Neuroscience Major
Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.
NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.
Neuroscience major requirements
- 6 Neuroscience units (courses may not be double-counted with Allied Field courses or required Related Courses for the major)
- 2 200-level NEUROSCI core courses
- 2 Group A Elective courses (have a primary focus on human behavior and the human brain)
- 2 Group B Elective courses (have a primary focus on molecular, cellular, and systems-level mechanisms of brain function)
- 4 Allied Field units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above, chosen from one of the following areas. Courses may not be double-counted with the 6 Neuroscience units or required Related Courses for the Neuroscience major. No more than 2 Allied Field courses may be double-counted with another major and none with a minor.
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computation and Systems Modeling
- Human Behavior and Cognition
- Language and Human Communication
- Ad hoc Allied Field - some other area chosen with approval of the director of undergraduate studies
- Related Courses (units depend on math and science sequences taken)
- BIOL_SCI 201-0 Molecular Biology
- Calculus sequence
- General Chemistry sequence with labs
- 1 Computer Programming course from list of approved courses
- General Physics sequence with labs
- 1 Statistics course from list of approved courses
- Laboratory Experience requirement
- Courses that satisfy the laboratory experience requirement may also be used to satisfy another requirement for the major.
- If two units of Undergraduate Research (398/399) are used for the Laboratory Experience requirement, they may also substitute for one course in any Allied Field.
Neuroscience Course Lists
Required Neuroscience core courses:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| NEUROSCI 202-0 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience |
| NEUROSCI 206-0 | Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience |
Neuroscience Group A Electives (students choose 2):
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| COG_SCI 210-0 | Language and the Brain |
| CSD 303-0 | Brain and Cognition |
| or PSYCH 327-0 | Brain and Cognition |
| CSD 310-0 | Biological Foundations of Speech and Music |
| PSYCH 110-0 | Introduction to Psychology |
| PSYCH 228-0 | Cognitive Psychology |
| PSYCH 244-0 | Developmental Psychology |
| PSYCH 248-0 | Health Psychology |
| PSYCH 324-0 | Perception |
| PSYCH 328-0 | Brain Damage and the Mind |
| PSYCH 330-0 | Special Topics in Cognition/Neuroscience 1 |
| PSYCH 336-0 | Consciousness |
| PSYCH 378-0 | Images of Cognition |
| PSYCH 391-0 | Advanced Seminar in Cognition or Neuroscience 2 |
| PSYCH 392-0 | Advanced Seminar in Psychology 3 |
- 1
PSYCH 330-0 when topic is, "Brain and Language."
- 2
PSYCH 391-0 when class topic is, "Left Brain, Right Brain," "Creative Problem Solving," or "Language and the Mind." For other topics, a syllabus may be provided to the DUS for consideration.
- 3
PSYCH 392-0 when class topic is, "Psychoneuroimmunology," or "Emotional Brain." For other topics a syllabus may be provided to the DUS for consideration.
Neuroscience Group B Electives (students choose 2):
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL_SCI 303-0 | Molecular Neurobiology |
| BIOL_SCI 307-0 | Brain Structure, Function, and Evolution |
| ES_APPM 370-1 | Introduction to Computational Neuroscience |
| NEUROSCI 303-0 | Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychopharmacology |
| NEUROSCI 304-0 | Developmental Neurobiology |
| NEUROSCI 308-0 | Genetics of Human Behavior |
| NEUROSCI 311-0 | Biophysical Analysis of Neurons for ISP (If not used in place of NEUROSCI 202-0) |
| NEUROSCI 320-0 | Animal Behavior |
| NEUROSCI 324-0 | Neurobiology of Biological Clocks and Sleep |
| NEUROSCI 325-0 | Neurobiology of Stress, Adversity, and Resilience |
| NEUROSCI 326-0 | Neurobiology of Learning and Memory |
| NEUROSCI 350-0 | Advanced Neurophysiology Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 355-0 | Neurogenetics of Behavior Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 357-0 | Neuroanatomy Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 360-0 | Neuroscience of Brain Disorders |
| NEUROSCI 365-0 | Neurobiology of Prediction |
| NEUROSCI 370-0 | Genetic and Circuit Analysis of Motivated Behavior |
| NEUROSCI 377-0 | Neurobiology of Sensation and Perception |
| NEUROSCI 390-0 | Topics in Neuroscience |
Allied Field Course Lists
Biology (any 4 units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| 300-level NEUROSCI courses listed under Neuroscience Group B Electives above are eligible if not being used as a Group B course. | |
| This Allied Field is not available to students doing the major in biological sciences with a concentration in Molecular Neurobiology. | |
| BIOL_SCI 202-0 | Cell Biology |
| BIOL_SCI 203-0 | Genetics and Evolution |
| BIOL_SCI 232-0 | Molecular and Cellular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| BIOL_SCI 233-0 | Genetics and Molecular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| BIOL_SCI 234-0 | Investigative Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| BIOL_SCI 301-0 | Principles of Biochemistry |
| BIOL_SCI 303-0 | Molecular Neurobiology |
| BIOL_SCI 307-0 | Brain Structure, Function, and Evolution |
| BIOL_SCI 310-0 | Human Physiology |
| BIOL_SCI 315-0 | Advanced Cell Biology |
| BIOL_SCI 319-0 | Biology of Animal Viruses |
| BIOL_SCI 323-0 | Bioinformatics: Sequence and Structure Analysis |
| BIOL_SCI 325-0 | Animal Physiology |
| BIOL_SCI 327-0 | Biology of Aging |
| BIOL_SCI 328-0 | Microbiology |
| BIOL_SCI 338-0 | Modeling Biological Dynamics |
| BIOL_SCI 341-0 | Population Genetics |
| BIOL_SCI 354-0 | Systems Biology |
| BIOL_SCI 355-0 | Immunobiology |
| BIOL_SCI 360-0 | Principles of Cell Signaling |
| BIOL_SCI 361-0 | Protein Structure and Function |
| BIOL_SCI 363-0 | Biophysics |
| BIOL_SCI 377-0 | The Human Microbiome |
| BIOL_SCI 378-0 | Functional Genomics |
| BIOL_SCI 380-0 | Biology of Cancer |
| BIOL_SCI 381-0 | Stem Cells and Regeneration |
| BIOL_SCI 390-0 | Molecular Biology of Genome Editing and Engineering |
| BIOL_SCI 391-0 | Developmental Biology |
| BIOL_SCI 392-0 | Morphogenesis |
| BIOL_SCI 393-0 | Human Genomics |
| BIOL_SCI 395-0 | Molecular Genetics |
| CHEM 215-1 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 215-2 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 215-3 | Organic Chemistry III |
| CHEM 235-1 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-2 | Organic Chemistry Lab II (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-3 | Organic Chemistry Lab III (0.34 units) |
| The six chemistry courses above have substantial overlap with the 217 and 237 series below. Consult with the Chemistry director of undergraduate studies for exact equivalencies. | |
| CHEM 217-1 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 217-2 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 217-3 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry III |
| CHEM 237-1 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHEM 237-2 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory II |
Chemistry (any 4 units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| CHEM 215-1 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 215-2 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 215-3 | Organic Chemistry III |
| CHEM 235-1 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-2 | Organic Chemistry Lab II (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-3 | Organic Chemistry Lab III (0.34 units) |
| The six courses above have substantial overlap with the 217 and 237 series below. Consult with the Chemistry director of undergraduate studies for exact equivalencies. | |
| CHEM 217-1 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 217-2 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 217-3 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry III |
| CHEM 237-1 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHEM 237-2 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory II |
| also | |
| CHEM 220-0 | Introductory Instrumental Analysis |
| CHEM 305-0 | Chemistry of Life Processes |
| CHEM 306-0 | Environmental Chemistry |
| CHEM 307-0 | Supramolecular Design of Materials and Nanostructures |
| CHEM 308-0 | Design, Synthesis, and Applications of Nanomaterials |
| CHEM 313-0 | Advanced Organic Chemistry 1. Advanced concepts of organic reactivity and selectivity in synthesis. |
| CHEM 314-0 | Principles of Chemical Biology |
| CHEM 316-0 | Medicinal Chemistry: the Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Action |
| CHEM 319-0 | Advanced Organic Synthesis - Concepts and Applications |
| CHEM 342-1 | Thermodynamics |
| CHEM 342-2 | Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy |
| CHEM 342-3 | Kinetics and Statistical Thermodynamics |
| CHEM 348-0 | Physical Chemistry for ISP |
| CHEM 350-1 | Advanced Laboratory 1 |
| CHEM 350-2 | Advanced Laboratory 2 |
| CHEM 350-3 | Advanced Laboratory 3 |
| CHEM 393-0 | Green Chemistry |
Computation and Systems Modeling (any 4 units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Additional courses may be eligible with the consent of the director of undergraduate studies. | |
| BIOL_SCI 338-0 | Modeling Biological Dynamics |
| ES_APPM 370-1 | Introduction to Computational Neuroscience |
| ES_APPM 472-0 | Introduction to the Analysis of RNA Sequencing Data |
| MATH 230-1 | Multivariable Differential Calculus |
| MATH 230-2 | Multivariable Integral Calculus |
| MATH 240-0 | Linear Algebra |
| MATH 250-0 | Elementary Differential Equations |
| The four mathematics courses listed above have substantial overlap with the 281, 285, 290, and 291 mathematics series below. Consult the Math director of undergraduate studies for exact equivalencies. | |
| MATH 281-1 | Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| MATH 281-2 | Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| MATH 281-3 | Accelerated Mathematics for ISP: First Year |
| MATH 285-1 | Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| MATH 285-2 | Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| MATH 285-3 | Accelerated Mathematics for MMSS |
| MATH 290-1 | MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| MATH 290-2 | MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| MATH 290-3 | MENU: Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| MATH 291-1 | MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| MATH 291-2 | MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| MATH 291-3 | MENU: Intensive Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus |
| also | |
| MATH 310-1 | Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 310-2 | Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 310-3 | Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 311-1 | MENU: Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 311-2 | MENU: Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 311-3 | MENU: Probability and Stochastic Processes |
| MATH 325-0 | Complex Analysis |
| MATH 334-0 | Linear Algebra: Second Course |
| MATH 351-0 | Fourier Analysis and Boundary Value Problems |
| MATH 353-0 | Qualitative Theory of Differential Equations |
| MATH 354-0 | Chaotic Dynamical Systems |
| MATH 360-1 | MENU: Applied Analysis |
| MATH 360-2 | MENU: Applied Analysis |
| MATH 368-0 | Introduction to Optimization |
| MATH 381-0 | Fourier Analysis and Boundary Value Problems for ISP |
| MATH 382-0 | Complex Analysis for ISP |
| NEUROSCI 390-0 | Topics in Neuroscience (When taught with topic: "Brain function through the lens of computation") |
| PHYSICS 330-1 | Classical Mech |
| PHYSICS 330-2 | Classical Mechanics |
| PHYSICS 332-0 | Statistical Mechanics |
| PHYSICS 337-0 | Physics of Condensed Matter |
| PHYSICS 339-1 | Quantum Mechanics |
| PHYSICS 339-2 | Quantum Mechanics |
| PHYSICS 339-3 | Particle and Nuclear Physics |
| PHYSICS 352-0 | Introduction to Computational Physics |
| PHYSICS 357-0 | Optics Laboratory |
| PHYSICS 360-0 | Advanced Physics Laboratory |
| PHYSICS 361-0 | Classical Optics and Special Relativity |
| PHYSICS 371-0 | Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos |
| STAT 210-0 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics |
| STAT 232-0 | Applied Statistics |
| STAT 301-1 | Data Science 1 with R |
| or STAT 303-1 | Data Science 1 with Python |
| STAT 301-2 | Data Science 2 with R |
| or STAT 303-2 | Data Science 2 with Python |
| STAT 301-3 | Data Science 3 with R |
| or STAT 303-3 | Data Science 3 with Python |
| STAT 302-0 | Data Visualization |
| STAT 320-1 | Statistical Theory & Methods 1 |
| STAT 320-2 | Statistical Theory & Methods 2 |
| STAT 320-3 | Statistical Theory & Methods 3 |
| STAT 328-0 | Causal Inference |
| STAT 344-0 | Statistical Computing |
| STAT 348-0 | Applied Multivariate Analysis |
| STAT 350-0 | Regression Analysis |
| STAT 352-0 | Nonparametric Statistical Methods |
| STAT 354-0 | Time Series Modeling |
| STAT 356-0 | Hierarchical Linear Models |
| STAT 383-0 | Probability and Statistics for ISP |
Human Behavior and Cognition (any 4 units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| 300-level NEUROSCI courses listed under Neuroscience Group A Electives above are eligible if not being used as a Group A course. | |
| This Allied Field is not available to students doing the major in psychology. | |
| COG_SCI 207-0 | Introduction to Cognitive Modeling |
| COG_SCI 211-0 | Learning, Representation & Reasoning |
| PSYCH 205-0 | Research Methods in Psychology |
| PSYCH 303-0 | Psychopathology |
| PSYCH 324-0 | Perception |
| PSYCH 330-0 | Special Topics in Cognition/Neuroscience |
| PSYCH 370-0 | Cognitive Development |
| PSYCH 372-0 | Language and Cognition |
| PSYCH 374-0 | Human Memory |
| PSYCH 390-0 | Advanced Seminar in Personality, Clinical, or Social Psychology |
| PSYCH 391-0 | Advanced Seminar in Cognition or Neuroscience (any section) |
| PSYCH 392-0 | Advanced Seminar in Psychology (With the approval of the director of undergraduate studies) |
Language and Human Communication (any 4 units, at least 2 of which must be 300-level or above)
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| CSD 202-0 | Neurobiology of Communication |
| CSD 301-0 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Vocal Mechanism |
| CSD 302-0 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Peripheral Hearing Mechanism |
| CSD 303-0 | Brain and Cognition |
| CSD 305-0 | Phonetics |
| CSD 306-0 | Psychoacoustics |
| CSD 310-0 | Biological Foundations of Speech and Music |
| LING 250-0 | Sound Patterns in Human Language |
| LING 260-0 | Formal Analysis of Words & Sentences |
| LING 270-0 | Meaning |
| LING 315-0 | Experimental Approaches to Word Form Processing |
| LING 316-0 | Experimental Syntax |
| LING 317-0 | Experimental Pragmatics |
| LING 321-0 | Bilingualism |
| LING 330-0 | Research Methods in Linguistics |
| LING 334-0 | Introduction to Computational Linguistics |
| LING 350-0 | Fundamentals of Laboratory Phonology |
| LING 360-0 | Fundamentals of Syntax |
| LING 370-0 | Fundamentals of Meaning |
| LING 371-0 | Reference |
| LING 372-0 | Pragmatics |
| LING 373-0 | Implicature |
Laboratory Experience, choose one option below (units depend on option selected):
Two units of graded credit from NEUROSCI 398-0 or NEUROSCI 399-0 Undergraduate Research in a relevant field:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| NEUROSCI 399-0 | Independent Study in Neuroscience (multiple registrations) |
| NEUROSCI 398-0 | Senior Thesis Seminar (With approval of the director of undergraduate studies) |
| Two units of Undergraduate Research (typically numbered 398 or 399) in another relevant field may satisfy this requirement with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. | |
| Two units of approved 398 or 399 Undergraduate Research may fulfill the laboratory experience requirement and at the same time replace one unit of credit in any Allied Field. | |
One unit of 200-level or higher credit from laboratory or methods undergraduate coursework:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Some courses on this list may double-count for an Allied Field or Neuroscience Elective. | |
| BIOL_SCI 232-0 | Molecular and Cellular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| BIOL_SCI 233-0 | Genetics and Molecular Processes Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| BIOL_SCI 234-0 | Investigative Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 220-0 | Introductory Instrumental Analysis |
| CHEM 235-1 | Organic Chemistry Lab I (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-2 | Organic Chemistry Lab II (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 235-3 | Organic Chemistry Lab III (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 237-1 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory I |
| CHEM 237-2 | Accelerated Organic Chemistry Laboratory II |
| LING 330-0 | Research Methods in Linguistics |
| NEUROSCI 350-0 | Advanced Neurophysiology Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 355-0 | Neurogenetics of Behavior Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 357-0 | Neuroanatomy Laboratory |
| NEUROSCI 390-0 | Topics in Neuroscience (Sections designated as a Laboratory) |
| PSYCH 205-0 | Research Methods in Psychology |
| Other courses with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. | |
Related Courses Required for the Major in Neuroscience:
1 Biology course:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL_SCI 201-0 | Molecular Biology |
Calculus sequence chosen from:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| MATH 220-1 | Single-Variable Differential Calculus |
| MATH 220-2 | Single-Variable Integral Calculus |
| or | |
| MATH 218-1 | Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus |
| MATH 218-2 | Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus |
| MATH 218-3 | Single-Variable Calculus with Precalculus |
| Other with approval of the director of undergraduate studies | |
Chemistry sequence chosen from:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| CHEM 110-0 | Quantitative Problem Solving in Chemistry |
| CHEM 131-0 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I |
| CHEM 141-0 | Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory I (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 132-0 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II |
| CHEM 142-0 | Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory II (0.34 units) |
| or | |
| CHEM 151-0 | General Chemistry I |
| CHEM 161-0 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 152-0 | General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 162-0 | General Chemistry Laboratory II (0.34 units) |
| or | |
| CHEM 171-0 | Advanced General Inorganic Chemistry |
| CHEM 181-0 | Advanced General Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| CHEM 172-0 | Advanced General Physical Chemistry |
| CHEM 182-0 | Advanced General Physical Chemistry Laboratory (0.34 units) |
1 Computer Programming course chosen from:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL_SCI 323-0 | Bioinformatics: Sequence and Structure Analysis |
| COMP_SCI 110-0 | Introduction to Computer Programming |
| COMP_SCI 111-0 | Fundamentals of Computer Programming |
| ES_APPM 370-1 | Introduction to Computational Neuroscience |
| ES_APPM 375-1 | Quantitative Biology I: Experiments, Data, Models, and Analysis |
| ES_APPM 375-1 may be used to fulfill either the Statistics or the Computer Programming requirement, but not both. | |
| Other courses with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. | |
Physics sequence chosen from:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| PHYSICS 130-1 | College Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-1 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 130-2 | College Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-2 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 130-3 | College Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-3 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| or | |
| PHYSICS 135-1 | General Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-1 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 135-2 | General Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-2 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 135-3 | General Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-3 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| or | |
| PHYSICS 140-1 | Fundamentals of Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-1 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 140-2 | Fundamentals of Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-2 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 140-3 | Fundamentals of Physics |
| PHYSICS 136-3 | General Physics Laboratory (0.34 units) |
| or for ISP students | |
| PHYSICS 125-1 | General Physics ISP |
| PHYSICS 126-1 | Physics Laboratory for ISP (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 125-2 | General Physics for ISP |
| PHYSICS 126-2 | Physics Laboratory for ISP (0.34 units) |
| PHYSICS 125-3 | General Physics for ISP |
| PHYSICS 126-3 | Physics Laboratory for ISP (0.34 units) |
1 Statistics course chosen from:
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL_SCI 337-0 | Biostatistics |
| BMD_ENG 220-0 | Introduction to Biomedical Statistics |
| CSD 304-0 | Statistics in Communication Sciences and Disorders |
| ES_APPM 375-1 | Quantitative Biology I: Experiments, Data, Models, and Analysis |
| ES_APPM 375-1 may be used to fulfill either the Statistics or the Computer Programming requirement, but not both. | |
| IEMS 201-0 | Introduction to Statistics |
| PSYCH 201-0 | Statistical Methods in Psychology |
| STAT 202-0 | Introduction to Statistics and Data Science |
| STAT 210-0 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics |
| STAT 383-0 | Probability and Statistics for ISP |
| Other courses with the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. | |
Honors in Neuroscience
Majors with strong academic records and significant research accomplishments may pursue honors in neuroscience. Interested students should contact the director of undergraduate studies by email no later than the beginning of fall quarter senior year. Considerations for honors include GPA and the quality of a written thesis based on the student’s research. Students also must complete at least 1 quarter of NEUROSCI 399-0 Independent Study in Neuroscience and NEUROSCI 398-0 Senior Thesis Seminar in winter of senior year. Students meeting department requirements may be recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information consult the department website and see Honors in the Major.