The department offers a neuroscience track providing students with a specialized set of courses and experiences in neuroscience. Student on this track complete a rigorous set of science courses and conduct research with members of the Neuroscience and Behavior (NSB) program at UMass. The NSB graduate program is an interdepartmental academic unit that brings together faculty members from various departments to provide cutting-edge research training for students on this track.
If you are seeking information about the neuroscience track, please see one of the neuroscience track advisors during their advising hours, available on Navigate and listed on the general advising page. Although students cannot officially declare the neuroscience track in their first semester at UMass due to the 3.0 GPA requirement, we encourage you to come see an advisor to learn about requirements and opportunities in neuroscience as soon as possible!
When you meet with an advisor to declare the neuroscience track, you will complete a declaration of major form.
Neuroscience Track Graduation Checklist
- Students entering the Neuroscience Track must have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Courses taken P/F may not be counted toward the track.
1. Six required courses
- Psych 100: Introductory Psychology or Psychology 110: Psychology As Natural Science
- Psych 240: Statistics in Psychology
- Psych 241: Methods of Inquiry in Psychology (should be completed by the end of 1st semester of Junior Year)
- Psych 330: Introduction to Neuroscience (formerly Behavioral Neuroscience)
- Psych 337 (formerly 392A): Junior Year Writing Seminar
- Psych 494PI: Career Development in Psychology (Integrative Experience course; when taken in combination with a Psych 391 seminar, this course will satisfy the IE, no seminar equivalents will be accepted)
2. Two of the following
- Psych 315: Cognitive Psychology
- Psych 320: Learning and Thinking
- Psych 335: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
3. One of the following
- Psych 350: Developmental Psychology
- Psych 360: Social Psychology
- Psych 380: Adult Psychopathology (formerly Abnormal Psychology)
4. One of the following (any option can be used for the advanced Neuroscience elective but only Psych 391 seminars can count towards the Integrative Experience requirement)
- Advanced neuroscience elective (at least 3 credits, 500 level or above; e.g. Bio 572, Psych 530, Psych 535)
- Psych 391 or 591 seminar in a neuroscience topic area
5. Lab course requirement (one of the following; at least 3 credits, letter graded)
- Psych 430: Laboratory in Neuroscience
- Psych 496A: Independent Study in Psychology (Neuroscience labs only)
- Psych 499T: Honors Thesis in Psychology (Neuroscience labs only)
- Bio 499T: Honors Thesis in Biology (Neuroscience labs only)
- Independent study (graded) or honors thesis may be taken with any faculty member associated with the NSB Program, for example Bio 396 or 496 (Independent Study).
- See http://gpls.cns.umass.edu/nsb/research/faculty for a list of NSB Program faculty members and their research interests.
6. Math (one of the following)
- Computer Science 121 (no longer offered) or CICS 110
- Two calculus courses (Math 127 & 128) or (Math 127 & 132) or (Math 131 & 132) or (Math 131 & 128)
7. Introductory Biology
- Biology 151, 152, & 153
8. Biology elective (one of the following, at least 3 credits)
- Biology/Biochem/AnimalSci 285, Biology 288, Biology/Biochem/AnimalSci 311 (formerly 283), or Biology 300+ (See Neuroscience Track Advisor for prior approval of 300+ Biology course)
9. Chemistry (both of the following)
- General Chemistry: 111/112 or 121/122
- Organic Chemistry: 261/262, & 269 (or 263/264)
10. Physics 131/132, or 151/152
11. Biology/Biochem/AnimalSci 285 or Biochem 320 (formerly 420) or 423/424 (Biol 285 cannot be used to fulfill both requirements 8 & 11)