Program Handbook

The Curriculum

The Neuroscience Program includes many of the courses taught in both biology and psychology.  Introductory courses in both departments provide a solid grounding in the principles and concepts that form the core of knowledge upon which the field of neuroscience has developed, as well as in the nature of experimentation in these fields.  Majors then take one of two introductory-level neuroscience courses to provide an introduction to the field of neuroscience itself.  A series of mid-level laboratory courses, including Comparative Neurobiology, Molecular Neurobiology, Learning and Memory, and Techniques in Behavioral Neuroscience provide students with more in-depth experience and laboratory work in areas of neuroscience ranging from molecular to cognitive.  More specialized courses, including upper-level seminars, allow students to pursue areas of interest to them.  These courses cover such diverse topics as neuropsychology, developmental neuroscience, hormones and behavior, and animal cognition.

Requirements for Honors in Neuroscience

The Neuroscience Program grants honors to senior majors to reward distinguished work in neuroscience. Honors is achieved through a student's performance in neuroscience coursework as well as completion of a research project and thesis. Students interested in pursuing Honors in Neuroscience are encouraged to speak with potential faculty mentors early in their junior year, and to apply for fellowships to begin their research during the summer before the senior year.

Honors in neuroscience will be awarded by the Neuroscience Committee upon consideration of a written thesis and oral presentation, and based on the student's success in the following:

  • Experimental effort

  • Knowledge and understanding of the literature relevant to the project

  • The ability to place the project into the scientific context, and to connect the experimental design, the literature and the data obtained

  • Data analysis/ project presentation, including an understanding of the field as demonstrated when answering questions during the presentations

  • Attendance at neuroscience seminars, including discussions (usually two each semester) with "honors seminar" speakers



In addition, students must meet the following specific requirements for Honors:

1. Candidates must have a grade point average equal to a B in all courses submitted for the major through the fall semester of the senior year. This includes all courses that are eligible for credit towards the major.

2. Candidates must complete at least two semesters of Independent Study (Neuroscience 401-404) devoted to research on a single topic.

3. A tentative research project title must be given to the coordinator and to the Chair of the Neuroscience Program by October 31. At the same time, a brief description (about 1 page) of the project should be submitted to the research advisor. This description will be posted on the Neuroscience web site.

4. Each student will be assigned a committee consisting of the research advisor and at least two additional faculty (generally from the Neuroscience Program, although other faculty with appropriate expertise may occasionally be suggested.)

5. During the Reading Period at the end of the fall semester(December 10-11, 2007), each candidate will orally present a 15 minute (with 5 minutes for questions) description of the project to a Neuroscience Faculty and Student seminar. The student will describe the background of the project in broad terms and then focus on the specific area being investigated in the independent study. Honors students are expected to have established protocols for their studies, to have begun experimentation, and to have at least some preliminary data at the time of the fall presentation.

6. A fall semester honors paper must be submitted to each member of the committee no later than the last day of classes (December 7, 2007). This paper will include (1) an Introduction containing complete background information (with citations) and the question(s) being addressed, (2) the methodology and experimental design being used (Methods), and (3) a short description of results to date and/or a project proposal. It is expected that the Introduction and Methods will serve, after revision, as those components for the final thesis (except in cases where substantial and unexpected changes in direction occur during the spring semester.) A student's continuation in the honors program will be determined by the Neuroscience faculty at the end of the fall semester. It is the student's responsibility to consult with the research advisor regarding continuation during the first week of the second semester.

7. During the first half of the spring semester, Neuroscience honors students and faculty will meet as a group to discuss informally each student’s research project. Other interested faculty will also be invited to attend.

8. During the reading period at the end of the spring semester (May 8-9, 2008), honors candidates will give a twenty minute oral presentation describing the project and the results obtained, followed by ten minutes of discussion.

9.Candidates for honors will attend both the fall and spring honors talks presented by other neuroscience honors students.

10. The final draft of the thesis will be given to all members of the Neuroscience faculty and Julie Santorella the Neuroscience Department coordinator no later than the Friday before classes end (May 2, 2008). Note that this is a final draft of the thesis; the student is responsible for getting feedback from members of his or her committee on earlier drafts, and revising the earlier drafts accordingly. Students who fail to turn in an acceptable draft by this deadline will not be considered for honors.

11. Students are awarded honors in Neuroscience upon favorable consideration by the Neuroscience Committee of the honors thesis and oral presentation. Requirements for preparation of the thesis, as well as the date of the final copy of the thesis is due at the Library, are established by the Faculty and can be obtained from the College Librarian. The approval of the Neuroscience Committee is required before the thesis is submitted to the College Librarian.

Summary of Thesis Deadlines

  • October 31, 2007: Title and one-page project description to Neuroscience Chair (Patsy Dickinson) and coordinator (Julie Santorella)

  • December 7, 2007: Fall semester honors paper to committee

  • December 10-11, 2007: Fall semester oral presentation

  • January 21-25, 2008: Consult with advisor on continuation in the honors program and on revisions to the fall semester paper

  • April 11, 2008: Final thesis title to Department Coordinator, Julie Santorella

  • May 3, 2008: Final draft of thesis due to Neuroscience faculty

  • May 8-9, 2008: Final oral presentation of thesis

  • May 16, 2008: Final revised and approved thesis due to library 5:00 p.m.

    • Electronic copy of final revised thesis to Department Coordinator, Julie Santorella


For further information, please consult the College Catalogue or the Requirements for the Major in Neuroscience PDF PDF»