Neuroscience Original Major Requirements

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Students who matriculated at St. Lawrence University prior to Fall 2022 (i.e., SLU classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025), will continue to pursue these neuroscience major requirements. If a student in the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 wishes to pursue the new requirements, they may have the option to do so after consultation with their major advisor, who will inform the registrar’s office of this change.

Students may elect a cellular track or a behavioral track as described below. It is imperative that first-year students seek early advisement from a biology or psychology faculty member; they should also begin the introductory courses in each department during the first year. Occasionally, the biology and psychology departments offer special topics courses not listed in the Catalog that may count toward this major. Note that students majoring in neuroscience may not also major and minor in either biology, psychology or biochemistry.

Courses

Core Courses (required by both tracks)

Biology

101,102. General Biology. (2.5 units)

288.        Introduction to Neuroscience. (1 unit)

389.        Advanced Neuroscience. (1 unit)

Chemistry

103, 104. General Chemistry. (2.5 units)

221.        Organic Chemistry. (1.25 units)

Statistics

113.        Applied Statistics. (1 unit)

Psychology

100NL or 101WL. Introductory Psychology. (without or with lab)  (1 unit)

Total: 10.25 units

Cellular Neuroscience Track

Biology

One of the following: (1 unit)

250.        Research Methods in Cell Biology (with lab)

392.        Research Methods in Fluorescence and Confocal Microscopy (with lab)

395.        Research Methods in Molecular Biology (with lab)

Plus three additional courses (with at least 2 units that include lab) from the following list: (3 units)

245.        Genetics.

250.        Introduction to Cell Biology.

252.        Research Methods in Cell Biology (with lab)

309.        Biochemistry.

312.        Developmental Biology (with lab)

333.        Immunology (with lab)

341.        Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab)

351.        Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab)

370.        Hormones, Disease and Development.

387.        Cellular Mechanisms of Memory.

388.        Drugs and the Brain (with lab).

392.        Research Methods in Fluorescence and Confocal Microscopy (with lab)

394.        Research Methods in Biochemistry (with lab)

395.        Research Methods in Molecular Biology (with lab)

399.        Current Topics in Neuroscience.

415.        Advanced Biochemistry.

489/490. Senior-Year Experience (SYE) (1 unit)

Behavioral Neuroscience Track

Psychology

205.        Research Methods in Psychology (with lab). (1.25 units)

Plus three additional courses (with at least 2 units that include lab) from the following list:’

Biology

341.        Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab)

351.        Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab)

357.        Behavioral Ecology.

388.        Drugs and the Brain (with lab)

399.        Current Topics in Neuroscience.

489/490. Senior-Year Experience (SYE) (1 unit)

Psychology

327.        Sensation and Perception (with or without lab)

401.        Fundamentals of Learning  (with lab)

402.        Memory and Cognition (with or without lab)

432.        Animal Behavior

438.        Human Neuropsychology.

Students majoring in either track must also take 1 unit of ancillary courses. This includes a course from the opposite track, an approved study abroad course, or any of the courses listed below.

Ancillary Courses

Biology

232.        Laboratory Animals: Ethics, Care and Techniques. (Note: this is a 0.5 unit course)

233.        Neuroscience of Fear

412.        Cross-Cultural Perspectives of Healing.

Computer Science

140.        Introduction to Computer Programming.

Psychology

317.        Abnormal Psychology

326.        Hormones and Behavior. (by permission of the instructor)

442.        Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

A year of physics (PHYS 103-104 or 151-152) and the second semester of organic chemistry (CHEM 222) are highly recommended, especially for those who intend to pursue graduate study in neuroscience.

Advanced Standing

Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the AP biology test must enroll in the first semester of Biology 101 (General Biology) for which they will receive the normal 1.25 units of credit toward the neuroscience major. Students who do well in this course may bypass the spring biology course (Biology 102) and receive the course credit toward the major. This requires approval of the General Biology instructors, who use multiple criteria to determine whether or not the AP student should take the spring course. The AP score of 4 or 5 automatically nominates a student for this option, but the student may also volunteer to forgo it.

Students who have taken Advanced Placement psychology and received a grade of 4 or 5 on the advanced test are eligible to receive 1 unit of credit for PSYC 101NL (without lab). Academic planning forms are available on the neuroscience web page.