Neuroscience - BS, Translational and Preclinical Neuroscience Track
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. This interdisciplinary field integrates several disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. It is the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience that requires the participation of multiple units, including the Department of Biology, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in collaboration with Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics (NEXT) in offering this degree, as well as the Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience. Students completing the 120 hour BS in Neuroscience (College Station campus), with an emphasis in Translational and Preclinical Studies, will be well prepared for graduate study, as well as to enter entry-level healthcare and technical occupations. The core courses for this degree will include a foundation in the life sciences, and a foundational sequence in neuroscience that will prepare students for more advanced courses. For the concentration of the degree administered by the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics in the College of Medicine, students will complete courses focused on biomedical, translational, and preclinical neuroscience.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| BIOL 111 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
| CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 4 |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric 1 | 3 |
| VIBS 101/NRSC 101 | Neuroscience Overview 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Calculus I for Biological Sciences | ||
| Engineering Mathematics I | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 112 | Introductory Biology II | 4 |
| CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II | 4 |
| PSYC 107 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Calculus II for Biological Sciences | ||
| Engineering Mathematics II | ||
| Calculus II | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 201 | College Physics | 4 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| VIBS 277/NRSC 277 | Introduction to Neuroscience 1 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 213 | Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 228 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 238 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 202 | College Physics | 4 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BICH 410 | Comprehensive Biochemistry I | 3 |
| GENE 302 | Principles of Genetics or Biomedical Genetics | 3 |
| NRSC 235/PSYC 235 | Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience 1 | 3 |
| American history 2 | 3 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BICH 411 | Comprehensive Biochemistry II | 3 |
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| STAT 302 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| Select 3 hours from: | 3 | |
| Communication 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| VIBS 450/NRSC 450 | Mammalian Functional Neuroanatomy | 4 |
| Creative arts 2 | 3 | |
| Concentration elective 3 | 6 | |
| General elective 4 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 434/NRSC 434 | Regulatory and Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 |
| BIOL 435 | Laboratory for Regulatory and Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| Concentration elective 3 | 6 | |
| General elective 4 | 5 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Must make a C or better |
| 2 | Students should complete core areas in consultation with an academic advisor, as some professional schools require specific courses. |
| 3 | In consultation with an academic advisor. Select from KINE 406, NRSC 485, NRSC 491; VIBS 343, VIBS 401, VIBS 407/NRSC 407, VIBS 408, VIBS 422, VIBS 424/VTPP 424, VIBS 443, VIBS 447, VIBS 606/NRSC 605, VIBS 640/NRSC 640; VTMI 662; VTPP 323, VTPP 425. |
| 4 | Select any 100-499 course not used elsewhere. |
The graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of international and cultural diversity courses and 3 hours of cultural discourse courses. A course satisfying a core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. See academic advisor.
Graduation requirements require 2 courses with the Writing Intensive (UWRT), or 1 course with the Writing Intensive (UWRT) and 1 course with the Oral Communication (UCRT) attribute. These courses are designed to be TPC concentration electives (ex. VIBS 408, VIBS 443, VIBS 447) and should be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. Writing/Communication intensive courses must be taken in the student’s major to count towards graduation.