Jun 09, 2023  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Neuroscience BS/MS


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Admission Criteria


Current students wishing to pursue this program must meet Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Admission Criteria .

Course Requirements


Undergraduate Course Requirements


Five Elective Courses (15 credits)


Students are required to take a minimum of 15 credits of elective work from the approved elective list. Students must select a minimum of 3 credits from Biological Sciences (BIO) and a minimum of 3 credits from Psychology (PSY). The remaining electives credits can be fulfilled with any course listed below. 

Graduate Course Requirements


Neuroscience Core (30 credits)


  • NRS 520 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Credits: 4
  • NRS 523 - Laboratory Skills and Safety Credits: 1
  • NRS 524 - Quantitative Neuroscience Credits: 4
  • NRS 600 - Research Credits: 13
  • NRS 601 - Research Seminar Evaluations Credits: 1
  • NRS 602 - Research Seminar Presentations Credits: 1
  • PMY 516 - Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Credits: 3
  • One course graduate elective Credits: 3

Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 81-82


Additional Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 141 credit hour total

Total Undergraduate Credits Required: 110-111


Total Graduate Credits Required for Degree: 30


Total Credits Required for Graduation: 140-141


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements


Students with a UB GPA of 3.0 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher will be admitted to the combined degree program. Science GPA will consist of required coursework in Cell and Evolutionary Biology (with labs), General Chemistry I and II (with labs), Organic Chemistry I and II (with labs), PSY 101  (Introductory Psychology).

Program Honors


Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of approved 498 credit (with 9 credits coming from the same lab experience) and present their research at a department approved research presentation. Students must also meet the remaining criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. Students who successfully complete the honors program and meet the criteria will have the appropriate notation on their official transcript.

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

Total Credits: 17


Total Credits: 15


Second Year Fall


Total Credits: 15


Total Credits: 15


Third Year Fall


Total Credits: 15-16


Third Year Spring


Total Credits: 17


Total Credits: 16


Fourth Year Spring


  • PMY 516LEC - Mol Neuropsychopharmacology Credits: 3
  • NRS 520LEC - Cellular and Molecular Neuro Credits: 4
  • NRS 600TUT - Research Credits: 3
  • Graduate Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 13


Fifth Year Fall


  • NRS 523LAB - Basic Laboratory Skills Credits: 1
  • NRS 524SEM - Quantitative Neuroscience Credits: 4
  • NRS 601SEM - Research Seminar Evaluations Credits: 1
  • NRS 600TUT - Research Credits: 6

Total Credits: 12


Fifth Year Spring


  • NRS 602SEM - Seminars in Neuroscience Credits: 1
  • NRS 600TUT - Research Credits: 4

Total Credits: 5


Total Credits Required: 140-141


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


  • Students will develop literacy in the neurosciences with particular emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that make up the central nervous system as well as the physiology and pathophysiology of disease and treatment of disease states that will make them qualified candidates for a wide variety of biomedical career opportunities, including; professional school (i.e. medical school, dental school, law school), advanced research, pharmaceutical research and development, and other health professions.
  • Students will be able to reframe the current challenges of understanding how the brain functions in health and disease to develop insights into how the brain controls behavior.
  • Students in the program will be able to relate the basic connectivity and anatomy of the human brain and how such connectivity may impact disease states.
  • Students will be able to integrate the organization of the central nervous system and the physiology and pathophysiology of disease and treatment of disease states to create an inclusive background of modern medical neuroscience.
  • Students will be able to relate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie both behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in the central nervous system to changes in central nervous system physiology in both adult and developing central nervous systems resulting in diverse and debilitating neurological disease.
  • Students will be able to critically evaluate a wide variety of research topics and communicate their findings through multiple modalities.
  • Students will acquire an understanding of numerous laboratory techniques utilized in modern life science research and critically evaluate data generated to synthesize new knowledge and discoveries and deliver to the scientific community.

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