Major Requirements for Neuroscience and Behavior

Neuroscience and behavior is an innovative, cross-disciplinary major aimed at understanding some of the most complex questions in science. How does the brain work?  How does the mind emerge from the brain? What are the causes of mental disorders? The major provides students with broad knowledge of neuroscience through coursework drawn equally from the biological and behavioral sciences. Students in the major will also develop their quantitative and laboratory skills, learn to communicate scientific findings, and become critical and independent thinkers.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Total credits = 40      

                                                                                                       
Required introductory courses
   21:120:200  Concepts in Biology (4)
   21:112:200  Introduction to Neuroscience (3)
   21:830:101  Principles of Psychology (3)
 
Required foundations courses
   21:120:201  Foundations of Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
   21:120:202  Cell and Molecular Biology Lab (1)  
   21:120:315  Principles of Neurobiology (3)*   

   21:830:301  Statistical Methods for the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences (4)
   21:830:302  Experimental Methods for the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences (4)
   21:830:304  Cognitive Processes (3)
 
Advanced courses - choose two courses from the following list:
   21:120:341  Introduction to Neurophysiology (3)
   21:830:411  Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
   21:830:484  Behavioral Neuroscience (3)
 
Electives - choose two courses (6 credits) from the following list:
   21:830:346  Psychology of Language (3)
   21:830:330  Psychology of Learning (3)
   21:830:496  The Emotional Brain (3)
   21:830:489  Neuropsychology (3)
   21:830:489  Drugs and the Brain (3)
   21:830:412  Neuroscience of Decision-Making (3)
   21:830:512  Neuroimaging Methods and Theory (3)**
   21:830:487  Pain and Pleasure (3)
   NJIT Math Analytical and Computational Neuroscience 430 (3)
   NJIT Math Systems and Computational Neuroscience 431 (3)
   Research Experience with neuroscience faculty***

*Students who major in neuroscience and behavior will be allowed to use Introduction to Neuroscience (21:830:411) as a prerequisite for Introduction to Neurobiology (21:120:315) in place of Foundations in Biology: Ecology and Evolution (21:120:205/6). This substitution applies only to 21:120:315 and no other biology course.

**Graduate course; requires permission of instructor.

***Students can apply a maximum of 6 research credits of Research in Neuroscience (21:830:495 or 21:112:495) toward the elective requirement.

Because of its overlap with biology and psychology requirements, students majoring in neuroscience and behavior will be disallowed from double-majoring in psychology or in biological sciences with a neurobiology concentration. Similarly, neuroscience and behavior majors will be disallowed from obtaining a minor in cognitive neuroscience or in biological sciences with a neurobiology concentration.

Questions? Contact: Michael Shiflett, Ph.D.

Cognitive Neuroscience Faculty
Mauricio Delgado, Ph.D.
William Graves, Ph.D.
Stephen José Hanson, Ph.D.
Barry Komisaruk, Ph.D.
Vanessa LoBue, Ph.D.
Michael Shiflett, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Tricomi, Ph.D.