UC Riverside 2001-2002 - Heuroscience Undergraduate Major

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)
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.Dean, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, ex officio

MAJOR

The Neuroscience major is an intercollege major offered by the colleges of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The Neuroscience major offers upper-division courses that 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 humans 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 2001) are 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 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Center. 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 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Center, (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 that are mainly premedical or courses in human personality 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, 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

Humanities Foreign language at level 4 or above for the B.A. may be used to fulfill up to 8 units of the Humanities breadth requirement. PHIL 139 and PHIL 153 are recommended.

Social Sciences Psychology courses may not be used as part of the Social Sciences breadth requirement if a Biology course is used to meet any part of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.

Foreign Language In fulfilling the Foreign Language breadth requirement, for both the B.A. and the B.S. degrees, a modern language such as Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, or French must be used.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics The Neuroscience Core in the Neuroscience major satisfies the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.

For the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Humanities For the B.S. degree, 16 units instead of 12 units are required to fulfill the Humanities breadth requirement. PHIL 139 and PHIL 153 are recommended.

Social Sciences For the B.S. degree, 16 units instead of 12 units are required to fulfill the Social Sciences breadth requirement. Psychology courses not required or approved for the Neuroscience major may be used in meeting the Social Sciences breadth requirement.

Foreign Language In fulfilling the Foreign Language breadth requirement for the B.A. degree, a modern language such as Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, or French must be used. Further, fourth-quarter level proficiency in one foreign language (not level 2 in two languages) is required.

Natural Sciences and Mathematics The Neuroscience Core in the Neuroscience major satisfies the Natural Sciences and Mathematics breadth requirement.

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

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

BCH 102, BCH 110B, BCH 110C; BIOL 100/ENTM 100, BIOL 102, BIOL 105, BIOL 107A, BIOL 108, BIOL 109, BIOL 110, BIOL 151, BIOL 160, BIOL 161A, BIOL 161B; BIOL 162/ENTM 162; BIOL 167, BIOL 171, BIOL 173/ENTM 173, BIOL 175, BIOL 175L, BIOL 185P; up to 9 units from CBNS 191, CBNS 194, CBNS 197 and/or CBNS 199; CS 170; PHYS 139L; PSYC 130, PSYC 132, PSYC 134, HMDV 135/PSYC 135, ANTH 146/PSYC 146

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 ArtsBachelor of Science

Freshman Year	Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C	4	4	4
BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA; BIOL 005B		4	4
ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C	4	4	4
MATH 009A-MATH 009B	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
CBNS 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
Freshman Year	Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM 112C	4	4	4
MATH 009A-MATH 009B	4	4
BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA; 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
CBNS 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)

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 completing 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).