Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience
Undergraduate Handbook (2012-2013)
(requires PDF reader)
Neuroscience Student Learning
Outcomes:
When they successfully
complete the
Neuroscience program at
WSU, students will:
Knowledge:
-
Demonstrate
knowledge
of, and
recognize
the
relationships
between,
the
structure
and
function
of
molecules
and
tissues
involved
in
neurobiological
systems
at all
levels:
molecular,
cellular,
and
organismal.
-
Recognize
the
impact
that
science
has on
culture,
and vice
versa.
Skills:
-
Perform
basic
laboratory
techniques
used in
neuroscience
research
and
understand
and
apply
principles
of
laboratory
safety.
-
Locate
and
retrieve
scientific
information
and
read,
understand,
and
critically
evaluate
primary
literature.
-
Prepare
oral and
written
reports
in a
standard
scientific
format.
-
Apply
the
scientific
process,
including
designing,
conducting,
and
evaluating
experiments
and
testing
of
hypotheses.
-
Use
mathematics
and
statistics
to
evaluate
scientific
evidence
and
interpret
graphs
and
tables.
Attitudes:
-
Recognize
that all
areas of
science
are
integrated
and
interconnected.
-
Appreciate
scientific
knowledge
as
something
that is
not
static,
but
constantly
expanding
through
the
ongoing
work of
researchers.
-
Value
ethical
conduct
in
science.
-
Recognize
that the
best
decision-making
and
policies
are
based on
evidence.
Undergraduate Curriculum
(check current Handbook)
Follow us on
Neuroscience Club (closed group)
The
undergraduate neuroscience degree program at Washington
State University is an interdisciplinary biomedical program
featuring world-renowned faculty whose focus is in the cellular
and molecular understanding of system biology issues.
WSU is among the nation's top tier of doctoral/research universities.
Graduate and undergraduate students at WSU are immersed in active research
programs with research expenditures of over $100 million per year. The
research emphasis of the WSU neuroscience faculty include: neurobiology of
sleep, body weight and energy balance, eating disorders and diabetes,
cellular function and biophysics of muscle and related heart disease,
memory, behavior, emotion and well-being, vision, reproduction,
cardiovascular physiology, muscle physiology, motor control, cancer,
neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, and addictions. The neuroscience field
plays an important role in both human and animal medical science.
The undergraduate program for majors is designed for students
interested in pre-medical, pre-veterinary, or other pre-health
science studies to prepare for professional study in the health
sciences (such as physician or doctor of veterinary medicine),
graduate school, or for those who wish to use their training in
laboratory settings in universities, government agencies, or
industry. The program at WSU combines the expertise and resources of
Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience (IPN), Basic Medical
Sciences, Psychology, BioEngineering, Chemistry and Zoology.
Basic courses in the program include Exploring the Brain,
Neuroanatomy, Cellular Neurobiology, Neurophysiology and Affective
Neuroscience.
Undergraduate majors are required to participate in
neuroscience research. A research experience allows students the
opportunity to build critical thinking skills by applying
classroom theory to a real life situation. Under the guidance
of a Neuroscience faculty member, students are able to research
a neuroscience topic of their choice.
Computational Neuroscience
Computational neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program allowing
students to study both neurobiology and computer science or
engineering. It offers the student a balanced curriculum of science
(with the goal of discovering new knowledge about the natural world)
and technology (with the goal of designing and building new devices,
processes, and algorithms to satisfy human needs).
The Computational Neuroscience curriculum links the information
processing features of the nervous system with information
processing of computer systems. Accordingly, the Computational
Neuroscience Option supplements the neuroscience core curriculum
with information technology courses. In this way, students learn not
only of the brain and its information processing mechanisms but also
of modern computer hardware and software technologies.
Courses in science and engineering have been selected to give as
broad an exposure as possible to subjects that underlie the basic
neural and computational sciences with an emphasis on the organism
and the machine as information processing entities. Upon completion
of the four-year curriculum, a B.S. degree in Neuroscience will be
awarded. Furthermore, the program is designed to allow students to
acquire breadth in computational subjects or, alternatively, to
focus on either software or hardware aspects of computation.
Students choosing to acquire breadth in computational subjects will
be well prepared for graduate study in most areas of neural and
biomedical science, including bioengineering. Students choosing a
software or hardware focus may obtain a minor in either computer
science or computer engineering. All subject requirements for entry
into medical school are met by completion of the program of study in
General or Computational Neuroscience.
For additional information, contact Neuroscience
Undergraduate/Academic Coordinator:
Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience
1815 Ferdinand's Lane
Box 647620
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-7620
(509) 335-0986
Fax: (509) 335-4650
neuromajor@wsu.edu
