Top of page

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Neuroscience

Integrating brain science with the study of human experience

The Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the brain, behavior, and human experience. Designed for students who want a strong foundation in neuroscience alongside broad intellectual exploration, the B.A. integrates scientific study with perspectives from the humanities and social sciences.

Students in the B.A. pathway explore how neuroscience informs—and is informed by—fields such as philosophy, ethics, literature, history, art, music, economics, and education. This approach prepares students to think critically about the scientific, cultural, and ethical dimensions of brain science.

B.A. Degree Requirements (55-61 hours):

Required Courses:

Required Courses from BIO/PSY/NEU (27 Hours):

Biology:

  • BIO150 – Biology  I (3 hours)
  • BIO 150 L – Biology I Lab (1 hour)
  • BIO160-  Biology II (3 hours)
  • BIO 160 L – Biology II Lab (1 hour)

Psychology:

  • PSY151- Intro to Psychology (3 hours)

Neuroscience:

  • NEU 200 – Introduction to Neuroscience (3 hours), P – BIO 150, 150L, BIO 160, 160L, and PSY 151
  • NEU 354 – Neuroscience Research Methods (3 hours), P-STA111 and NEU 200, C-NEU 354L
  • NEU 354L – Neuroscience Research Methods Lab (1 hour), C-NEU 354
  • NEU 389 – Neuroscience Seminars (3 hours). P-NEU 200, NEU 354 and senior standing

Neuroscience and the Humanities Requirement (6 hours):

  • NEU 220 – Survey of Neuroscience and the Humanities (3 hours). P or C – NEU 200
  • And choose second course from the following:
    • NEU 221 – Neuroscience and Art (3 hours)
    • NEU 222 – Neuroscience and Movement (3 hours)
    • NEU 223 – Neuroscience and Music (3 hours)
    • NEU 224 – Neuroscience and History (3 hours)
    • NEU 225 – Neuroscience and Literature (3 hours)
    • NEU 226 – Neuroscience and Economics (3 hours)
    • NEU 227 – Neuroscience and Ethics (3 hours)
    • EDU 311 – Learning and Cognitive Science (3 hours)
    • HES 320 – Mindfulness Meditation in Behavioral Medicine. (2 h),
    • LIN 330 – Introduction to Psycholinguistics and Language Acquisition (3 hours)
    • PHI 374 – Philosophy of Mind (3 hours)
    • SOC 154 – Social Deviance. (3 hours)
    • SOC 327 – Sociology of Emotion. (3 hours), P-one SOC course
    • SOC 355 – Social Psychology of Inequality. (3 hours), P-one SOC course

Elective Courses:

Biology Electives (6-8 hours):

2 courses chosen from below: (Prerequisites include BIO 150 and 160 (and lab) in addition to courses listed below)

  • BIO 301-306 – Topics in Biology (3-4 hours), if the course is related to neuroscience
  • BIO 323 – Animal Behavior (3-4 hours) – may not also get credit for PSY 324
  • BIO 324 – Hormones and Behavior (3 hours),P-BIO 245 or NEU 200.
  • BIO 339 – Animal Cognition (3 Hours)
  • BIO 343 – Molecular Neuroscience (3 hours) (BIO235 or BIO245 or BIO265 or NEU200 or PSY220)
  • BIO 346 – Neurobiology (3-4 hours)
  • BIO352 – Developmental Neuroscience (4 hours),P-BIO 265 or BIO 343 or BIO 346/BIO 346L.
  • BIO 353 – Functional Neuroanatomy (3 hours), P-BIO 245 or NEU 200.
    BIO 361 – Principles of Biological Microscopy (4 hours)
  • BIO 364 – Sensory Biology (4 hours)
  • BIO 374 – Neuropharmacology (3 hours) – may not also get credit for PSY 222

Psychology Electives (6 hours):

2 courses from below: (Prerequisites include PSY 151 in addition to courses listed below)

  • Only 1 course may be taken from the following:
    • PSY 220 – Biopsychology (3 hours)
    • PSY 221 – Cognitive Psychology (3 hours)
    • PSY 222 – Psychopharmacology (3 hours) – may not also get credit for BIO 374
    • PSY 223 – Social Affective Neuroscience (3 hours)
    • PSY 237 – Topics in Brain and Cognitive Sciences (3 hours)
    • PSY 241 – Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
    • PSY 260 – Survey of Abnormal Behavior (3 hours)
    • PSY 263 – Stress and Coping (3 hours)
  • One course must be chosen from the following (pre-reqs will include NEU 200 and NEU 354 in addition to courses listed below):
    • PSY 321 – Seminar in Cognitive Psychology (3 hours),P- 221.
    • PSY 325 – Seminar in Perception (3 hours),P-either PSY 220 or PSY 221.
    • PSY 327 – Seminar in Physiological Psychology (3 hours), P-PSY 220.
    • PSY 324 – Animal Behavior (3 hours),P- PSY 220.- may not also get credit for BIO 323
    • PSY 352 – Research in Learning Theory (3 hours)

Co-requirements (16-20 hours):

  • STA 111 – Elementary Probability and Statistics (4 hours)
  • And choose four of the following courses
    • Any CHM course at the 100- level or above, except CHM 108, 301, 302, 381, 390, 391, 392, or CHM 395
    • ANT 361 – Evolution of Human Behavior. (3 hours)
    • ANT 363 – Primate Behavior and Biology. (3 hours)
    • ANT 366 – Human Evolution (3 hours)
    • COM 345 – Rhetoric of Science and Technology (3 hours)
    • CSC 111 – Introduction to Computer Science (4 hours)
    • CSC 112 – Fundamentals of Computer Science (4 hours), P-CSC 111
    • CSC 201 – Data Structures and Algorithms (3 hours), P-CSC 112 and MTH 117.  
    • CSC 231 – Programming Languages. (3 hours), P-CSC 112 and MTH 117
    • CNS 352 – Addiction. (3 hours)
    • ECN 319 – Behavioral Economics. (3 h), P- ECN 205 or 210
    • EDU 312 – Teaching Exceptional Children. (3 hours)
    • EDU 313 – Human Growth and Development. (3 hours)
    • ENG 361 – Literature and Science (3 hours)
    • HES 262 – Statistics in the Health Sciences (3 hours)
    • HES 350 – Human Physiology (3 hours)
    • HES 352 – Human Gross Anatomy (4 hours)
    • HES 360 – Epidemiology (3 hours), P – An applied statistical methods course, such as ANT 380, BIO 380, BEM 202, HES 262, PSY 311, SOC 271, or STA 111  
    • HST 113 – Health, Disease and Healing in World History (3 hours)
    • HST 339 – Sickness and Health in American History (3 hours)
    • MST 111 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4 hours), C-MTH 105L.
    • MST 112 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4 hours), P-MTH 111
    • MST 113  – Multivariable Calculus (4 hours), P-MTH 112
    • MST 117 – Discrete Mathematics (4 hours)
    • PHI 114 – Philosophy of Human Nature. (3 hours)
    • PHI 161 – Introduction to Bioethics. (3 hours)
    • PHY113 – General Physics I (4 hours), P or C-MTH 111 or 112 or equivalent. C-PHY 113L.   Credit allowed for either PHY 113 or 123 but not both
    • PHY 114 – General Physics II (4 hours), P-MTH 111 or 112 and PHY 111, 113, or 123. C-PHY 114L. Credit allowed for either PHY 114 or 124, but not both.
    • PHY 115 – The Physics of Music. (4 h)
    • PHY 123 – General Physics I – Studio Format (4 hours), P or C-MTH 111 or 112 C-PHY 113L or 123L. Credit allowed for either PHY 113 or 123 but not both.
    • PHY 124 – General Physics II – Studio Format (4 hours), P-MTH 111 or 112 and PHY 111 or 113 or 123. C-PHY 114L or 124L.  Credit allowed for either PHY 114 or 124, but not both.
    • REL 307 – Magic, Science and Religion (3 hours)
    • SOC 329 – Health Inequalities. (3 hours), P-one SOC course
    • SOC 337 – Opioids in American Society. (3 hours)
    • STA 212 – Statistical Models (3 hours), P-STA 111
    • WGS 358 – Mothers and Daughters. (3 hours)
    • WRI 320 – Writing in & about Science: Scientists as Writers & Writers as Scientists (3 hours), P – WRI 110 or WRI 111.