Neuroscience Undergraduate Major
Catalog pages 355-357
Subject abbreviation: CBNS College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Peter Hickmott, Ph.D., Chair College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences 2111H Psychology; (951) 827-7308
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences 1223 Pierce Hall; (951) 827-7294 neuromajor.ucr.edu
Committee in Charge Michael Adams (Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Entomology) Margarita Currás-Collazo (Cell Biology & Neuroscience) Scott Currie (Cell Biology & Neuroscience) Todd Fiacco (Cell Biology & Neuroscience) Peter Hickmott (Psychology) Kelly Huffman (Psychology) Edward Korzus (Psychology) Khaleel Razak (Psychology B. Glenn Stanley (Cell Biology & Neuroscience) Stephen E. Cullenberg, Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ex officio Thomas Baldwin, Ph.D. Dean, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, ex officio
Major
The Neuroscience major is an intercollege major offered by the colleges of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. It offers upper-division courses that contribute to an academic program emphasizing the functioning of nervous systems at the molecular, cellular, system, behavioral, and cognitive levels. Some of the topics covered include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry in humans and other animals; neural mechanisms underlying sensory system function and perception; neural organization of behavior; development of the nervous system; and neural mechanisms of learning and memory.
Both a B.A. and a B.S. degree are offered by each college. When students declare the major, they choose from which college they wish to have their degree awarded. Students whose degrees are awarded by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences are advised in and have their records maintained 356 / Programs and Courses
by the Department of Psychology; students whose degrees are awarded by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are advised in and have their records maintained by the CNAS Academic Advising Center. Breadth requirements vary by college; and students must fulfill the breadth requirements of the college they choose.
For information about student advising, contact the CNAS Academic Advising Center, (951) 827-7294, or the Department of Psychology,
- (951) 827-5386, University of California,
Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521.
University Requirements
See Undergraduate Studies section.
College Requirements
College breadth requirements vary depending on which college is chosen to award the degree. For details on breadth requirements, see the Colleges and Programs section of this catalog. Students are urged to consult their advisor regarding requirements.
The following restrictions and additions apply to college breadth requirements for the Neuroscience major.
For the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Humanities Foreign language at level 4 or above for the B.A. may be used to fulfill up to 8 units of the Humanities breadth requirement.
Social Sciences Psychology courses may not be used as part of the Social Sciences breadth requirement if a Biology course is used to meet any part of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.
Foreign Language In fulfilling the Foreign Language breadth requirement for both the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a modern language such as Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, or French must be used.
Natural Sciences and Mathematics The Neuroscience Core in the Neuroscience major satisfies the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.
For the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Humanities For the B.S. degree, 16 units instead of 12 units are required to fulfill the Humanities breadth requirement. PHIL 134 and PHIL 137 are recommended.
Social Sciences For the B.S. degree, 16 units instead of 12 units are required to fulfill the Social Sciences breadth requirement. Psychology courses not required or approved for the Neuroscience major may be used in meeting the Social Sciences breadth requirement.
Foreign Language In fulfilling the Foreign Language breadth requirement for the B.A. degree, a modern language such as Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, or French must be used. Further, fourth-quarter level proficiency in one foreign language (not level 2 in two languages) is required. Natural Sciences and Mathematics The Neuroscience Core in the Neuroscience major satisfies the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.
Major Requirements
- 1. Neuroscience Core (66-72 units; satisfies the
Life Sciences Core required for some majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences). Up to 12 units of upper-division life sciences courses (for this major, courses from the departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and Entomology) not being used to satisfy the core may be taken prior to completion of the core; permission from the program chair or the program chair’s designate is required to take upper-division units in excess of these 12 units.
substituted for BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, and BIOL 005B with advisor’s approval.)
CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC (or CHEM 01HA and CHEM 1HLA, CHEM 01HB and CHEM 1HLB, CHEM 01HC and CHEM 1HLC); CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B, CHEM 112C
PHYS 02LA, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 02LC; or PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C
- 2. Upper-division requirements
- a) First Tier (14 units)
- (1) CBNS 106 with a grade of C- or better
- b) Second Tier (at least 12 units for the B.A.
or at least 20 units for the B.S.)
BIOL 178; CBNS 101, CBNS 116, CBNS 121/PSYC 121, CBNS 125/PSYC 125, CBNS 126/PSYC 126, CBNS 127/PSYC 127; CBNS 129, PSYC 112, PSYC 117, PSYC 129
- c) Third Tier (additional units to reach a total
of 36 units for the B.A. or 52 units for the B.S.)
Select from upper-division courses listed under Neuroscience Core, Second Tier above not used to satisfy those requirements, and the additional courses listed below. The combined number of units taken under First Tier, Second Tier, and Third Tier must total either 36 if the B.A. is sought or 52 if the B.S. is sought.
BCH 102, BCH 110B, BCH 110C, BCH 120; BIOL 100/ENTM 100, BIOL 102, BIOL 105, BIOL 107A, BIOL 108, BIOL 109, BIOL 110, BIOL 151, BIOL 160, BIOL 161A, BIOL 161B; BIOL 162/ENTM 162; BIOL 171, BIOL 171L, BIOL 173/ ENTM 173, BIOL 175, BIOL 185P; CBNS $#/4&/59 $#/4 CBNS 169; up to 9 units from CBNS 194, CBNS 197 and/or CBNS 199; CS 170; PHYS 139L; PSYC 115, PSYC 130, PSYC 132, PSYC 134, PSYC 135, ANTH 146/ PSYC 146
Note No courses other than those listed may be used in the major unless specifically approved by the program chair or the program chair’s designate.
Sample Program
Bachelor of Arts
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC 4,1 4,1 4,1
BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA; BIOL 005B 3,1 4
ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C 4 4 4
MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4
Total Units 13 17 17
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B, CHEM 112C 4 4 4
CBNS 106 4
General Physics 4 4 4
General Physics Lab 1 1 1
Foreign Language 1, 2 4 4
Total Units 17 17 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
PSYC 011 5
Upper-division BIOL, CBNS, or PSYC 4 8 8
Foreign Language 3, 4 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 4
Total Units 17 16 12
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
Upper-division BIOL, CBNS, or PSYC 4 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 8 4 4
Electives 4 8 8
Total Units 16 16 16
Bachelor of Science
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC 4,1 4,1 4,1
MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B 4 4 BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA; BIOL 005B 3,1 4
ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C 4 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4
Total Units 13 17 17
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B, CHEM 112C 4 4 4
CBNS 106 4
General Physics 4 4 4
General Physics Lab 1 1 1
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 4
Total Units 17 17 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
PSYC 011 5
Upper-division BIOL, CBNS, or PSYC 4 8 8
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 8 4
Total Units 17 16 12
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
Upper-division BIOL, CBNS, or PSYC 12 8 8
Electives 4 8 8
Total Units 16 16 16
Minor
A minor in Neuroscience is available. For more information on minor requirements, refer to the discussion of minors in the appropriate college section of the General Catalog.
- 1. First tier (14 units)
- a) CBNS 106 with a grade of C- or better
- 2. Second Tier (6 units)
Select additional units from the list below so that the units from the First Tier combined with the units from the Second Tier equal at least 20.
BIOL 178; CBNS 101, CBNS 116, CBNS 121/PSYC 121, CBNS 123, CBNS 125/PSYC 125, CBNS 126/PSYC 126, CBNS 127/PSYC 127; PSYC 112, PSYC 117, PSYC 129
Descriptions for all courses used in the Neuroscience major and minor may be found in the appropriate department section.
Change of Major Criteria Students must be in good academic standing at the time the Change of Major Petition is filed. Students must successfully repeat any outstanding Life Science Core course prior to acceptance into the major.
2nd and 3rd Quarter Freshmen The following math and science courses must be completed with a grade of C– or better: CHEM 001A, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB, MATH 008B or MATH 009A
4th Quarter Freshman and Sophomore (up to 89 earned units) The following math and science courses must be completed with a grade of C– or better: CHEM 001A, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LC BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, BIOL 005B MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B
Junior (90 - 134 earned units) The following math and science courses must be completed with a grade of C– or better. Grades of D– or higher are acceptable for courses marked with an asterisk (*): CHEM 001A, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LC BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C* MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B and completion of at least one of the following sequences with no grade lower than a C–: CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B, CHEM 112C* PHYS 002A, PHYS 02LA, PHYS 002B, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 002C*, PHYS 02LC*
Senior (135 + units) The following math and science courses must be completed with grade of C– or better. Grades of D– or higher are acceptable for courses marked with an asterisk (*): CHEM 001A, CHEM 01LA, CHEM 001B, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 001C, CHEM 01LC, BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C* MATH 008B or MATH 009A, MATH 009B CHEM 112A, CHEM 112B, CHEM 112C* PHYS 002A, PHYS 02LA, PHYS 002B, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 002C*, PHYS 02LC* PSYC 011* or STAT 040* or STAT 100A* BCH 100* or BCH 110A* CBNS 106
GPA in upper division courses applied to the Neuroscience Major (Tier 1, 2, and 3) must be 2.00 or higher.