Neuroscience Program

Neuroscience (cat)

Teaching Faculty 

Professors Bonebright, Ferrer, Penner, Peszka, and Schmidt (chair) 
Associate Professors Dow, Caro, Goadrich, and Murray
Assistant Professors Houck and Taylor

Description

Neuroscience is a unique, interdisciplinary study of the development, organization, and function of the nervous system and its relationship to behavior and cognition in human and nonhuman animals. Because this requires an integration of knowledge from multiple levels of analysis, the neuroscience major at Hendrix College offers an interdisciplinary approach calling on methodologies from biology, psychology, philosophy, chemistry, and computer science.  Students are given the tools they need to pursue the study of neuroscience including foundational knowledge and the opportunity to pursue appropriate research experience in the field.  The flexibility in electives allows students to focus on their own interests from biochemical, behavioral-psychological, cognitive-philosophical, artificial intelligence, or even a unique interdisciplinary specialization. Working closely with their advisors, the neuroscience major prepares students with a competent interdisciplinary undergraduate foundation for graduate studies in a variety of fields.

Major in Neuroscience

14 courses distributed as follows:

  • BIOL 150 Cell Biology
  • CHEM 110 General Chemistry I or CHEM 150 Accelerated General Chemistry
  • PSYC 220 Brain and Behavior
    • PSYC 290 Statistics
    • or
    • MATH 215 Statistical Analysis
    • or
    • BUSI 250 Principles of Statistics
  • PHIL 350 Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL 390 Philosophy of Mind
  • BIOL 325 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • BIOL 425 Systems Neuroscience
  • NEUR 497 Neuroscience Senior Capstone
  • Five electives chosen from either group:

Group A (no more than 2 courses): 

  • BIOL 250 Genetics
  • CSCI 135 Robotics Explorations Studio
  • CSCI 150 Foundations of Computer Science
  • MATH 130 Calculus I
  • PHIL 245 Introduction to Logic
  • PSYC 295 Research Methods

Group B (up to 5 courses):

  • BIOL/PSYC 300 Comparative Animal Behavior
  • BIOL 310 Developmental Biology
  • BIOL 320 Animal Physiology
  • BIOL 355 Advanced Cell Biology
  • BIOL 430 Immunology
  • BIOL 470 Advanced Genetics
  • CHEM 330 Biological Chemistry
  • CSCI 151 Data Structures and Object-Oriented Development
  • CSCI 235 Intelligent Robotics
  • CSCI 335 Artificial Intelligence
  • CSCI 385 Scientific Computing
  • PHIL 235 Philosophy of Cognitive Science
  • PHIL 280 Free Will, Agents, and Intentions
  • PHIL 320 Human Nature
  • PHIL 420 Neurophilosophy
  • PSYC 280 Introduction to Psychopharmacology
  • PSYC 320 Cognitive Psychology
  • PSYC 335 Sensation and Perception
  • PSYC 355 Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSYC 360 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSYC 366 Behavioral Endocrinology
  • RELI 385 Cognitive Linguistics in Theology

Senior Capstone Experience

In the spring of their senior year, neuroscience majors will take NEUR 497: Neuroscience Senior Capstone.

Minor in Neuroscience

7 courses distributed as follows:

  • BIOL 150 Cell Biology (w/lab)
  • PSYC 220 Brain and Behavior
  • BIOL 325 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • PHIL 390 Philosophy of Mind
  • Three electives chosen from the following: 
    • BIOL/PSYC 300 Comparative Animal Behavior
    • BIOL 425 Systems Neuroscience
    • CSCI 235 Intelligent Robotics
    • CSCI 335: Artificial Intelligence
    • PHIL 235 Philosophy of Cognitive Science
    • PHIL 280 Free Will, Agents, and Intentions
    • PHIL 320 Human Nature
    • PHIL 350 Philosophy of Science
    • PHIL 420 Neurophilosophy
    • PSYC 280 Introduction to Psychopharmacology
    • PSYC 335 Sensation and Perception
    • PSYC 355 Evolutionary Psychology
    • PSYC 360 Behavioral Neuroscience
    • PSYC 366 Behavioral Endocrinology

To see our Guide to Academic Planning in the Neuroscience major or minor, click here.