Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is the study of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying higher order human cognitive processes, such as attention, memory, perception, and emotion.
Although it has long been appreciated that physiological and biochemical processes underlie all cognitive phenomena, it has only been recently that the tools for studying these processes in humans have become available. Consequently, there has been a rapid growth in this exciting new area.
The Cognitive Neuroscience minor will be of interest to students pursuing careers in the clinical health sciences (medicine, physical therapy, clinical psychology, neuropsychology) and those wishing to do basic and applied research on the central nervous system (CNS). Students ending their education at the bachelors level should find employment as research technicians in CNS drug development and testing, in government and non-profit organizations involved in mental health, as well as entry-level positions in business.
Required Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Courses (9 credits):
PY151 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr)
PY458 Cognitive Neuroscience (3 cr)
BY/PY454 Physiological Psychology1 (3 cr)
Elective Cognitive Neuroscience Courses: 3 courses (9 credits) chosen from the following:
PY317 Psychology of Psychoactive Drugs (3 cr)
BY/PY340 Animal Learning and Cognition (3 cr)
PY359 Perception (3 cr)
PY360 Learning and Memory (3 cr)
BY/PY460 Neurobiology (3 cr)
PY462 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr)
PY463 Health Psychology (3 cr)
Required Science Courses (32 cr):
BY152 Life's Diversity (3 cr)
BY154 Life's Diversity Laboratory (2 cr)
BY153 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 cr)
BY155 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (2 cr)
CM131 General Chemistry I (4 cr)2
CM132 General Chemistry II (4 cr)2
PH141 Physics for Life Sciences I (4 cr)3
PH142 Physics for Life Sciences II (4 cr)3
And two (6 cr) of the following Biology courses:
BY360 Physiology (3 cr)
BY312 Cell Biology (3 cr)
BY214 Genetics (3 cr)
BY310 Developmental Biology (3 cr)
1Biology majors taking the cognitive neuroscience minor cannot use PY/BY454 as one of their Biology elective courses.
2CM103/105 and CM104/106 will also satisfy the Chemistry requirement
3PH131 and PH132 will also satisfy the Physics requirement