Neuroscience
The neuroscience major at ECU offers students an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the brain-behavior relationship through coursework in STEM and non-STEM disciplines, ultimately to gain a better understanding of the most complex organ in the universe - the brain.
Neuroscience Program Overview
Neuroscience is a relatively young, exciting and interdisciplinary field devoted to the study of the nervous system. The neuroscience major provides foundational neuroscientific knowledge, exposure to research, and professional development opportunities for students to apply these skill sets to their career paths in the biomedical and health sciences. The curriculum involves interdisciplinary coursework covering biology, chemistry, neuroscience, physics, philosophy and psychology.
Students are prepared for advanced study in graduate school, medical school and many fields under the biomedical science and health umbrella, as the curriculum covers most, if not all, the minimum admission requirements in graduate schools* and medical schools* (*depending on program). Part of this preparation involves faculty-mentored research opportunities spanning the Main Campus, College of Allied Health Sciences and Brody School of Medicine.
Majoring in neuroscience may lead to career paths in the following fields.
Academia (research scientist, professor) with specialization in:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
- Neuropsychology
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Neurotoxicology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Health and Medicine
- Dentistry
- General Medicine
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Optometry
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatry
Industry
- Agromedicine
- Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
- Entrepreneurship (hardware, software, service, bioengineering)
Government Research/Consultation
A background in neuroscience may enhance students’ career paths in many areas of employment:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Forensic Science
- Government and Public Policy
- Law and Law Enforcement
- Occupational Health and Physical Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Clinical and Applied Psychology Fields
ECU Advantage
The neuroscience program is special because of its unique position within eastern North Carolina. It is the only neuroscience major available east of I-95 and also offers a minor. Our contributing research faculty are renowned experts from across more than 12 departments spanning the Main Campus to the Brody School of Medicine and College of Allied Health Sciences. They are widely recognized by ECU and within their respective disciplines with federally funded grants, national awards, and scientific publications in prestigious journals. We also have an ambitious student body, who not only seek excellence in the classroom, but also through research and the leadership within the community, as steered by the ECU Neuroscience Student Association. Together, the unique interdisciplinary curriculum at ECU, high-impact experiential opportunities offered through faculty mentorship, and our passionate student engagement unifies us as a program committed to preparing our students for the future. Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in neuroscience are better prepared for advanced study and training in competitive environments such as graduate school, medical school, and other biomedical health and science training programs.
What You Will Study
Program Director: Tuan Tran (225 Rawl Building; 252-328-6445; trant@ecu.edu)
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that falls under the umbrella of biomedical sciences. It offers diverse coursework across academic disciplines that span STEM, the social sciences, and philosophy. The objective of the Neuroscience, BS major is to provide students with foundational and specialized knowledge of the nervous system at various structural and functional levels of analysis, including molecular, cellular, chemical, integrative, cognitive, and behavioral. Additionally, students acquire technical skills, advance their reasoning and critical thinking, and refine their communication skills through faculty-mentored research experience opportunities and scholarly deliverables in the form of thesis projects. The major is for students considering further study in advanced degree programs in neuroscience, neuropsychology, biomedical health sciences, medicine, or related health professions.
In order to declare a major in Neuroscience, BS, an undergraduate must have at least 30 s.h. of completed coursework, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.3, at least a grade of "C" in PSYC 1000 or PSYC 1060, and at least a grade of "C-" in PSYC 3310 or NEUR 3310.
For more information about the neuroscience program, please visit the program website. Students seeking to complete the neuroscience studies minor should contact Dr. Tuan Tran or visit the program website.
Minimum degree requirement is 120 s.h. of credit as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.
(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)
- BIOS 1500 - Introduction to Biostatistics General Education Options
- MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I General Education Options
- MATH 2283 - Statistics for Business General Education Options
- PSYC 2101 - Psychological Statistics
- General Education Options
- MATH 1065 - College Algebra General Education Options
- General Education Options
- PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology General Education Options
- PSYC 1060 - Honors Introduction to Psychology
2. Core - 42 s.h.
a. Research and seminar courses (6 s.h.)
All courses in the research and seminar core require a faculty mentor and approval of the program director. Choose a minimum of 6 s.h. from the following courses:
- NEUR 2201 - Neuroscience Research
- NEUR 4200 - Literature in Neurosciences
- PSYC 4312 - Laboratory Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience
- PSYC 4315 - Neuroscience: Literature and Laboratory Experience
b. Required core courses (36 s.h.)
- NEUR 3310 - Introduction to Neuroscience Required core courses
- PSYC 3310 - Introduction to Neuroscience
- Required core courses
- NEUR 4900 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Required core courses
- PSYC 4250 - Advanced Topics Seminar Required core courses
- Required core courses
- NEUR 4901 - Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience
- NEUR 4950 - Neuroscience Senior Thesis I Required core courses
- NEUR 4951 - Neuroscience Senior Thesis II Required core courses
- PSYC 2210 - Research Methods in Psychology
- PSYC 3225 - Psychology of Learning
- PSYC 3226 - Cognitive Psychology
- Required core courses
- PSYC 3227 - Learning Theories and Applications Required core courses
- PSYC 3311 - Neuropsychology
- Required core courses
- PSYC 3312 - Sensation and Perception
- PSYC 3375 - Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 4340 - Neuropsychopharmacology
Notes:
*Course section must be designated "neurobiology of learning and memory". **Course requires a faculty mentor and approval of the program director.
3. Approved elective courses - 18 s.h.
The neuroscience degree requires approved electives instead of a minor. Choose 18 s.h. from the following courses:
- BIOL 1050 - General Biology
- BIOL 1051 - General Biology Laboratory
- BIOL 1100 - Principles of Biology I
- BIOL 1101 - Principles of Biology Laboratory I
- BIOL 1150 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach
- BIOL 1151 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach Discussion
- BIOL 1200 - Principles of Biology II
- BIOL 1201 - Principles of Biology Laboratory II
- BIOL 2015 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- BIOL 2016 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology Laboratory
- BIOL 2110 - Fundamentals of Microbiology
- BIOL 2111 - Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory
- BIOL 2130 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy
- BIOL 2131 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory
- BIOL 2140 - Human Physiology and Anatomy I
- BIOL 2141 - Human Physiology and Anatomy I Laboratory
- BIOL 2150 - Human Physiology and Anatomy II
- BIOL 2151 - Human Physiology and Anatomy II Laboratory
- BIOL 2300 - Principles of Genetics
- BIOL 3220 - Microbiology
- BIOL 3221 - Microbiology Laboratory
- BIOL 3260 - Cell and Developmental Biology
- BIOL 3310 - Cellular Physiology
- BIOL 3311 - Cellular Physiology Discussion
- BIOL 3620 - Biological Evolution
- BIOL 4880 - Principles of Biochemistry I
- BIOL 4890 - Principles of Biochemistry II
- BIOL 4891 - Principles of Biochemistry Laboratory
- BIOL 5450 - Histology
- BIOL 5451 - Histology Laboratory
- CHEM 1120 - Introduction to Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences
- CHEM 1130 - Organic and Biochemistry for the Allied Health Sciences
- CHEM 1150 - General Chemistry I
- CHEM 1151 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM 1160 - General Chemistry II
- CHEM 1161 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
- CHEM 2750 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 2753 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM 2760 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 2763 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
- CHEM 3770 - Biological Chemistry
- CHEM 3771 - Biological Chemistry Laboratory
- PHIL 1262 - Introduction to Philosophical Issues in Biology
- PHIL 2261 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science
- PHIL 3255 - Philosophy of Mind
- PHYS 1250 - General Physics I
- PHYS 1251 - General Physics Laboratory I
- PHYS 1260 - General Physics II
- PHYS 1261 - General Physics Laboratory II
- PHYS 2350 - University Physics I
- PHYS 2360 - University Physics II
4. Electives to complete requirements for graduation.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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