Interdisciplinary Major in Neuroscience

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Neuroscience is the multidisciplinary study of the nervous system. A major in Neuroscience provides a broad background in this highly interdisciplinary scientific field, ranging from Molecular/Cellular to Circuits/Systems and to Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience. The major is administered by the Program in Fundamental Neuroscience (PFN), with courses offered within the Major (NESC), as well as in Biology, Psychology, and other departments. Students are encouraged to perform independent research in laboratories across the grounds and to proceed to the Distinguished Majors Program.

Prerequisites

Applications for the NESC major are typically accepted during the student’s 4th semester at UVA. To apply for a major in Neuroscience, students are required to have completed at least one of the below 3000-level BIOL/PSYC courses and receive a “C” or above. Prospective majors must have attained a 2.500 cumulative GPA at UVA and be in good academic standing.

BIOL 3000 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 3010 - Genetics and Molecular Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 3050 - Introduction to Neurobiology Credits: 3
PSYC 3160 - Cognitive Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 3200 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: 3

Courses in Other Sciences

Students are encouraged to take these courses before applying for NESC major as many are prerequisites of Core courses and Electives

A series of Introductory of Chemistry and Lab
CHEM 1410 - Introductory College Chemistry I Credits: 3
CHEM 1411 - Introductory College Chemistry I Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 1420 - Introductory College Chemistry II Credits: 3
CHEM 1421 - Introductory College Chemistry II Laboratory Credits: 1
OR
CHEM 1610 - Introductory Chemistry I for Engineers Credits: 3
CHEM 1611 - Introductory Chemistry I for Engineers Laboratory Credits: 1
CHEM 1620 - Introductory Chemistry II for Engineers Credits: 3
CHEM 1621 - Introductory Chemistry II for Engineers Laboratory Credits: 1
OR
CHEM 1810 - Principles of Chemical Structure (Accelerated) Credits: 3
CHEM 1811 - Principles of Chemical Structure Laboratory (Accelerated) Credits: 2
CHEM 1820 - Principles of Organic Chemistry (Accelerated) Credits: 3
CHEM 1821 - Principles of Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Accelerated) Credits: 3
MATH 1210 - A survey of Calculus I Credits: 3
OR
MATH 1310 - Calculus I Credits: 4 (MATH 1310 is strongly recommended)
STAT 1601 - Introduction to Data Science with R Credits: 3
OR
STAT 1602 - Introduction to Data Science with Python Credits: 3
OR
STAT 2020 - Statistics for Biologists Credits: 4
OR
PSYC 2005 - Research Methods and Data Analysis I Credits: 3
Physics - two semesters of physics and lab
PHYS 1425 - Introductory Physics 1 for Engineers Credits: 3
PHYS 1429 - Introductory Physics 1 Workshop Credits: 1
PHYS 2010 - Principles of Physics 1 for Pre-Health Students Credits: 3
PHYS 2020 - Principles of Physics 2 for Pre-Health Students Credits: 3
PHYS 2030 - Principles of Physics 1 Workshop Credits: 1
PHYS 2040 - Principles of Physics 2 Workshop Credits: 1
PHYS 2415 - Introductory Physics 2 for Engineers Credits: 3
PHYS 2419 - Introductory Physics 2 Workshop Credits: 1
BIOL 2100 - Introduction to Biology with Laboratory: Cell Biology & Genetics Credits: 4
Note: None of the courses in this section count toward the 27 major credits and can be fulfilled with test or transfer credit. All courses in other sciences must be completed before degree completion. Up to two CHEM requirement courses can be substituted with other 1000 or 2000 level courses offered in Engineering or Computer Science departments, demonstrating student’s strength in basic sciences that are relevant to neuroscience. However, substitute courses should be discussed with the director of Undergraduate Neuroscience Major for approval.

Requirements for Interdisciplinary Major in Neuroscience

Twenty-seven credits are required for the major in neuroscience and students must maintain at least a 2.500 GPA and a grade of C+ or better in these courses. Students are dropped from the major if they fail to meet this requirement. Students are required to take fifteen (15) credit hours of core courses, and twelve (12) credit hours of Elective courses.

Required Core Courses

Students are required to take fifteen (15) hours of core courses.

BIOL 3000 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 3010 - Genetics and Molecular Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 3050 - Introduction to Neurobiology Credits: 3
OR
PSYC 3200 - Fundamentals of Neuroscience Credits: 3
PSYC 3160 - Cognitive Neuroscience Credits: 3
Neuroscience labs - this requirement can be fulfilled by taking one of the following courses.
PSYC 3210 - RM: Psychobiology Laboratory Credits: 3
OR
2 semesters of NESC 3960 - Research in Neuroscience Credits: 3

Elective Courses

Electives are organized into three groups. Students are required to take 12 credit hours, with at least one course from each group.

Note: that this list is constantly updated with new course offerings.

Note: Additional 3000 and 4000 level STEM courses can be used with the approval of Director of Undergraduate Neuroscience Major.

Research Courses

NESC 3960 - Research in Neuroscience Credits: 3
For neuroscience majors.
NESC 3995 - Research in Neuroscience Credits: 3
NESC 4995 - Research in Neuroscience Credits: 3
Research in Neuroscience for non-majors. Two semesters may be taken per year.
NESC 4970 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3
DMP Thesis research. Taken fall semester by DMP majors.
NESC 4980 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3
DMP Thesis research and writing. Taken spring semester by DMP majors.

Distinguished Majors Program in Neuroscience

Students with superior academic performance and serious commitment to independent research are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Major Program (DMP) at the end of their 2^nd or 3^rd Year. In addition to the core major requirements, DMP students also take the courses listed below. The Program culminates in writing a thesis of empirical research done under the mentorship of a UVA neuroscience faculty member.

The requirements for admission to the DMP are:

Satisfaction of all College requirements as stated in this record with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.400 in the student’s College and university courses;
A GPA of at least 3.400 in all courses taken as part of the Neuroscience major;
A brief (1-2 page) project proposal along with a written endorsement of the project by a faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program.

To gain admission to the DMP, students submit a research proposal to the DMP Director. The names of the primary (i.e., research mentor) and secondary faculty readers must also be included. Once admitted, students register for NESC 4970 in the first semester of the fourth year. In this course, students conduct their research under the supervision of a faculty member. In the second semester, students register for NESC 4980 to finalize the thesis, ending with a journal-style manuscript. The research project is intended to foster independent thought and develop the student’s critical ability to formulate and conduct scientific research. The date of the student’s final submission of the DMP thesis to the committee is two weeks before the last day of classes. The two-member faculty committee (mentor and second reader) reports its evaluation of Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction of the thesis to the DMP Director by the first day of the exam period. The PFN undergraduate committee then considers the thesis evaluation, along with the student’s academic record to submit a final level of distinction to the College Registrar. Students receive a letter grade for both NESC 4970 and NESC 4980. These courses do not count toward the GPA of the major.

Required Courses for Distinguished Majors Program
NESC 3980 - Current Topics in Neuroscience I Credits: 3
NESC 3985 - Current Topics in Neuroscience II Credits: 3
NESC 4970 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3
NESC 4980 - Distinguished Majors Thesis Credits: 3

Additional Information

For more information, contact the Director at the follwing email address: psy-neuro@virginia.edu