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.

Summary of Requirements
Requirements for the Curriculum120
Total Hours120

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.

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Foreign language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level)0-16
Exploring World Cultures course a3
Understanding the Creative Arts course a3
Understanding the Past course a3
Understanding U.S. Society course a3
PSCH 100Introduction to Psychology b4
MATH 170Calculus for the Life Sciences c,d4
or MATH 180 Calculus I
BIOS 110Biology of Cells and Organisms c4
BIOS 120Biology of Populations and Communities c4
BIOS 220Genetics3
BIOS 222Cell Biology3
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 230Organic Chemistry of Biological Systems3-4
or CHEM 232 Structure and Function
CHEM 233Synthesis Techniques Laboratory2
PHIL 202Philosophy of Psychology f3
PSCH 242Introduction to Research in Psychology3
PSCH 343Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science4
BIOS/PHIL/PSCH 484Neuroscience I3
BIOS/PHIL/PSCH 485Neuroscience II3
BIOS 286The Biology of the Brain3
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 advanced-level courses in biological sciences, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, or any physics courses to be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor. g9
Electives to complete degree requirement of 120 hours6-25
Total Hours120
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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
MATH 170
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
 Hours15
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
Biology of Cells and Organisms b
or Biology of Populations and Communities
4
PSCH 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
PSCH 242 Introduction to Research in Psychology 3
CHEM 230
Organic Chemistry of Biological Systems
or Structure and Function
3-4
BIOS 110
Biology of Cells and Organisms
or Biology of Populations and Communities
4
Foreign Language 4
 Hours14-15
Spring Semester
CHEM 233 Synthesis Techniques Laboratory 2
BIOS 222 Cell Biology 3
PSCH 262
Behavioral Neuroscience
or The Biology of the Brain
3
General Education Requirement 3
Foreign Language 4
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
PHIL 202
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
 Hours16
Spring Semester
PSCH 343 Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science 4
PHIL 202
Philosophy of Psychology
or Cognitive Neuroscience
3
Foreign Language 4
Advanced level BIOS, CHEM, PHIL, PSCH or any PHYS 3
 Hours14
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
 Hours15-16
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
 Hours14-15
 Total Hours120
a

MATH 170 or MATH 180, with a grade of C or better, satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. 

b

The two Analyzing the Natural World and the two additional General Education course requirements can be satisfied with BIOS 110, BIOS 120 and CHEM 122, CHEM 123, CHEM 124, CHEM 125.