Pathways Through the NS&B Major

There are several pathways through the major from which to choose. Here are three examples:

Recommended Course Sequence
Alternative 1 (Late Starter)
Alternative 2 (Very Late Starter)

Recommended Course Sequence

 

Fall

 

Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 1

BIOL 181/191

 

BIOL 182/192

 

 

CHEM 141 (or 143)

 

CHEM 142 (or 144)

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 2

NSB 213

 

NS&B Advanced

 

 

CHEM 251

 

CHEM 252

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 3

PHYS 111 (or 113) or
PSYC 105 or MATH 117
or higher and/or
COMP 211 or higher

 

PHYS 112 (or 116) 
or COMP 112 or 
higher

 

 

NS&B Advanced

 

NS&B Advanced

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Year 4

NS&B Advanced

 

NS&B Advanced

 

 

*Psych/Bio/MBB

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This course sequence is recommended for a number of reasons.  You will have taken the core introductory biology series and much of the required chemistry early on, which will provide a strong background for the advanced NS&B courses.  This sequence will also limit the number of science courses to two or fewer per semester, provide sufficient time for undergraduate research during your last two years and, if desired, time to complete an honors thesis during your senior year.  
*Any upper level (200 or higher) course in one of these departments. 



Alternative 1 (Late Starter)

 

Fall

 

Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 1

 PHYS 111 (or 113) or 
PSYC 105 or MATH 117
or higher and/or
COMP 211 or higher

 

PHYS 112 (or 116)
or COMP 112 or 
higher

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 2

Bio 181/191

 

Bio 182/192

 

 

NSB 213

 

NS&B Advanced

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 3

 

NS&B Advanced

 

  CHEM 141 (or 143)

 

CHEM 142 (or 144)

 

       NS&B Advanced  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 4

CHEM 251

 

CHEM 252

 

 

NS&B Advanced

 

NS&B Advanced

 

  *Psych/Bio/MBB       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Alternative 2 is an example of how you might delay taking the core introductory biology series and other foundation courses until your second year and still be prepared to become  a major at the usual time. Note that at some point you will have to take three science courses in two semesters but if this is done early enough, you should still have plenty of time for research during your last two years if so desired.
*Any upper level (200 or higher) course in one of these departments.



Alternative 2 (Very Late Starter)
 

 

Fall

 

Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 2

NSB 213

 

NS&B Advanced

 

 

PHYS 111 (or 113) or 
PSYC 105 or MATH 117
or higher and/or
COMP 211 or higher

 

PHYS 112 (or 116)
or COMP 112 or higher

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 3

BIOL 181/191

 

BIOL 182/192

 

 

CHEM 141 (or 143)

 

CHEM 142 (or 144)

 

 

NS&B Advanced

 

NS&B Advanced

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 4

CHEM 251

 

CHEM 252

 

 

NS&B Advanced

 

NS&B Advanced

 

  *Psych/Bio/MBB      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


This hypothetical course sequence shows how it is still possible to major in NS&B even when you take no science courses during your first year.  Note that you can still declare  the major by the end of your sophomore year.  However, the drawbacks are several.  First, you will have multiple semesters with more than two science courses--a heavy load.  You  will also have less time for research during your last two years.  Perhaps most important is the fact that having to take foundation courses at the same time or even after some advanced courses will mean you are less well prepared for the most advanced neuroscience courses.
*Any upper level (200 or higher) course in one of these departments.


These are but a few ways of fulfilling the major requirements. In most scenarios, the order in which you take upper level courses from the Psychology and Biology Departments is arbitrary.  This is also true for the order in which Chemistry courses are presented. However, we recommend that you take the two years of chemistry consecutively to maximize retention and application of material from year 1 to year 2.  Some students are reluctant to take Introductory biology and chemistry during their first semester.  We recommend that if you choose to take only one subject, make it biology.