Current Requirements

Neuroscience is an Interdepartmental Program administered jointly by the Departments of Psychology and the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB).

This concentration can lead to the Bachelor of Science degree. The B.S. degree requires a total of 60 credits of B.S. degree eligible courses (including those taken to satisfy the concentration requirements).

The overall goals of this concentration are to: (1) provide a course of study in the discipline of Neuroscience that integrates cell/molecular and behavioral components of the field; and (2) provide a course of study that better prepares students for graduate training in the field of Neuroscience than do the current concentrations in Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB), Biology, or Behavior, Brain and Cognitive Science (BBCS). An understanding of how the nervous system functions spans both molecular and cellular activity that is best taught by cell and molecular neurobiologists, and behavior that is best taught by psychologists. The well-trained student will receive instruction that allows her or him to understand the usefulness of genetics, cellular biology, and behavioral tests in this complex field. This degree will provide the cross-disciplinary training that will provide a head-start into post-graduate studies in Neuroscience.

Exclusions: Students may not double concentrate in Biology, General Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, or Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science.

Neuroscience Concentration worksheet (PDF file)

Prerequisites to Concentration

Complete one Introductory Biology Course and all of the Chemistry courses.
BIOLOGY 162: Introductory Biology
BIOLOGY 163: Honors Introductory Biology
BIOLOGY 171 and BIOLOGY 172: Introductory Biology Sequence
BIOLOGY 195: AP Credit for Introductory Biology

CHEM 210: Structure and Reactivity I
CHEM 211: Investigations in Chemistry
CHEM 215: Structure and Reactivity II
CHEM 216: Synthesis and Character of Organic Compounds

Concentration Program

A minimum of 38 credits is required.

Core Requirements

Four courses are required.

All of the following:
PSYCH 230: Introduction to Biopsychology
BIOLOGY 222: From Message to Mind: An Introduction to Neurobiology
BIOLOGY 305: Genetics

One of the following:
BIOLOGY 310: Introductory Biochemistry
BIOLOGY 311: Introductory Biochemistry
BIOLCHEM 415: Introductory Biochemistry

Electives

Elect 6 courses for a minimum of 18 credits.

A. Lecture Courses at 200-300 level.
At least one, and up to two courses from:
BIOLOGY 208: Embryology
BIOLOGY 225: Principles of Animal Physiology: Lecture
MCDB 307: Developmental Biology
PSYCH 240: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
PSYCH 345: Introduction to Human Neuropsychology

B. Advanced lecture and discussion courses in Neuroscience.
At least three courses (and up to five courses). At least one course must be from Group B1 and one course from Group B2. One advanced course from List C may be used toward this requirement.

B1. Cell and Molecular Neuroscience:
MCDB 402: Molecular Biology of Pain and Sensation
MCDB 403: Molecular and Cell Biology of the Synapse
MCDB 418: Endocrinology
MCDB 422: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
MCDB 426: Molecular Endocrinology

B2. Behavioral Neuroscience:
BIOLOGY 541/PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Endocrinology
PSYCH 346: Learning and Memory
PSYCH 347: Perception
PSYCH 402: Special Problems in Psychology
PSYCH 433: Biopsychology of Motivation
PSYCH 434: Biopsychology of Learning and Memory
PSYCH 435: Bilogical Rhythms and Behavior
PSYCH 436: Drugs of Abuse, Brain and Behavior
PSYCH 437: Current Topics in Biopsychology
PSYCH 438: Hormones and Behavior
PSYCH 531: Advanced Topics in Biopsychology
PSYCH 533/NEUROSCI 520: Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine & Society

Additional courses may be approved as advanced neuroscience courses by the concentration advisory panel.

C. Additional Advanced Course
MCDB 411: Protein Structure and Function
MCDB 427: Molecular Biology
MCDB 428: Cell Biology
MCDB 435: Intracellular Trafficking
EEB 492: Behavioral Ecology
PSYCH 420: Faculty Directed Advanced Tutorial Reading for Psychology as a Natural Science
PSYCH 447: Current Topics in Cognition and Perception
STATS 350 or 400: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis or Applied Statistical Methods
STATS 401 or 405: Applied Statistical Methods II or Introducation to Statistics

Additional advanced courses may be approved as cognates by the concentration advisory panel.

Lab Requirement

At least two different courses for a minimum of five credits total from the following categories, with at least one course being a Methods-Based laboratory:

A. Method-Based Laboratory courses:
Choose at least one course from:
PSYCH 231/UC 261: Brain, Learning, and Memory
BIOLOGY 226: Animal Physiology Laboratory
MCDB 306: Introductory Genetics Laboratory
MCDB 308: Developmental Biology Laboratory
MCDB 419: Endocrinology Laboratory
MCDB 423: Introduction to research in Cellular and Mollecular Neurobiology
MCDB 429: Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Biology

B. Research-Based Laboratory Courses
MCDB 300: Undergraduate Research
MCDB 400: Advanced Research
PSYCH 326: Faculty Directed Early Research for Psychology as a Natural Science
PSYCH 331/332: Laboratories in Biopsychology
PSYCH 422: Faculty Directed Advanced Research for Psychology as a Natural Science

Note: Each course must be taken for a minimum of two credits each and be completed in a single academic term. Only three credits of independent study may count toward the concentration program.

Quantitative Requirement Cognate

Two courses are required. If Stats 350, 400, 401, or 405 is used in Elective Group C, it cannot be used for a Quantitative Cognate. (While 100-level courses may be used to satisfy this requirement, the credits for 100-level courses may not be used toward the minimum number of credits required for the concentration).

STATS 350: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis or STATS 400: Applied Statistical Methods.
Note: STATS 405 cannot be combined with STATS 350 or 400 to fulfill this requirement.
STATS 401: Applied Statistical Methods or STATS 405: Introduction to Statistics
PSYCH 448: Mathematical Psychology
MATH 115: Calculus I or MATH 185: Calulus I Honors
MATH 116: Calculus II or MATH 186: Calculus II Honors
PHYSICS 125 or 140 or 160: General Physics I
PHYSICS 126 or 240 or 260: General Physics II

It is recommended that students interested in pursuing advanced training in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience elect MATH 115 and 116, CHEM 230, PHYSICS 125/126 & 127/128 OR 140/141 & 240/241. Those interested in advanced training in Behavioral Neuroscience should take at least one Statistics course.

Students intending to go to graduate school should have at least two terms of research experience. These can appear as graded courses, UROP participation, or be independent of the graded curriculum. Most graduate school-bound students will have 1-2 graded research courses (2-4 credits/each) on record. Students intending to go to graduate school in Neuroscience within a CMB-type program will need research experience as well as two term of Calculus and two terms of Physics. Students intending to go to medical school will need to take two terms of Physics and CHEM 230.

Honors Concentration

The Neuroscience B.S. degree is the basis for the Honors degree in Neuroscience. Students must elect two semesters of independent research (under PSYCH 422, MCDB 300 or MCDB 400), maintain a concentration GPA of 3.4, complete an Honors thesis and give a research presentation based on their Honors work. Prior to applying to the Neuroscience Honors Program students must identify a research mentor in the Department of Psychology or MCDB. Students may conduct Honors research with faculty in other units on the University of Michigan campus, but must have a formal cosponsor relationship with a research track or tenure-track faculty in Psychology or MCDB. Students apply to the Honors Program in Neuroscience by submitting a research proposal along with a letter from the research mentor indicating their willingness to sponsor the student’s research. Upon approval by the Honors Committee students can then declare an Honors concentration (no later than 6 months prior to submitting the honors thesis.) Written evaluations of the Honors thesis must be submitted by the mentor and two faculty readers. Honors theses must be submitted no later than one calendar month prior to the date of graduation. Extensions of any coursework will be considered only in cases such as illness or family emergency. Students are expected to present their Honor’s Thesis Data at public forum – currently either the Psychology Honor’s Poster Session or the MCDB Honor’s Poster session.

Faculty Steering Committee

• Jill Becker (Professor, Psychology)
• Jonathan Demb (Assistant Professor, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology)
• John Kuwada (Professor, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology)
• Steve Maren (Associate Professor, Psychology)

MCDB Undergraduate Office
1111 Natural Science Building
830 North University Avenue
(734) 764-2446 (phone)
(734 647-0884 (fax)
https://www.lsa.umich.edu/mcdb/

Psychology Department
1343 East Hall
530 Church Street
(734) 764-2580 (phone)
(734) 764-3520 (fax)
https://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/