		LB	145	Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology					5
   b.	One of the following groups of courses (7 or 8 credits):
   	(1)	CEM	141	General Chemistry					4
   		CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry					3
   	(2)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry					4
   		CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry					3
   	(3)	CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I					4
   		CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II					4
   	(4)	LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I					4
   		LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II					3
   c.	One of the following courses (1 or 2 credits):
   	CEM	161L	Chemistry Laboratory I						1
   	LB	171L	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory						1
   	CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I						2
   d.	Both of the following courses (6 credits):
   	CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I						3
   	CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II						3
   e.	One of the following groups of courses (6 or 8 credits):
   	(1)	PHY	221	Studio Physics for Life Scientists I					4
   		PHY	222	Studio Physics for Life Scientists II					4
   	(2)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I					3
   		PHY	232	Introductory Physics II					3
   	(3)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I					4
   		PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II					4
   	(4)	PHY	193H	Honors Physics I-Mechanics					4
   		PHY	294H	Honors Physics II-Electromagnetism					4
   	(5)	LB	273	Physics I					4
   		LB	274	Physics II					4
   f.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I						3
   	MTH	132	Calculus I						3
   	MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I						3
   	LB	118	Calculus I						4
   g.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods						4
   	STT	231	Statistics for Scientists						3
   	STT	421	Statistics I						3
   	STT	464	Statistics for Biologists						3
   h.	Both of the following courses (8 credits):
   	BMB	401	Comprehensive Biochemistry						4
   	PSY	101	Introductory Psychology						4
   i.	One of the following groups of courses (4 or 8 credits):
   	(1)	PSL	310	Physiology for Pre-Health Professionals					4
   	(2)	PSL	431	Human Physiology I					4
   		PSL	432	Human Physiology II					4
   k.	All of the following courses (15 credits):
   	NEU	101	Frontiers in Neuroscience						1
   	NEU	301	Introduction to Neuroscience I						3
   	NEU	302	Introduction to Neuroscience II						3
   	NEU	311L	Neuroscience Laboratory (W)						2
   	NEU	401	Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience						3
   	NEU	402	Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience						3
   l.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	NEU	403	Communication in Neuroscience (W)						3
   	LB	492	Senior Seminar (W)						4
   m.	Complete a minimum of 3 credits from the following:
   	NEU	310	Psychology and Biology of Human Sexuality						3
   	NEU	416	Development of the Nervous System Through the Lifespan						3
   	NEU	417	Instrumental Methods of Analysis in Neuroscience						3
   	NEU	420	Neurobiology of Disease						3
   	NEU	440	Synaptic Transmission						3
   	NEU	450	The Autonomic Nervous System						3
   	NEU	460	Current Approaches in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience						3
   	NEU	492	Special Topics in Neuroscience						1 to 3
   	PHM	422	Fundamentals of Neuropharmacology						2
   	PHM	431	Pharmacology of Drug Addiction						3
   n.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	IBIO	341	Fundamental Genetics						4
   	MGI	409	Eukaryotic Cell Biology						3

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Physiology is intended primarily for students who wish to pursue careers in medicine or other health-related fields, research, and industry, for which a thorough knowledge of physiology is necessary. The physiology major is particularly suitable for students in the life sciences who plan advanced study at the graduate or professional level. It combines comprehensive study of physiology, including molecular, cellular, and organ systems physiology with courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Students may complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology either within the College of Natural Science or as a Lyman Briggs College coordinate major. Students are encouraged to complete their preparatory biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses early during their collegiate study in order to meet prerequisites for the required upper division courses in the major.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiology

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Physiology major is met by completing Physiology 460.  That course is referenced in item 3. b. below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The completion of the Biological Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics courses referenced in requirement 3. below satisfies the requirements referenced under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  The credits earned in other courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward other College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses outside the Department of Physiology (62 to 69 credits):
   	(1)	One course from each of the following groups of courses (6 to 8 credits):
   		(a)	MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I				3
   			MTH	132	Calculus I				3
   			MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I				3
   			LB	118	Calculus I				4
   		(b)	MTH	126	Survey of Calculus II				3
   			MTH	133	Calculus II				4
   			MTH	153H	Honors Calculus II				4
   			LB	119	Calculus II				4
   			STT	200	Statistical Methods				3
   			STT	201	Statistical Methods				4
   			STT	231	Statistics for Scientists				3
   			STT	421	Statistics I				3
   			STT	464	Statistics for Biologists				3
   	(2)	One of the following groups of courses (7 or 8 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	141	General Chemistry				4
   			CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry				3
   		(b)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry				4
   			CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry				3
   		(c)	CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I				4
   			CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II				4
   		(d)	LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I				4
   			LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II				3
   	(3)	One of the following groups of courses (2 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I				1
   			CEM	162	Chemistry Laboratory II				1
   		(b)	LB	171L	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I				1
   			LB	172L	Principles of Chemistry II – Reactivity Laboratory				1
   		(c)	CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I				2
   	(4)	One of the following groups of courses (9 to 10 credits):
   		(a)	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology				3
   			BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology				3
   			BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory				2
   			BS	172	Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory				2
   		(b)	LB	144	Biology I: Organismal Biology				4
   			LB	145	Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology				5
   		(c)	BS	181H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology				3
   			BS	182H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology				3
   			BS	191H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory				2
   			BS	192H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory				2
   	(5)	All of the following courses (8 credits):
   		CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I					3
   		CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II					3
   		CEM	255	Organic Chemistry Laboratory					2
   	(6)	One of the following groups of courses (8 or 10 credits):
   		(a)	PHY	221	Studio Physics for Life Scientists I				4
   			PHY	222	Studio Physics for Life Scientists II				4
   		(b)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I				4
   			PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II				4
   			PHY	191	Physics Laboratory for Scientists I				1
   			PHY	192	Physics Laboratory for Scientists II				1
   		(c)	LB	273	Physics I				4
   			LB	274	Physics II				4
   	(7)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		ANTR	350	Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals					3
   		IBIO	320	Developmental Biology					4
   		IBIO	328	Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates					4
   	(8)	One of the following courses or groups of courses (4 to 6 credits):
   		(a)	BMB	401	Comprehensive Biochemistry				4
   		(b)	BMB	461	Advanced Biochemistry I				3
   			BMB	462	Advanced Biochemistry II				3
   	(9)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		CEM	383	Introductory Physical Chemistry I					3
   		PSL	425	Physiological Biophysics					3
   	(10)	Twelve credits in nonscience courses beyond the credits that are counted toward University requirements.
   b.	All of the following courses in the Department of Physiology (16 credits):
   	PSL	101	Frontiers in Physiology						1
   	PSL	431	Human Physiology I						4
   	PSL	432	Human Physiology II						4
   	PSL	450	Physiology in Health and Disease						3
   	PSL	460	Topics in Physiology (W)						2
   	PSL	475L	Capstone Laboratory in Physiology						2
   	The completion of Physiology 450 and 475L satisfies the department's capstone course requirement.

The department offers work leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree and in some cases to the Master of Science degree. The principal objectives of graduate education in physiology are to obtain broad, basic knowledge in the subject matter of this and related fields, and to obtain training in physiological research methods. Major emphasis is placed upon the completion by the student of original research which should provide a significant contribution to knowledge. The facilities and staff are particularly suited to offer training in the following areas of physiology:  cellular and molecular physiology, endocrinology, the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal physiology and metabolism, neurophysiology, respiration, radiobiology, lactation, renal function, reproduction, comparative physiology, and biophysics.

A manual available at the department graduate office contains information on admission policies, financial support, and requirements for the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in physiology. Departmental graduate stipends are awarded on the basis of merit, subject to the availability of funds.

Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An undergraduate major in physiology is not a prerequisite to graduate study. However, a broad background in the basic sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics (through calculus), is essential. The minimum requirements include one year of physiology, biology, or zoology; one year each of mathematics and physics; and chemistry through organic and quantitative analysis. A deficiency in these requirements may be removed by successfully completing appropriate courses as collateral work early in the graduate program. Admission is based upon evaluation of the student's past record, results of the Graduate Record Examination, and recommendations.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

The student must complete 30 credits under Plan A (with thesis). The program of study is planned by the student in consultation with a major advisor and an advisory committee that includes no fewer than two additional faculty members. Usually work in one or more supporting areas is required in addition to that taken in the major field. Completion of an original research problem and the writing of an acceptable thesis based upon at least 8 credits of research are required.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Entry into the Doctor of Philosophy degree program requires that the student has a major advisor and has earned 30 graduate credits, or holds a Master of Science or professional degree, or has passed the departmental Comprehensive Examination.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

Students entering a doctoral program with advanced standing must meet with the guidance committee within the first two semesters of doctoral study. The committee is composed of at least four faculty members, in addition to the major advisor, and must include one representative from another department. The course work, research program, and overall requirements needed to qualify for candidacy for the degree are planned in consultation with the guidance committee. However, the student's Guidance Committee Report is approved by the committee only after the student has demonstrated the potential to do research. Such potential may be demonstrated by any of the following:

a.    previous attainment of a master's degree with a thesis
b.    previous publication of research results
c.    other documented evidence of research capability.

The student must pass the Comprehensive Examination within the first two years of graduate study. The Comprehensive Examination which tests the student's breadth of knowledge in physiology, is administered by the Graduate and Professional Course and Curriculum Committee. The student prepares a thesis research proposal and presents the proposal to the faculty at a seminar. The proposal must be acceptable to the guidance committee. While the program is in progress, the student meets periodically with the guidance committee for evaluation.

A dissertation based on original research outlined in the proposal must be submitted to, approved by, and defended in an oral examination before the guidance committee. The dissertation is expected to show evidence of originality in its conception and execution and must be written in a clear and logical manner. Typically, three or more years of study beyond the bachelor's degree are needed to meet these requirements.

Students seeking a doctoral degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics and genome sciences, microbiology, genetics and immunology, pharmacology and toxicology, or molecular, cellular, and integrative physiology should apply through the BioMolecular Science Gateway—First Year for admission to any of these Ph.D. programs. Students should select the Ph.D. program in which they have the greatest interest. During the first two semesters of enrollment, students will have the opportunity to choose and complete at least four courses in appropriate disciplinary subjects. In the spring semester of the first year, they will have the opportunity to continue with the Ph.D. program initially selected or change to one of the other five programs that aligns most closely with their educational goals. For additional information about the individual Ph.D. programs, refer to the statements in the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, and Physiology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog, statements on the programs in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics and Genome Sciences in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog, and statement on the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the College of Osteopathic Medicine section of this catalog.