Menu

  • Home
  • Academic Calendars
  • Academic Policies
  • Admissions Information
  • Colleges
  • Course Descriptions
  • Financial Information
  • General Information
  • Governance, Administration, & Faculty
  • Honors College
  • University Academic Advising Center
  • Publication Information
  • Previous Publications

2016-2017 Undergraduate Course Catalog and Academic Policies

Neuroscience


  • Overview
  • Neuroscience Majors
  • Satisfactory Progress
  • Undergraduate Course Descriptions (NEUR)


Executive Director: H. Sontheimer
Professors: M. L. Olsen
Associate Professors: S. M. Clinton
Assistant Professors: J.M. Bowers, M. Buczynski, G. Hodes, S. Robel, K. Sewall, and C. Thompson
Affiliated Faculty: L. Achenie, S. Ball, M. A. Bell, L. Bergamasco, A.S. Bertke, D. Bevan, W. Bickel, R. Blieszner Campbell, S. Cao Guohua, P. Carlier, A. Cate, J. Chappell, P. Chiu, M. Cline, B. Corl, R. Davalos, S. DeLuca, M. Denbow, N. Dervisis, R. Diana, H. Dorn, Z. Elias, X. Feng, M. Fox, C. Frank, M. Friedlander, B. Friedman, E. Gilbert, D. Good, R. Gourdie, D. Harrison, G. Howes, R. Jensen, X. Jia, B. Johnson, J. Jones, B. S. Jortner, D. Kelly, B. King-Casas, B. Klein, S. Kojima, S. Laconte, Y. W. Lee, L. Li, E. Marvin, M. McKay, T. Milam, R. Montague, I. Moore, R. Moran, A. Morozov, K. Mukherjee, N. Nanthakumar, M. Orr, R. Panneton, J. Phillips, S. Ramey, K. Roberta, J. Rossmeisl Jr., W. Santos, A. Scarpa, Z. Sheng, G. Simonds, D. J. Slade, A. Smith, M. Theus, G. Valdez, P. VandeVord, S. Verbridge, C. Wyatt, D. Xie, B. Xu, and D. Zallen
Undergraduate Advisor: N. Sou

Web: www.science.vt.edu/neur

Overview

The Neuroscience degree draws on faculty and resources from many departments across the campus including but not limited to Animal & Poultry Science, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and Statistics. Graduates of this interdisciplinary program will be proficient in integrating neurogenetics, cellular and molecular neuroscience, neurophysiology, cognitive, computational and systems neuroscience.

The Neuroscience B.S. promotes the advancement and integration of knowledge about the brain and the entire central nervous system, and how they react to and are affected by the vast milieu of stimuli they encounter. The degree program is built on collaborative work and education of students in the classroom, and on the student interactions with researchers and practitioners, providing an unparalleled breadth of neuroscience education at the undergraduate level.

Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.

The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.

Please visit the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html for degree requirements.

Neuroscience Majors

  • Neuroscience B.S. Clinical Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience B.S. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience B.S. Computational and Systems Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience B.S. Experimental Neuroscience

Transfer students should contact the department early, preferably one full semester prior to entrance. This procedure will allow a thorough evaluation of transfer credits and correct placement.

Satisfactory Progress

University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the General Education (Curriculum for Liberal Education) (see "Academics") and toward the degree.

Satisfactory progress requirements toward the B.S. in Neuroscience can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (NEUR)

1004: NEUROSCIENCE ORIENTATION SEMINAR
An introduction to the field of neuroscience, and academic and career planning for neuroscience majors. Exposure to areas of practice and research, and opportunities for education, training and employment in this field. (1H,1C)

2025-2026: INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE
Introduction to the fundamental principles of neuroscience. 2025: Structure and function of central nervous system in humans and other animals, signal processing and transmission, development of neural and brain circuits, encoding and transmission of sensory and perceptual information, motor control/movement. 2026:Complex brain processes including learning, memory, emotion, decision making, social behavior, and mental and functioning. Pre: BIOL 1105 for 2025; 2025 for 2026. (3H,3C)

2035-2036: NEUROSCIENCE LABORATORY
Organization and function of the nervous system. 2035: neuroanatomy, microscopy, intracellular stimulation, extracellular recording, electrophysiology, neurotransmitters, and neuroplasticity. 2036: receptive field, sensation and perception, motor system, simple neural circuitry, neuroendocrine nad higher level cognitive processes. Co: 2025 for 2035; 2026 for 2036. (3L,1C)

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

2994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

3044: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
Fundamental principles of cellular and molecular neuroscience. Methods to study neurochemisty and neurobiology, theoretical and practical issues of relating cellular/molecular structures and functions to higher-level nervous system functioning, and current understanding of cellular/molecular bases of nervous system disorders. Pre: 2026, CHEM 1036. (3H,3C)

3064: EDUCATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
The conceptual framework of neuroscience of learning and instruction. Methods for studying mind and brain functions and their role in academic success and failure in educational settings. Theoretical and practical issues regarding pedagogy and assessment. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

3084: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Concepts in cognitive neuroscience. Methods available to study brain and nervous system function, theoretical and practical issues of relating mental functions to biological brain functions. Overview of current understanding of the neural bases of various mental functions (e.g., memory, attention, emotion, decision making). Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

3144: MECHANISMS OF LEARNING AND MEMORY
Foundation of social interactions in human and non-human: ability to learn adn memorize locations, situations, individuals, facts and tasks forms. Cellular and molecular mechanism underlying learning and memory and model systems. Approaches to these processes along with diseases presenting with learning and memory deficits in humans. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

3464: NEUROSCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Ethical, legal, and social issues faced by human societies from the perspective of neuroscience. Broader questions about ethical and social constructs including consciousness, personhood, cognitive enhancement, free will, and death. Research in neuroscience to issues in medicine, research, law, criminology, public health, and the arts. Junior Standing. (3H,3C)

3554: NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Integration of the interdisciplinary fields of neuroscience: includes the conceptual frameworks and theories of neuroscience spanning molecules to behavior, the methods available to study nervous system structure and function from molecules to behavior, theoretical and practical issues of linking these lower-levels structures and processes to higher-level neurological and phychological functions, and the latest applications and technologies for translating neuroscience into more effective interventions and treatments. Practical experience includes literature review research and writing, data analysis and interpretation, written and oral presentation, and site-specific training. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

4034: DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Common brain and Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders ranging from trauma to autism. Genetic, molecules and cellular changes in disease. Therapeutic implications and development of novel drugs. Challenges in drug discovery and implementation of personalized medicine. Ethical issues regarding genetic findings. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

4044: NEUROSCIENCE SENIOR SEMINAR
Integration of methods and results from cutting-edge interdisciplinary neuroscience research; theoretical and practical issues when linking molecular/cellular structures and processes to higher-level neurological and psychological functions. Pre: 3044, 3084. (3H,3C)

4084: DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Concepts in developmental cognitive neuroscience. Methods available to study development of brain and nervous system function. Relating developmental change in mental functions to development of biological brain functions. Advancements in research and practice regarding developmental basis of neurological and mental functions (e.g., memory, attention, emotion). Pre: 3084. (3H,3C)

4454 (ECON 4454) (PSYC 4454): NEUROECONOMICS
Neural processes related to reward, learning, reflection, delay of gratification, and social interaction. Clinical uses of neuroeconomics research techniques. Implications of neuroeconomics in economics, policy, law and business. Pre: 2026 or ECON 3104. (3H,3C)

4544: SYNAPTIC STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Synapse morphology and function, central versus peripheral synapses, site of action of many therapeutic drugs and substances of abuse, synaptic pruning and failure. Changes in synaptic structure and function during development and in diseases. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

4594: CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE IN PRACTICE
Clinical approaches to surgically treat stroke, trauma, spinal cord injuries and brain tumors. Expected outcomes and therapeutic limitations. Surgical procedures in operating rooms. Patient follow-up and outcomes. Medical emergencies and appropriate professional responses. Ethical issues regarding health care, disparity, life and death decisions. Medical profession exploration. Neuroscience majors, junior standing. Pre: 2026. (3H,3C)

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.



© 2016 - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Maintained by the Office of the University Registrar