Program Description

The scientific community has been and continues to be fascinated by the prospect of unlocking the intricacies of the brain. Explorations in neuroscience often lead to questions about a human’s personality, emotions, senses, diseases, or even the ability to develop artificial intelligence. There are currently many more questions than answers in this area. Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that has its foundation within psychology and biology, but incorporates concepts across many disciplines such as art, music, philosophy, chemistry, physics, and math to explore how our most complex organ, the brain, works.

The Neuroscience program will provide students with a foundation in Neuroscience that will allow her to formulate questions and interpret current findings about the brain. The minor in Neuroscience is a chance for students to explore the field by integrating coursework and laboratory experiments across different disciplines.

Study Abroad

Saint Mary’s has a long history of providing quality international programs as an essential part of our educational mission—forming women leaders who will make a difference in the world. As this world becomes increasingly interdependent, the College offers an expanding range of semester, year, semester break, and summer study and service programs in a wide variety of countries, and encourages students to take advantage of them. Learn more about the various Study Abroad opportunities.

Programs

Department Chair

Don Paetkau, Program Coordinator
278 Science Hall
574-284-4684

Faculty

T. Aubele-Futch, J. Rowsell

Student Learning Outcomes

Neuroscience majors will be able to:

• demonstrate familiarity with core concepts in neuroscience.
• demonstrate in depth understanding of cellular/systems of neuroscience and behavioral/cognitive areas of neuroscience.
• demonstrate conceptual understanding and procedural knowledge of techniques commonly used in neuroscience, while working cooperatively.
• demonstrate an understanding of scientific methodology and experimental design. knows how to find relevant scientific literature. understands what constitutes good evidence in neuroscience. Able to read and interpret primary scientific articles.
• communicate scientific data to peers and instructor. 
• integrate and apply the core concepts of neuroscience to other related disciplines. 

Neuroscience Courses

Four Year Plans in Neuroscience

Students who major in Neuroscience at Saint Mary’s College can choose from three different programs:

•  Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science Concentration, Neuroscience 
• Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology Concentration, Neuroscience
• Bachelor of Science in Neuropsychology Concentration, Neuroscience

The sample Four-Year Plans are presented below.

Cognitive Science Concentration, Neuroscience, Bachelor of Arts

Sophia:  Each Sophia LO1 is represented in this schedule (designated LO1).   The Sophia courses can be taken in any order. We recommend that Neuroscience majors with a Cognitive Science concentration should complete their CTS PSYC 156/157. However, PSYC 156/157 is not required; students may take a CTS in any discipline. We recommended the W be completed in Philosophy 110W.  However, PHIL110W is not required, and students can take a W course in any discipline. The major completes two Natural Science LO1’s, a Social Science I or II depending on whether the student takes PSYC 156 or 157 and one Mathematical Arts course.  Neuroscience connections courses offer many options to complete LO1’s, LO2’s and LO3’s. 

Major: There is a lot of flexibility in when students take their required supporting courses.  For example, PSYC 324 could be taken in Fall of the Junior year or the Fall of Sophomore Year, and PSYC 364 and the Lab could be taken in the sophomore through senior years.  It is definitely possible to take the Neuroscience major/Cognitive Science concentration in the sophomore year, as there are a lot of courses to choose from within the required electives, thus giving this concentration some flexibility.

Study abroad: We recommend study abroad in the spring of sophomore year or fall of junior year.  This will allow students to be present for NEUR 385 junior seminar (spring semester).

Neurobiology Concentration, Neuroscience, Bachelor of Science

Sophia:  Each Sophia LO1 is represented in this schedule (designated LO1).   The Sophia courses can be taken in any order.  Neuroscience majors with a Neurobiology concentration will complete their CTS in CHEM 111 (this may not be until the sophomore year).  Given that Calculus is recommended for the first year, it will be difficult to complete a W course in the first year.  We have recommended a W course for the fall of sophomore year, specifically Philosophy 110W, but PHIL110W is not required.  Students can take a W course in any discipline.  However, if students do not place into Calculus there is more flexibility in the schedule for taking a W in the first year.  The major completes two Natural Science LO1’s, a Social Science I or II depending on whether the student takes PSYC 156 or 157 and one Mathematical Arts course.  Neuroscience connections courses offer many options to complete LO1’s, LO2’s and LO3’s. 

Major: There is flexibility in when students take their required supporting courses.  Calculus could be taken in the first or second year.  General Chemistry could be taken in the first year or second year and Physics in the third or fourth year.  Although it is possible to begin a Neuroscience major with a Neurobiology Concentration in the sophomore year, it may be difficult to complete without a summer course.  Just as the case in the Neuropsychology Concentration, the courses are sequenced and have prerequisites, which adds to the complication of starting the major in the sophomore year.  However, if a student begins as a psychology, biology, chemistry, or physics major and switches to the Neurobiology Concentration in their sophomore year, they could likely finish without a summer course. 

Study abroad: We recommend study abroad in the spring of sophomore year or fall of junior year.  This will allow students to be present for NEUR 385 junior seminar (spring semester).  Study abroad may disrupt the math, physics and/or general chemistry sequences.  Students will need to plan accordingly and take a summer course or complete the sequence over two years instead of one.

Neuropsychology Concentration, Neuroscience, Bachelor of Science

Sophia:  Each Sophia LO1 is represented in this schedule (designated LO1).   The Sophia courses can be taken in any order.  We recommend that Neuroscience majors with a Neuropsychology concentration should complete their CTS in CHEM 111 or PSYC 156/157. We recommended the W be completed in Philosophy 110W, however, PHIL110W is not required, and students can take a W course in any discipline. The major completes two Natural Science LO1’s, a Social Science I or II depending on whether the student takes PSYC 156 or 157 and one Mathematical Arts course.  Neuroscience connections courses offer many options to complete LO1’s, LO2’s and LO3’s. 

Major: There is flexibility in when students take their required supporting courses.  For example, calculus could be taken in the first or second year, general Chemistry could be taken in the first year or second year, and Physics in the third or fourth year.  Although it is possible to begin a Neuroscience major with a Neuropsychology Concentration in the sophomore year, it may be difficult to complete without a summer course.  Just as the case in biology, the courses are sequenced and have prerequisites, which adds to the complication of starting the major in the sophomore year.  However, if a student began as a psychology, biology, chemistry, or physics major and switches to Neuroscience in their sophomore year, they are likely to finish without a summer course. 

Study abroad: We recommend study abroad in the spring of sophomore year or fall of junior year.  This will allow students to be present for NEUR 385 junior seminar (spring semester).  Study abroad will likely disrupt the math, physics and/or general chemistry sequences, so students will need to plan accordingly and take a summer course or complete the sequence over two years instead of one.