Neuroscience (B.S.)

60-62 Major Hours (includes minor), 120 Degree Hours

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .

As part of a broad-based, liberal arts curriculum, degrees in neuroscience will prepare students for a number of professional pathways, including graduate study in behavioral neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or clinical neuropsychology; professional study in medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and law; careers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries; and careers in science writing and communication. By requiring students to choose either the cognitive specialization or the molecular and cellular specializing, the program will ensure that students focus on one of the two major subfields in neuroscience and tailor their undergraduate curriculum to specific paths for careers and/or graduate study.

Departmental Requirements (14 hours)

• BIOL 150 - Exploring Neuroscience

• Or

• PSYC 150 - Exploring Neuroscience

•  

• PSYC 301 - Sensation and Perception (C)
• PSYC 301L - Sensation & Perception Laboratory (C)
• BIOL 430 - Neurobiology (C)
• NSCI 400 - Neuroscience Journal Club (1 credit hour required)
• NSCI 489 - Neurobehavioral Research Techniques

•  

• Note: For double majors in Psychology and Neuroscience, PSYC 301/L Sensation and Perception may be applied toward both programs. 

Required Support Courses (28-29 hours)

• PSYC 101 - General Psychology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
• BIOL 151 - General Biology I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 153 - General Biology II (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• BIOL 280 - Inquiry and Analysis in Biology (C)
• BIOL 280L - Inquiry and Analysis in Biology Laboratory (C)

•  

• Select one of the following:

• BIOL 420 - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology (C)
• BIOL 420L - Introduction to Biostatistics & Computational Biology Laboratory (C)

• Or

• PSYC 371 - Statistics in Psychological Research (C)

•  

• Select one of the following sequences:

• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]

• Or

• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (C) [SGR #6]
• CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6]
• CHEM 116 - Honors Principles of Chemistry [SGR #6, HSDC]
• CHEM 116L - Honors Principles of Chemistry Laboratory [SGR #6, HSDC]

•  

• Select one of the following:

• PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 111L - Introduction to Physics I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]

• Or

• PHYS 211 - University Physics I (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]
• PHYS 211L - University Physics I Laboratory (C) [SGR #6, HSDC]

•  

• Note: The above supporting coursework will complete the Interdisciplinary Science Minor or may be applied toward another minor or second major.

Specialization (9 or 10 hours)

In addition, students must choose one of the following specializations. 

Required Electives (9 hours)

• BIOL 402 - Animal Behavior
• BIOL 402L - Animal Behavior Lab
• BIOL 426 - Endocrinology *
• BIOL 432 - Behavioral Neuroscience *
• BIOL 441 - Histology
• BIOL 443 - Cell Biology
• BIOL 445 - Cellular Neuroscience *
• CHEM 310 - Fundamental Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 310L - Fundamental Organic Chemistry Lab
• CHEM 326 - Organic Chemistry I (C)
• CHEM 326L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (C)
• CHEM 330 - Organic Chemistry of Biomolecules
• DCOM 221 - Introduction to Audiology
• DCOM 224 - Speech Science
• PSYC 302 - Principles of Learning and Memory *
• PSYC 302L - Principles of Learning and Memory Laboratory *
• PSYC 406 - Cognitive Psychology (C) *
• PSYC 408 - Psycholinguistics
• PSYC 411 - Physiological Psychology (C)
• PSYC 413 - Evolutionary Psychology *
• PSYC 423 - Research in Aging
• PSYC 433 - Psychology of Human Performance
• PSYC 438 - Psychoacoustics

• * Courses may be taken as an elective if not completed for specialization

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

• Neuroscience, B.S.-Cognitive Neuroscience  
• Neuroscience, B.S.-Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience  

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization