BS in Neuroscience
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The curriculum requires a minimum of 120 semester hours as distributed below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Requirements for the Curriculum | 120 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements for the Curriculum
The requirements for the curriculum include the courses necessary to complete the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements described in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Foreign language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level) | 0-16 | |
| Exploring World Cultures course a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Creative Arts course a | 3 | |
| Understanding the Past course a | 3 | |
| Understanding U.S. Society course a | 3 | |
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology b | 4 |
| MATH 170 | Calculus for the Life Sciences c,d | 4 |
| or MATH 180 | Calculus I | |
| BIOS 110 | Biology of Cells and Organisms c | 4 |
| BIOS 120 | Biology of Populations and Communities c | 4 |
| BIOS 220 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOS 222 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| Select one of the following sequences in general chemistry: | 10 | |
| Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry I c | ||
| Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry II c | ||
| OR | ||
| Matter and Energy e | ||
| Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I c,e | ||
| Chemical Dynamics e | ||
| Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II c,e | ||
| CHEM 230 | Organic Chemistry of Biological Systems | 3-4 |
| or CHEM 232 | Structure and Function | |
| CHEM 233 | Synthesis Techniques Laboratory | 2 |
| PHIL 202 | Philosophy of Psychology f | 3 |
| PSCH 242 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 3 |
| PSCH 343 | Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science | 4 |
| BIOS/PHIL/PSCH 484 | Neuroscience I | 3 |
| BIOS/PHIL/PSCH 485 | Neuroscience II | 3 |
| BIOS 286 | The Biology of the Brain | 3 |
| or PSCH 262 | Behavioral Neuroscience | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Introduction to the Philosophy of Science | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Topics in Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Select two of the following laboratory courses: | 6-8 | |
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Animal Behavior and Neuroethology | ||
| Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory | ||
| Laboratory in Perception | ||
| Laboratory in Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Neural Engineering I Laboratory | ||
| Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology Laboratory | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Nine semester hours in upper-division courses in biological sciences, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, or any physics courses to be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. g | 9 | |
| Electives to complete degree requirement of 120 hours | 6-25 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.
- b
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
- c
This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.
- d
Completion of MATH 121, the prerequisite to MATH 180, or placement into MATH 170 or MATH 180 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement
- e
General Education credit is given for successful completion of both CHEM 122/CHEM 123 or CHEM 124/CHEM 125.
- f
PHIL 202 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
- g
BIOS 386 is also recommended from the biological sciences electives to develop written and oral communication skills.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| MATH 170 or MATH 180 |
Calculus for the Life Sciences a or Calculus I |
4 |
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
| Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry I | ||
| Matter and Energy and Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I |
||
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
| Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry II | ||
| Chemical Dynamics and Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II |
||
| BIOS 110 or BIOS 120 |
Biology of Cells and Organisms b or Biology of Populations and Communities |
4 |
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCH 242 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 3 |
| CHEM 230 or CHEM 232 |
Organic Chemistry of Biological Systems or Structure and Function |
3-4 |
| BIOS 110 or BIOS 120 |
Biology of Cells and Organisms or Biology of Populations and Communities |
4 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 233 | Synthesis Techniques Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOS 222 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| PSCH 262 or BIOS 286 |
Behavioral Neuroscience or The Biology of the Brain |
3 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHIL 202 or PSCH 360 |
Philosophy of Psychology or Learning and Conditioning |
3 |
| BIOS 220 | Genetics | 3 |
| Advanced-level Elective in BIOS, CHEM, PHIL, or PSCH, or any PHYS | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCH 343 | Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science | 4 |
| PHIL 202 or PSCH 366 |
Philosophy of Psychology or Cognitive Neuroscience |
3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| Advanced level BIOS,CHEM,PHIL,PSCH or any PHYS | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BIOS 484 |
Neuroscience I or Neuroscience I or Neuroscience I |
3 |
| PHIL 201 |
Theory of Knowledge or Metaphysics or Introduction to the Philosophy of Science or Theory of Knowledge or Topics in Philosophy of Mind or Metaphysics or Philosophy of Science |
3 |
| BIOS/PSCH lab | 3-4 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIOS 485 |
Neuroscience II or Neuroscience II or Neuroscience II |
3 |
| Advanced level BIOS, CHEM, PHIL, PSCH or any PHYS | 3 | |
| BIOS/PSCH lab | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 5 | |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |