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College of Arts and Sciences

Neuroscience Minor

This minor is designed for students considering medical or research careers in neuroscience, biomedical sciences, animal behavior, or psychology, as well as students simply interested in gaining a better understanding of their own interactions with the world. The Neuroscience minor provides opportunities to develop a strong background in how the nervous system works from the social and behavioral to the cellular and molecular levels.

Overview of the Neuroscience Minor

The Neuroscience Minor requires students to take neuroscience courses across a variety of disciplines.  Neuroscience is a field that is fundamentally interdisciplinary and very broad and students are strongly encouraged to take courses ranging from a focus on the molecular aspects of the nervous system to cognitive neuroscience.  Students interested in medical school, graduate school in neuroscience, or health-related fields and just interested in the brain are encouraged to take the minor.  This is a science-oriented minor and so students should expect that there will be an expectation of a basic understanding of biology and chemistry even at the introductory level.  

New Minor Requirements

Starting with the Fall 2023 semester, new requirements will take effect for the Neuroscience Minor. You can see the full requirements in the current bulletin, but an overview is provided here:

  • An application is no longer required
    • You may request that the minor be added to your program of study using the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Change Form.
  • Independent Study is no longer required
    • Participating in research is still highly recommended, particularly for students who intend to apply to post-graduate programs,  and up to 6 credit hours of independent study can be used as minor elective credit. More information about independent study can be found on our Undergraduate Research page.
  • Elective courses must be completed from at least two different disciplines
    • A maximum of 9 credit hours can be applied to the minor from any one course designator (e.g., BIOL, PSYC, EXSC, etc.). The list of possible elective courses has been expanded and there are special topics courses offered most semesters that can be counted towards the minor. 

Students who added the Neuroscience Minor to their program of study prior to 2023-24 can view the previous course requirements in the 2022-23 Undergraduate Bulletin Archive.  Exceptions can be approved for courses listed as minor electives in the new curriculum to be used as electives for students completing the minor under the old requirements. If you would like us to consider counting a course that is not on this list you can use our course exception form to have the course evaluated.

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