NEUROSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR

Subject abbreviation: NRSC

Faculty | Program | Minor
Undergraduate Curricula

B. Glenn Stanley, Ph.D., Committee Chair
College of Humanities, Arts, and Social
  Sciences (909) 787-5386
  1419 Life Sciences Psychology
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
  (909) 787-4186, 1001 Batchelor Hall North
http://www.psych.ucr.edu/neurowww/neuroindex.html

Committee in Charge
Michael E. Adams, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Entomology)
John H. Ashe, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Psychology)
Curt Burgess, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Christine Chiarello, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Margarita C. Currás-Collazo, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Scott N. Currie, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Glenn I. Hatton, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Peter W. Hickmott, Ph.D. (Psychology)
Walter H. Metzner, Ph.D. (Biology)
B. Glenn Stanley, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Psychology)
Raphael Zidovetzki, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Patricia O'Brien, Ph.D.Dean, College of Humanities, Arts,and Social Sciences, ex officio
Steven R. Angle, Ph.D.Interim Dean, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, ex officio

MAJOR

The Neuroscience major is an intercollege major offered by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The Neuroscience major offers upper-division courses which contribute to an academic program emphasizing the functioning of nervous systems at the molecular, cellular, system, behavioral, and cognitive levels. Some of the topics covered include neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurochemistry in human and other animals; neural mechanisms underlying sensory system function and perception; neural organization of behavior; development of the nervous system; and neural mechanisms of learning and memory.

The Neuroscience major replaces the former Psychobiology major, which stopped accepting new students after Spring 1998. Students currently working toward the Psychobiology degree (as well as readmitted students and transfer students accepted prior to Fall 2000) will be allowed to complete the Psychobiology degree requirements but must graduate by June 2002. For a listing of Psychobiology degree requirements see the 1997-98 UCR General Catalog.

Both a B.A. and a B.S. degree are offered by each college. When students declare the major, they choose from which college they wish to have their degree awarded. Students whose degrees are awarded by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences are advised in and have their records maintained by the Department of Psychology; students whose degrees are awarded by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are advised in and have their records maintained by the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Breadth requirements vary by college; and students must fulfill the breadth requirements of the college they choose.

For more information about student advising or requirements for admission to professional and technical schools, contact the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, (909) 787-4186 or the Department of Psychology, (909) 787-5386, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521.

Career Opportunities

The Neuroscience major provides preparation for a variety of careers including those involving laboratory and field work. The major can lead to graduate studies in physiological psychology, neuropharmacology, animal behavior, and neuroscience. Some students find this major suitable as preparation for teaching, counseling, or medical and allied health fields. The major does not include courses which are mainly premedical or courses in human personality, counseling, and social psychology.

The Neuroscience major offers strong preparation in basic science, and the upper-division courses provide information about the internal mechanisms and processes of humans and other animals. Counselors and clinicians who complete this major should be better qualified to consider underlying causes of patient behavior. For reasons such as this, some students with an interest in counseling or clinical psychology select the Neuroscience major and then include some elective courses in human personality, psychotherapy, counseling, and social behavior.

Degree Requirements

University Requirements

See the Undergraduate Studies section for requirements that all students must satisfy.

College Requirements

College breadth requirements vary depending on which college is chosen to award the degree. For a detailed list of breadth requirements and a summary of units, see the Undergraduate Studies section of this catalog. Students are urged to consult their advisor regarding requirements.

The following restrictions and additions apply to college breadth requirements for the Neuroscience major.

For the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

For the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Major Requirements

1.  Neuroscience Core (65-70 units; satisfies the Life Sciences Core required for some majors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences). Up to 12 units of upper-division life sciences courses (for this major, courses from the departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Entomology, and Neuroscience) not being used to satisfy the core may be taken prior to completion of the core; permission from the program chair or the program chair's designate is required to take upper-division units in excess of these 12 units.

2.  Upper-division requirements

Note: No courses other than those listed may be used in the major unless specifically approved by the program chair or the program chair's designate.

Sample Program

Bachelor of Arts
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C 4 4 4

MATH 009A-MATH 009B

 4 4

BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B

 4 4

ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C

 4 4 4

Humanities/Social Sciences

 4
Total Units 12 16 16

Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM 112C 4 4 4

BIOL 005C

 4

NRSC 106

 4

PSYC 001, PSYC 002

 4 4

General Physics

 4 4 4

General Physics Lab

 1 1 1

Foreign Language 1, 2

4 4
Total Units 17 17 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
BCH 100 or BCH 110A 4    
PSYC 011 4    
Upper-division BIOL, NRSC, or PSYC 4 8 8
Foreign Language 3, 4 4 4  
Humanities/Social Sciences   4 4
Total Units 16 16 12
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
Upper-division BIOL, NRSC, or PSYC 4 4 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 8 4 4
Electives 4 8 8
Total Units 16 16 16
Bachelor of Science
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring

CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM 112C

 4 4 4

MATH 009A-MATH 009B

 4 4

BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B

 4 4

ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C

 4 4 4

Humanities/Social Sciences

 4
Total Units 12 16 16
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-
CHEM 112C		 4 4 4

BIOL 005C

 4

NRSC 106

 4

PSYC 001, PSYC 002

 4 4

General Physics

 4 4 4

General Physics Lab

 1 1 1

Humanities/Social Sciences

 4 4
Total Units 17 17 17
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
BCH 100 or BCH 110A 4    
PSYC 011 4    
Upper-division BIOL, NRSC, or PSYC 4 8 8
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 8 4
Total Units 16 16 12
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
Upper-division BIOL, NRSC, or PSYC 12 8 8
Electives 4 8 8
Total Units 16 16 16
Minor

A minor in Neuroscience is available. For more information on minor requirements, refer to the discussion of minors in the appropriate college section of the General Catalog.

1.  First tier (13-14 units)

2.  Second Tier (6-7 units)

  Select additional units from the list below so that the units from the First Tier combined with the units from the Second Tier equal at least 20.

  BIOL 111, BIOL 176, BIOL 177; BIOL 176L or NRSC 120L/PSYC 120L (whichever was not used under 1, above); NRSC 116, NRSC 125/PSYC 125, NRSC 126/PSYC 126, NRSC 127/PSYC 127; PSYC 129

Descriptions for all courses used in the Neuroscience major and minor may be found in the appropriate department section.

Teaching Credential

Teachers in the public schools in California must be certified by the State Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The credential requires an undergraduate major, baccalaureate degree, and completion of a graduate credential program such as that offered by the Graduate School of Education at UCR. The latter usually requires three quarters and includes education courses and supervised teaching.

Before admission and student teaching in a graduate credential program, the candidate must pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) and demonstrate subject-matter proficiency in the fields which the candidate will teach. The candidate can demonstrate proficiency either by passing the commission's subject-matter assessment examination, or, preferably, by completion of an undergraduate program that is state-approved for teacher preparation.

UCR has an approved undergraduate program for Neuroscience majors who plan to get a Multiple Subjects Credential and teach in the elementary (K-6) grades. A breadth of course work is necessary in addition to the specified requirements for the major. Students are urged to start early, preferably as freshmen, selecting courses most helpful for this career.

UCR does not have a state-approved undergraduate program for Neuroscience majors who wish to teach at the secondary level. The Teaching Credential in Science, biology emphasis, is required for biology teachers, grades 7-12. Students who plan to get this credential must take the commission's subject-matter assessment examination and should make certain their academic program includes preparatory course work. This is more easily accomplished with a Biology rather than a Neuroscience major. The examination includes biology in depth and general science with introductory, college-level biology, chemistry, physics, and geoscience (geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy).

Further information about courses, requirements, and examinations can be obtained in orientation meetings, the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Center (1001 Batchelor Hall North), and the Graduate School of Education (1215 Sproul Hall).

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES

NRSC 106. Introduction to Neuroscience. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C; or consent of instructor. An introduction to cellular, organismal, and behavioral neuroscience for science majors. Topics include structure and functions of the brain, neurons, and synapses; sensory systems and perception; control of movement; neurobiology of hormones and sexual behavior; biorhythms, learning, memory, and psychoses.

NRSC 116. Cellular Neuroscience: Structure-Function Relationships. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. Examination of structures comprising nervous systems and the functional principles around which these structures are organized. Topics range from whole brain anatomy to the cellular units (neurons and glia) that constitute nervous systems, and to subcellular elements important in neural functioning.

NRSC 120. Cellular Neuroscience: Membrane and Synaptic Phenomena. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. An examination of cellular and molecular mechanisms of nervous system function using concepts drawn from the study of vertebrates and invertebrates with emphasis on mammalian systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 120.

NRSC 120L. Neuroscience Laboratory. (2)

Lecture, one hour; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 or concurrent enrollment. Laboratory experiments using electrophysiological, chemical, and anatomical research methods fundamental to understanding neurons and neural systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 120L.

NRSC 124. Systems Neuroscience. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 106 or consent of instructor. Study of the structure and function of motor, sensory, and motivational systems in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. Cross-listed with PSYC 124.

NRSC 125. Neuropharmacology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120; previous or concurrent enrollment in NRSC 120L/PSYC 120L and NRSC 124/PSYC 124 recommended. Examines synaptic neurotransmitter systems, mechanisms, and pharmacological agents and effects, which are fundamental to neural information processing. Cross-listed with PSYC 125.

NRSC 126. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 or consent of instructor. Covers recent research and advances in the understanding of the physiological, anatomical, and biochemical basis of information acquisition and retention in nonhuman and human brain. Cross-listed with PSYC 126.

NRSC 127. Behavioral Control Systems. (4)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120; NRSC 124/PSYC 124 strongly recommended. An analysis of the principles of nervous system operation from the processing of sensory inputs for object recognition and localization to the organization of central patterns for generation of sequenced motor output. Cross-listed with PSYC 127.

NRSC 128. Immunology. (3)

Lecture, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, BIOL 111 or BIOL 113 or BIOL 114, CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC, CHEM 112C, MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC, BCH 100 or BCH 110A, one course in statistics. A study of humoral and cellular immunology. Topics include lymphoid systems, cells, antigens, antibodies, antibody formation, cellular immunity, and tumor and transplantation immunology. Diseases and altered immune states associated with each topic are discussed in detail. Cross-listed with BIOL 128.

NRSC 169. Human Embryology. (4)

Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC, CHEM 112C, MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC, BCH 110A, STAT 105, third-year standing in the Biomedical Sciences Program; or consent of instructor. An in-depth study of normal human development from conception through the early postnatal period. Demonstrations use microscopic and other materials specifically adapted for the course. Some consideration is given to abnormal development.

NRSC 191. Seminar in Neuroscience. (3)

Seminar, three hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 and one other upper-division Neuroscience course, or consent of instructor; upper-division standing. Lectures by the instructor and oral presentations by students on selected topics with emphasis on current research in neuroscience. Instructor and the topic vary. Written assignment. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 6 units.

NRSC 194. Independent Reading. (1-2)

Individual study, three to six hours. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Individual reading under faculty direction. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 4 units.

NRSC 197. Research for Undergraduates. (1-4)

Outside research, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): NRSC 120/PSYC 120 (or concurrent enrollment); consent of instructor. An introduction to laboratory research under the supervision of a faculty member. Course is repeatable.

NRSC 199. Senior Research. (1-4)

Outside research, three to twelve hours. Prerequisite(s): open to seniors by invitation of faculty; NRSC 120/PSYC 120. Original research undertaken under the direction of a faculty member. Course is repeatable.