Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior & Plasticity
Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior & Plasticity.
Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field that is making great advances in understanding behavior and cognitive functions, as well as advancing treatments for psychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurological disorders. The Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience is designed to teach students to explore neural and brain function at multiple levels. The curriculum is customizable and flexible to ensure students get a well-rounded academic experience to prepare for: graduate school, professional school (e.g., medical school, occupational therapy school, etc.), and entering the workforce.
The degree includes 52-54 required credits: 25 credits in Neuroscience, 6-8 credits in electives on neuroscience topics from a variety of participating departments, and 21 credits of co-requisite courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology. Students majoring in Neuroscience will be strongly encouraged to participate in hand-on research by taking courses in Independent Study as part of their elective credits for the major. Independent Study opportunities are offered in many of the laboratories of the more than 130 neuroscientist faculty members in the various colleges and schools participating in Temple University's Neuroscience Program.
For more information on features of the program use the following links:
- Independent Study and hands-on Research Opportunities
- Graduating with Distinction in Neuroscience
- Career Opportunities
- Student Life and Neuroscience Societies at Temple
Policy Regarding Curricular Overlaps
Because of overlap in coursework, students pursuing this degree cannot complete the Cognitive Neuroscience minor offered by the Psychology Department.
Summary of Degree Requirements
University Requirements:
- MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are NSCI 3096 and NSCI 4197.
- Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.
College of Liberal Arts Requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
- 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
- 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
- For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
- A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
-
Professional Development Requirement
- All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. NSCI 1002 Careers in Neuroscience, PSY 1002 Careers in Psychology or CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors would be an appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
- Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, or minor requirements.
- Note: For Neuroscience majors, there is no CLA Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirement because it is a Bachelor of Science program. However, students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.
Major Requirements (52-54 credits):
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 1012 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHEM 1031 & CHEM 1033 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 1032 & CHEM 1034 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 1003 | Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| NSCI 1051 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSCI 2001 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| NSCI 2121 | Development/Plasticity/Repair | 3 |
| NSCI 2122 | Cellular Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSCI 2222 | The Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| NSCI 3087 | Techniques in Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSCI 3096 | Conducting Neuroscience Research | 3 |
| NSCI 4197 | Capstone in Neuroscience | 4 |
| Foundations Courses: | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6-8 | |
Any course(s) in NSCI numbered 3000-4999 not used for another requirement | ||
| Human Neuroscience | ||
| Independent Study in Communication Sciences | ||
| Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind | ||
PSY 2102 | ||
| Neuroscience of Development and Aging | ||
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | ||
| Independent Study in Cognitive Neuroscience I | ||
| Independent Study in Cognitive Neuroscience II | ||
| Independent Research II | ||
| Cell Structure and Function | ||
| Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Neural Basis of Animal Behavior | ||
| Organization and Development of the Nervous System | ||
| Cooperative Research | ||
| Drug Analysis | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 52-54 | |
Students should check prerequisites for all courses.
Combining the Major in Neuroscience with Major or Minor Programs in Psychology
Students who choose to double-major in Neuroscience and Psychology may count the following courses towards both majors without taking replacement coursework:
- PSY 1001 Introduction to Psychology
- PSY 1003 Statistics for Psychology
- NSCI 3096 Conducting Neuroscience Research
- BIOL 1012 General Biology II
- CHEM 1031 General Chemistry I & CHEM 1033 General Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM 1032 General Chemistry II & CHEM 1034 General Chemistry Laboratory II
For students who major in Neuroscience and minor in Psychology, the following courses may count towards both programs without taking replacement coursework:
- PSY 1001 Introduction to Psychology
- PSY 1003 Statistics for Psychology
- NSCI 3096 Conducting Neuroscience Research
Distinction in Major
Majors in Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior and Plasticity have the opportunity to be awarded departmental distinction upon graduation. Graduation with Distinction can be achieved by maintaining a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better in all Neuroscience Courses, completing two semesters of Independent Study in Neuroscience (NSCI 4182 & NSCI 4282) with an A- or better, and successfully completing a neuroscience research project based on the independent study work and described in a research paper and poster presented to Neuroscience Program faculty and students.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior & Plasticity
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| NSCI 1051 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| BIOL 1012 | General Biology II | 4 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSCI 2001 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA 1002 | Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors1 | 1 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Elective | 3 | |
| PSY 1003 | Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 2 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course | 3 | |
| NSCI 3096 | Conducting Neuroscience Research [WI] | 3 |
| CHEM 1031 & CHEM 1033 | General Chemistry I2 | 4 |
| NSCI 2121 | Development/Plasticity/Repair | 3 |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course | 3 | |
| CHEM 1032 & CHEM 1034 | General Chemistry II2 | 4 |
| NSCI 2122 | Cellular Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSCI 2222 | The Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| NSCI 3087 | Techniques in Neuroscience | 3 |
| One 2000+ Elective From the Approved List | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NSCI 4197 | Capstone in Neuroscience [WI] | 4 |
| One 2000+ Elective From the Approved List | 4 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Elective | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 2 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 123 | |
| 1 | Students may substitute NSCI 1002 or PSY 1002 for this requirement. |
| 2 | CHEM 1031/CHEM 1033 and CHEM 1032/CHEM 1034 fulfill the GenEd Science & Technology requirement. Prerequisite for CHEM 1031 is MATH 1021 with a C or better or placement into MATH 1022. |