Neuroscience
Major offered
More information on this interdisciplinary major can be found at https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/neuroscience.
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, special topics courses in biology, neuroscience and psychology not listed in the Catalog may count toward this major. Students may also apply to have one abroad course count as an elective.
For those who intend to pursue graduate study in neuroscience, a year of physics (PHYS 103-104 or 151-152) and the second semester of organic chemistry (CHEM 222 or 224) are highly recommended.
Restrictions
Students majoring in Neuroscience may not also double-major or minor in either Biology, Psychology, Biochemistry or Biomedical Sciences.
Major Requirements
Core Courses (required by both tracks)
Biology
101,102. General Biology. (2.5 units) - Students must earn at least a 2.0 in each semester of General Biology.
Chemistry
103, 104. General Chemistry. (2.5 units)
221 or 223. Organic Chemistry. (1.25 units)
Statistics
113. Applied Statistics. (1 unit)
Neuroscience
288. Introduction to Neuroscience. (with lab) (1.25 units)
389. Advanced Neuroscience. (1 unit)
Psychology
101NL or 101WL. Introductory Psychology. (without or with lab) (1 unit)
Total: 10.25 units
Cellular Neuroscience Track
Biology
One of the following: (1.25 unit)
- 252. Research Methods in Cell Biology. (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)
Plus four additional courses from the following list. At least two must have a laboratory and at least two must be neuroscience courses.: (4.5 units)
Neuroscience
- 233. Neuroscience of Fear.
- 387. Cellular Mechanisms of Memory.
- 388. Drugs and the Brain. (with lab)
- 399. Current Topics in Neuroscience.
- 489. SYE: Senior Project I. (1 unit)
Biology
- 245. Genetics.
- 250. Introduction to Cell Biology.
- 252. Research Methods in Cell Biology. (with lab)*
- 309. Biochemistry.
- 333. Immunology. (with lab)
- 341. Anatomy and Physiology I. (with lab)
- 351. Anatomy and Physiology II. (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)*
*if not already taken to satisfy the research methods requirement
Behavioral Neuroscience Track
Psychology
205. Research Methods in Psychology. (1.25 units)
Plus four additional courses from the following list. At least two must have a laboratory and at least two must be neuroscience courses:
Neuroscience
- 233. Neuroscience of Fear.
- 388. Drugs and the Brain (with lab).
- 399. Current Topics in Neuroscience.
- 438. Human Neuropsychology.
- 462. Behavioral Neuroscience.
- 489. SYE: Senior Project I. (1 unit)
Psychology
- 326. Hormones and Behavior (with or without lab).
- 327. Sensation and Perception (with or without lab)
- 401. Learning and Behavior (with lab)
- 402. Memory and Cognition (with or without lab)
- 432. Animal Behavior (with lab)
- 459. Cognitive Science.
Advanced Placement Credit
Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the AP biology exam or a 5, 6 or 7 on the IB exam should 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 earn a 3.0 or better in BIOL 101 may bypass the second semester of General Biology course (BIOL 102), receiving the 1.25 units of credit for this course as well as the right to take courses that require BIOL 102. Although AP or IB scores noted above automatically nominate students for this bypass option, students may voluntarily choose to stay in the General Biology course-sequence and enroll in BIOL 102. When making this decision, students should take into consideration that some professional schools (particularly health professional schools) do not accept AP/IB credit for BIOL 101 and BIOL 102.
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.
Updated 7/1/25