Neuroscience Major (CMNS)
Program Director: Hilary Bierman, Ph.D.
The Neuroscience major is jointly offered by the Departments of Biology in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and Psychology in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
The Neuroscience major offers rigorous training in the interdisciplinary study of brain and behavior. Students complete a required set of NEUR courses as well as a supporting sequence of coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology. Students then choose an upper-level specialization and coursework in (1) cellular, molecular, and physiological neuroscience or (2) behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. The Neuroscience major prepares students for a broad range of career paths including: scientific research, medicine, clinical psychology, allied health professions, or science-related government, nonprofit, or private sector employment.
Admission to the Major
The Neuroscience major is a Limited Enrollment Program. Information on limited enrollment programs can be found at: http://lep.umd.edu.
Transfer Admission Requirements
Students beyond their first semester and those off campus wishing to transfer are required to meet the following gateway criteria:
- Completion of MATH130, MATH135 or MATH140 with a minimum grade of C-
- Completion of BSCI170 AND BSCI171 (formerly BSCI105) and BSCI160 AND BSCI161 (formerly BSCI106) with a minimum grade of C-
- Completion of CHEM131 AND CHEM132 and CHEM231 AND CHEM232 with a minimum grade of C-
A minimum grade point average of 2.7 in all courses taken at the University of Maryland and all other institutions is required for internal and external transfer students.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a knowledge base in the field of neuroscience and supporting disciplines.
- Describe the current techniques and strategies in neuroscience research.
- Demonstrate competence in scientific reasoning and critical thinking.
- Demonstrate effective effective professional scientific communication skills.
- Describe the role of neuroscience in social and cultural contexts as well as the influences of social and cultural context on neuroscience: understand the influences, current and potential, of neuroscience on other fields such as medicine, education, the arts, and the social sciences, recognize the relationships between scientific research and the culture(s) in which it is embedded, and understand and follow ethical practices in academic study, scientific research, and professional life. Students will be able to demonstrate how neuroscience research has been used to oppress and marginalize groups through history and how it might be used to mitigate disparities.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of possible career paths available to students proficient in neuroscience.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NEUR Required Courses | ||
| NEUR200 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 3 |
| NEUR305 | Neural Systems and Circuits | 3 |
| NEUR306 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 3 |
| NEUR405 | Neuroscience Laboratory | 3 |
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| MATH135 | Discrete Mathematics for Life Sciences | 4 |
| or MATH140 | Calculus I | |
| MATH136 | Calculus for Life Sciences | 4 |
| or MATH141 | Calculus II | |
| STATISTICS | BIOM301, EPIB315, PSYC200, STAT400, STAT464, or DATA400 | 3 |
| BSCI170 & BSCI171 | Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BSCI160 & BSCI161 | Principles of Ecology and Evolution and Principles of Ecology and Evolution Lab | 4 |
| CHEM131 & CHEM132 | Chemistry I - Fundamentals of General Chemistry and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM231 & CHEM232 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM241 & CHEM242 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM271 & CHEM272 | General Chemistry and Energetics and General Bioanalytical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS131 | Fundamentals of Physics for Life Sciences I | 4 |
| or PHYS141 | Principles of Physics | |
| or PHYS161 | General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics | |
| PHYS132 | Fundamentals of Physics for Life Sciences II 1 | 4 |
| or PHYS142 | Principles of Physics | |
| or PHYS260 | General Physics: Electricity, Magnetism and Thermodynamics | |
| PSYC100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| UNIV100 | The Student in the University (or equivalent) | 1 |
| Track Courses 2,3 | 16-20 | |
| Complete at least 5 courses, including at least 3 courses from within one track and at least 1 lab course | ||
| MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TRACK 4 | ||
| Biochemistry of Physiology | ||
or BCHM461 | Biochemistry I | |
| Principles of Genetics | ||
or HLSC322 | Principles of Genetics and Genomics | |
| Cell Biology and Physiology | ||
| Cellular Mechanisms of Aging and Disease | ||
| Neurobiology of Chemosensory Systems | ||
| Molecular Neuroethology | ||
BSCI402 | ||
| Biology of Vision | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| The Origin and Evolution of Nervous Systems | ||
| Mammalian Physiology | ||
or BSCI450 | Mammalian Systems Physiology | |
| Mammalian Physiology Laboratory | ||
or BSCI451 | Mammalian Systems Physiology Laboratory | |
| Neural Systems | ||
| Diseases of the Nervous System | ||
| Advanced Cellular Neuroscience | ||
| Motor Development | ||
| Neural Basis of Human Movement | ||
| Special Topics: Research in Neuroscience | ||
| Advanced Research in Neuroscience (Neuroscience Research Lab; BSCI399(H, L) may be substituted with permission) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE TRACK 4 | ||
| Neurobiology of Extraordinary Senses | ||
| Principles of Animal Behavior | ||
| Animal Communication | ||
| Behavioral Genetics | ||
| Your Brain on Education: The Neuroscience of Learning and Development | ||
| Motor Control and Learning | ||
| Exercise and Brain Health | ||
| Know Thyself: Wisdom Through Cognitive Science | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Learning and Behavior | ||
| Collective Behavior and Decision Making in Human and Animal Groups | ||
| Perception | ||
| Introduction to Memory and Cognition | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology | ||
| Neuroethology | ||
| Behavioral Neurobiology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging | ||
| Science of Sleep and Biological Rhythms | ||
| Data Science for Psychology and Neuroscience Majors | ||
| Psychology of Language | ||
| Advanced Special Topics in Psychology | ||
PSYC455 | ||
| Special Topics: Research in Neuroscience | ||
| Advanced Research in Neuroscience (Neuroscience Research Lab; BSCI399(H, L) may be substituted with permission) | ||
| Total Credits | 75-79 | |
- 1
PHYS260 must be taken with PHYS261 to earn 4 credits
- 2
Three pre-approved Neuroscience Research credits can be applied to the major as one course equivalent. One a single Research course equivalent can be applied to the major.
- 3
Four pre-approved NEUR479 credits in the same faculty research laboratory can satisfy the lab requirement.
- 4
Courses may be occasionally added or removed from this list. Not all courses may be available each semester.
Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.
Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages:
- http://4yearplans.umd.edu
- the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog
Advising for Neuroscience Majors
Students in the Neuroscience major have to complete a mandatory advising appointment every semester. Mandatory advising appointments serve as consistent touch points throughout a student's undergraduate experience. Our advising office takes a holistic advising approach. Though our priority is to guide students to achieve academic success and graduate from our major, advisors are available to discuss research, academic, and career interests, extracurricular involvement, as well as personal successes and challenges.
Students are assigned a Neuroscience Academic Advisor during their first semester in the major.
Student advising appointments are scheduled through TerpEngage. For brief matters, majors can also utilize drop-in advising hours.
Additional information regarding advising for current neuroscience majors can be found here.
Advising for Prospective Neuroscience Majors
Current UMD students that are interested in becoming neuroscience majors are encouraged to visit our webpage, Advising for Prospective Internal Transfer Student. This site provides necessary requirements and directions for how to request a prospective major advising appointment.
Currently, we are not able to provide advising appointments for external prospective majors (transfer students or incoming freshman). We encourage these students to visit our website and attend open house events.
Additional information regarding advising for prospective majors can be found here.