Mar 29, 2024  
Course Catalog 2008-2009 
    
Course Catalog 2008-2009 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Neuroscience


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Catherine A. McCormick, Professor; Department Chair
Lynne Bianchi, David H. and Margaret W. Barker Associate Professor; Associate Dean
Albert Borroni, Lecturer
Mark Braford, Professor
Katherine Caldwell, Visiting Assistant Professor
Michael D. Loose, Associate Professor
Dennison Smith, Norman Henderson Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology
Janice Thornton, Professor

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of study that employs the tools and perspectives of biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and medicine to achieve a better understanding of brain function, behavior and the mind. The Neuroscience major is designed for students interested in how the brain works and the relationship between the brain’s operation and perception, thought, emotion, and behavior. Opportunities are available for students to use multiple approaches at many levels of analysis including molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels.

The Neuroscience major is appropriate for any student with an interest in the field. It will also serve those students interested in graduate study or professional work in any area of neuroscience or in fields such as animal behavior, behavioral genetics, biopsychology, pharmacology, clinical psychology, biotechnology, medicine, or public health. To be well prepared for graduate or professional study in these fields, students will generally need to take additional course work over and above the minimum required to fulfill the Neuroscience major. Students should consult closely with their advisors to determine the most appropriate set of courses consistent with their interests and goals.

 

Advanced Placement

There is no advanced placement examination in Neuroscience. Advanced placement credit for a course within the Neuroscience major that is taught by another department will be accepted for credit toward the Neuroscience major if the relevant department accepts advanced placement credit for the course toward its major.  First-year students with an interest in Neuroscience who have achieved a Biology AP score of 5 or an IB score of 6 are encouraged to consider enrolling in NSCI 204 (Fall semester) or NSCI 201 (Spring semester) and NSCI 211 (offered both semesters).

 

Entry-Level Course Sequence Suggestions

Students intending or considering a major in Neuroscience should plan a course sequence for their first and second years with a Neuroscience faculty member.  The following courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year:  Biology 100 or 118, Chemistry 101 and 102 (or 103), Neuroscience 201 or 204, and Neuroscience 211.  Additionally, completion of Biology 213 during the sophomore year is recommended.
Students starting the major after their first year should work out a course sequence in conjunction with a Neuroscience faculty member.

Neuroscience Major


Any variation in meeting the major requirements indicated below must be approved in writing by the Chair of the Neuroscience Department. Similarly, the department chair must approve course credit earned away from Oberlin before it can serve to satisfy requirements for the major.

Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C- cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the Neuroscience major.

The requirements for the Neuroscience major are as follows: 

All of the Following Courses:

    NOTE:  Qualified students may take CHEM 103 – Topics in General Chemistry in place of CHEM 101 and 102

One of the Following Statistics Courses:


One of the Following Courses:


One of the Following Two Lecture Courses and the Lab:


Four Lecture/Discussion Neuroscience Electives from the Following Lists:


At least two of the following courses with a cellular/systems perspective:


  •  NSCI 339 - Developmental Neurobiology

At least one of the following courses with a behavioral/cognitive perspective:


Any of the following courses may take the place of a NSCI course with a behavioral/cognitive perspective:


Two Laboratory Neuroscience Electives:


  • NSCI 321 - Studies in Neuronal Function
  • NSCI 341 - Laboratory in Developmental Neurobiology

One of the following courses may take the place of a NSCI Laboratory course:


NOTE:  PSYC laboratory courses may have additional requirements.

NOTE:  PSYC 305 can be used to meet either a lecture or a lab requirement, but not both.

Senior Seminar in Neuroscience


Supporting Courses


Neuroscience is inherently an interdisciplinary field.  Certain additional courses outside the major are useful or necessary for gaining admission to graduate programs in particular specialties.  Biology 213 (Cell and Molecular Biology) is recommended and should be optimally completed in the sophomore year.  Students preparing for graduate school in cell and molecular neuroscience might also consider taking courses in  organic chemistry (CHEM 205), bioorganic chemistry (CHEM 254), biochemistry (CHEM 374), physics (PHYS 103, 104),  immunology (BIOL 327) and physiology (BIOL 312).  Students planning to pursue graduate work in cognitive neuroscience could consider advanced work in mathematics (e.g. MATH 220, 232), computer science (e.g. CSCI 142) and other courses listed in the Cognitive Sciences Concentration section of the catalog.  Students with particular interests in animal behavior or brain evolution might select additional courses such as animal physiology (BIOL 312), evolution (BIOL 218), vertebrate structure and evolution (BIOL 203), and biological anthropology (ANTH 102).

Minor


The Neuroscience Department does not offer a minor.

Research Opportunities


Students interested in research on or off campus are encouraged to discuss with their advisors the various research options available. Enrollment in NSCI 607- Independent Research is by consent only. Information on the Honors Program is available below and on the Neuroscience Department’s web page at www.oberlin.edu/nsci.

Honors


During the second semester of the junior year or earlier, students wishing to enter the Honors Program in Neuroscience should discuss their interest with one or more of the Neuroscience Faculty. If a faculty member is able to work with a student, he/she will help the student develop an appropriate research project proposal. To be formally accepted into the Honors Program, a student’s research proposal is submitted to the Neuroscience Department early in the first semester of the student’s senior year. Proposals are judged for their quality and feasibility. Students whose proposals are approved enroll in NSCI 607-Independent Research. Admission to the Honors Program requires a minimum of GPA of 3.1 in the major.

Pre-Medical and Health Career Preparation


Students planning to apply to medical school may major in any subject, provided they take those courses required by medical schools for admission. Early in their academic careers at Oberlin, students should discuss their health career plans with one of the Health Career advisors. For a list of these advisors see www.oberlin.edu/hcf.

Transfer of Credit


The Neuroscience Department accepts courses taken at other colleges and universities as meeting requirements for the major if, and only if, the courses are judged to be equivalent in content to courses offered at Oberlin College. In all cases, at least half of the courses a student counts toward meeting major requirements must be taken at Oberlin. A request to the Chair of the Neuroscience Department for permission to substitute a course taken away from Oberlin for the major should be made in advance—prior to enrolling in the course. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure proper transfer of credit forms are completed and placed on file in the Office of the Registrar.

Winter Term


During Winter Term, the Neuroscience Department offers a number of individual research opportunities in the laboratories of faculty members. Also, students are encouraged to participate in one or more of the many off-campus research and internship opportunities in laboratories, hospitals and clinics throughout the country.

Courses in Neuroscience


Courses in Neuroscience Not Offered at this Time


  • NSCI 339 - Developmental Neurobiology
  • NSCI 341 - Laboratory in Developmental Neurobiology

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