Concentration Requirements

• Concentrators in neuroscience are required to take the following courses:
  • Biology 51, 52;
  • Chemistry 1a, 1b, 110a, 110b;
  • Mathematics 57 or 154, or Psychology 158, or Economics 103;
  • Neuroscience 101, 102, 190, and 191 or 194a,b;
  • Psychology 51.
• Concentrators muct take two out of three of the following courses (the third course may be used to satisfy the elective requirement):
  • Biology 125, 178;
  • Psychology 141.
• Concentrators must choose one of the following electives:
  • Anthropology 57, 65, 110;
  • Biology 108, 141, 142, 160, 163;
  • Chemistry 115;
  • Psychology 131, 160, 162, 188.

Courses

101. Neuroscience I. Mr. Lewis, Ms. Parfitt. Introduction to the study of the nervous system, with an emphasis on cellular biology of neurons and behavior. Topics include the structure of the central and peripheral nervous system, cell biology of the neurons and glia, electrical signaling, the physiology and pharmacology of synaptic transmission, and how learning, cognition, and psychiatric and neurologic disorders can be understood in terms of these biological processes. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisites: Biology 51 and Psychology 51. Second Semester.

102. Neuroscience II. Ms. Levin. A comparative approach to examining how the nervous system supports behavior. Topics include the evolution, organization, and development of the nervous system, neural-endocrine interactions, and mechanisms underlying the detection and recognition of behavioral signals and the generation of a behavioral response to them. Lecture and discussion. Prerequisites: Biology 51 and Psychology 51. Next offered 1996-1997.

190. Senior Seminar. Staff. Critical analysis and discussion of the current research literature in neuroscience. Topics vary each year. Half-course. Senior concentrators only. First semester.

191. Senior Library Thesis. Staff. Students conducting a non-empirical thesis design a research protocol to answer an original question. Written in the form of a grant proposal. Half-course. Each semester.

194a, b. Senior Experimental Thesis. Staff. Students conducting an empirical thesis undertake a two semester-experimental project that addresses an original question. Half-course each semester. Students must enroll for both semesters.

199. Independent Study/Research. Staff. Independent reading or research on a topic in collaboration with faculty. Course or half-course. Each semester.

Claremont Colleges' Neuroscience