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College of Arts & Sciences
- Undergraduate
www.biomed.miami.edu/neuro
http://www.psy.miami.edu/undergraduate/psychology_majors_manual.pdf
Educational Objectives
| Degree Programs | Major
| Tracks | Minor
| Departmental Honors
Introduction
Neuroscience (NEUX) is a rigorous, interdisciplinary major
offered by the Departments of Biology and Psychology in conjunction
with the Neuroscience Program at the Miller School of Medicine.
This major is intended for students preparing for medical
school or for graduate study in such fields as neuroscience,
biology, neuroscience, psychology, or behavioral medicine.
For curricular advice and for course and transfer approval,
etc., students should consult an advisor in the Office of
Undergraduate Academic Services for Psychology, Flipse 508,
(305) 284-3303.
Educational Objectives
The Neuroscience major seeks to provide undergraduate students
with exposure to and a fundamental understanding of the neural
and biobehavioral sciences. It seeks to deliver an integrative
educational experience by promoting interactions among faculty,
graduate students, and undergraduate students in basic scientific
inquiry, advising, and mentoring.
Degree Programs
Neuroscience is offered as a major for the Bachelor of Science
degree within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Major
The total number of credit hours for the Neuroscience major
is 49, distributed between the Departments of Psychology and
Biology (as indicated below). The total number of credits
for the degree is 130.
Core Courses
All Neuroscience majors, regardless of track, must complete
a set of core courses. These are BIL 150/151, BIL 160/161,
BIL 250, BIL 255, NEU 403, PSY 110, PSY 204*, and PSY 316.
Students within each track then select courses particular
to the track. The total number of credits for both tracks
in the Neuroscience major is 49.
*UM alternates to PSY 204 include, BIL 311; SOC 211 and
212; and MTH 224. These courses are acceptable as prerequisites
for PSY 316, but do not count toward the major. Thus,
students opting to do these alternate courses must take another
course in Psychology to total the number of credits expected
for the major.
Tracks in Neuroscience
There are two tracks available in the major.
• Psychobiology (NEUP) emphasizes cognitive functions
and behavior.
• Neurobiology (NEUB) emphasizes cellular and molecular
approaches to understanding nervous system functions.
Psychobiology track (NEUP)
Students who choose the Psychobiology track must also take
PSY 202, PSY 402, a Psychology elective at the 300-level or
above, and three Biology electives (see below) at the 200-level
or above. Each of these courses must be three credits.
NEUP majors may not take BIL 268.
Neurobiology track (NEUB)
Students who choose the Neurobiology track must take BIL 268,
NEU 342, NEU 465, NEU 468, a Biology elective at the 200-level
or above, and a three credit Psychology or Biology elective
(see below) at the 300-level or above.
Electives in both tracks
Electives in both the Neurobiology and Psychobiology tracks
are limited to specific courses pertinent to the major. Choices
in Psychology include PSY 305, PSY 332, PSY 352, PSY 420,
PSY 440, and PSY 444. The Biology electives are limited to
BIL 235, BIL 241, BIL 261, BIL 265, BIL 268**, BIL 341, BIL
355, BIL 360, BIL 361, BIL 365, BIL 369, BIL 511, BIL 530,
and BIL 540. Biochemistry, BMB 401 or BMB 506, may also be
substituted and count as a Biology elective. Neuroscience
majors on the Psychobiology track may also take NEU 342, NEU
465, and NEU 468 as one of their electives. (Note that for
the Neurobiology track, BIL 268, NEU 342, NEU 465, and NEU
468 are requirements rather than electives.)**Note: NEUP majors
may not take BIL 268.
In addition to the above courses in Biology and Psychology,
all Neuroscience students must complete 16 credits in Chemistry
including CHM 111/113 and CHM 112/114, and CHM 201/205 and
CHM 202/206; MTH 111/112 or MTH 131/132; 10 credits in Physics
including PHY 101/106 and PHY 102/108. (The 200-level, calculus-based
physics sequence [PHY 205/206/207/208/209] can be substituted
for the 100 level physics sequence and is highly recommended
for any student considering pursuing Neuroscience at the Ph.D.
level.)
Neuroscience students automatically earn a Chemistry minor
if they complete the year of Organic Chemistry (CHM 201 and
CHM 202) with labs (CHM 205 and CHM 206) here at UM. Those
who choose not to minor in Chemistry must choose a minor from
among Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Computer Science,
Engineering, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology
and Immunology, or Physics.
Grades and Scores Required to Declare and Continue
A student must have an SAT score of 1300 or above or an ACT
of 30 or above to declare Neuroscience as an incoming freshman.
Thereafter, students need a 3.5 GPA after 24 credits at UM
to declare the major. At least 3 of these 24 credits
must have been in a BIL or CHM course designed for majors.
Students transferring from another college or university must
have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or above.
Students are strongly advised not to continue as a Neuroscience
major if, after having completed 15 credits in the major,
the GPA is less than 2.8.
Grades Required to Graduate
A grade of C- or better is required in all courses applied
to the Neuroscience major, and the GPA in these courses must
be at least 2.6.
Residency Requirement
Students must complete all upper division Biology and Psychology
courses at U.M. With prior Departmental approval, 6
of these 15 credits may be completed through the U.M. Study
Abroad Program.
Research Experience for Course Credit
Research credits do not count for the major. To obtain
course credit for working with a faculty member in a research
laboratory, speak with the Director of Neuroscience or the
Neuroscience Advisor.
Research Participation
As an introduction to behavioral science, students enrolled
in PSY 110 may be required to participate as subjects in research
studies being conducted by faculty and/or graduate students,
or by reading and writing about selected research reports.
For details, consult the course syllabus and/or contact the
Psychology Department's Undergraduate Academic Services for
Psychology.
Course Prerequisites
Students who have not taken a prerequisite course (or who
have taken it and obtained a D or an F) may not enroll in
the course for which it is a prerequisite. Students
enrolled without prerequisites may be dropped from the class
roll.
Transfer
Transfer students wanting courses taken elsewhere to count
as Neuroscience courses at U.M. must obtain written approval
during their first semester at U.M. This is a separate
process from the Admissions Evaluation of Transfer Credit.
Regularly enrolled U.M. students wishing to take a Biology
or Psychology course elsewhere (e.g., during the summer) must
obtain prior approval from the appropriate department if they
wish it to be counted in place of a U.M. Psychology course.
Freshmen
All declared Neuroscience majors receive their advising as
a part of a year-long advising, orientation, and mentoring
program known as FACT FORUM. All majors will be placed
in a Freshman Experience section of FACT (Freshman Advising
Contact Term). This is a one credit general elective
course that is designed to integrate freshmen into the major
by familiarizing them with the guidelines, opportunities and
responsibilities of a Neuroscience major. During the
second semester, freshmen enroll in a FORUM section (Faculty
Overview of Research and Undergraduate Mentoring). This
one credit general elective course helps to put the curriculum
in context, and stresses the importance of, and opportunities
for research.
MINOR
There is no minor in Neuroscience.
Departmental Honors
Students wishing to graduate with magna, summa,
or Honors in Neuroscience should speak with the Director of
Neuroscience or the Neuroscience Advisor.
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