Neuroscience B.S. - Cognitive Neuroscience
The University of Montana Neuroscience Program also offers a combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience. This five-year (“4 + 1”) accelerated program is specifically designed for students who have demonstrated academic excellence and are deeply interested in pursuing intensive research training in preparation for graduate/professional schools, or who wish to enter the biomedical/biotech sector with advanced standing. The first 3 years of study are aligned with the existing Cellular & Molecular track of the B.S. in Neuroscience. Some students in the Cognitive & Behavioral track may also be eligible, depending upon their course selections. In the 4th year, students will take graduate neuroscience courses and complete their B.S. degree. This will allow students to enter the Neuroscience Graduate Program with advanced standing and, pending completion and defense of an M.S. thesis project, earn an M.S. in 5 years. See the Neuroscience website for details on the curriculum and regulations in the Neuroscience B.S./M.S. Program.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
Bachelor of Science - Neuroscience; Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroscience Core Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BIOB 160 & BIOB 161N | Principles of Living Systems and Principles of Living Systems Lab | 4 |
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| NEUR 280 | Fundamental Neuroscience | 3 |
| NEUR 281 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience II: Cognition | 3 |
| NEUR 380 | Molecular Neuroscience | 3 |
| NEUR 458 | Neuroscience Research Techniques Lab | 4 |
| Mathematics and Physics | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| M 162 | Applied Calculus | 4 |
| PHSX 205N | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 206N | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PHSX 207N | College Physics II | 4 |
| PHSX 208N | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| or PSYX 222 | Psychological Statistics | |
| Chemistry | ||
| Complete one of the following Chemistry sequences: | 9-15 | |
Introductory Chemistry (9 Credits) | ||
| Introduction to General Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry | ||
| Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab | ||
College Chemistry (15 Credits) | ||
| College Chemistry I | ||
| College Chemistry I Lab | ||
| College Chemistry II | ||
| College Chemistry II Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Additional Major Courses | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BCH 380 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| PSYX 270 | Fundamentals of Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| PSYX 280 | Fundamentals of Memory and Cognition | 3 |
| PSYX 356 | Human Neuropsychology | 3 |
| Complete two of the following courses: | 6-7 | |
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I | ||
| Motor Learning and Control | ||
| CNS Diseases | ||
| Neuropharmacology | ||
| Systems Neuroscience of Behavior and Cognition | ||
| Comparative Psychology | ||
| Intersection Courses | ||
| Complete one of the following courses | 1-9 | |
| Behavior & Evolution | ||
| New Visions Dance | ||
| Health and Mind/Body/Spirit | ||
| Fundamentals of Psychology of Aging | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines Requirement | ||
| To complete the General Education Requirement for Writing in the Disciplines, Neuroscience students can either take a complete writing course (in or outside of DBS) or partial writing courses (2-3) within the DBS Distributed Model. | ||
| Total Hours | 72-87 | |
Writing in the Disciplines Distributed Model Courses for Biological Sciences
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3 Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BCH 482 | Advanced Biochemistry II | 3 |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOB 425 | Advanced Cellular & Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOB 483 | Phylogenics and Evolution | 3 |
| BIOE 371 | General Ecology Lab (equivalent to 271) | 2 |
| BIOE 403 | Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 5 |
| BIOH 447 | Genes and Development Lab | 3 |
| BIOM 327 | Vector-Borne Diseases: Public Health Perspectives | 3 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOO 470 | Ornithology | 4 |
| BIOO 475 | Mammalogy | 4 |
| WILD 470 | Conservation of Wildlife Populations | 4 |
| 2/3 Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BCH 486 | Biochemistry Research Lab | 3 |
| BCH 499 | Senior Thesis/Capstone | 3-6 |
| BIOB 411 | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOB 499 | Undergraduate Thesis | 3-6 |
| BIOE 448 | Terrestrial Plant Ecology | 4 |
| BIOE 485 | Plant Evolution | 3 |
| BIOM 499 | Undergraduate Thesis | 3-6 |
| Full Writing in the Disciplines Courses | ||
| BIOH 462 | Principles of Medical Physiology | 3 |
| BIOM 420 | Host-Microbe Interactions | 3 |
Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Hours | |
| CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry | 4 |
| BIOB 160 & BIOB 161N |
Principles of Living Systems and Principles of Living Systems Lab |
4 |
| M 162 | Applied Calculus (or prereq math course) | 4 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I (or General Education Requirement) | 4 |
| HUSC 194 | Seminar/Workshop | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHMY 123 & CHMY 124 |
Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Lab |
6 |
| STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| PSYX 100S | Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I (or General Education Requirement) | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Autumn | ||
| NEUR 280 | Fundamental Neuroscience | 3 |
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| PSYX 270 | Fundamentals of Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| NEUR 281 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience II: Cognition | 3 |
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| PSYX 280 | Fundamentals of Memory and Cognition | 3 |
| General Education Requirement | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| NEUR 380 | Molecular Neuroscience | 3 |
| PHSX 205N & PHSX 206N |
College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory |
5 |
| BCH 380 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| Upper Division Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHSX 207N & PHSX 208N |
College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory |
5 |
| PSYX 356 | Human Neuropsychology | 3 |
| Additional Major Course Elective 1 | 3 | |
| BIOE 406 |
Behavior & Evolution (Intersection course) or New Visions Dance or Health and Mind/Body/Spirit or Fundamentals of Psychology of Aging |
1-4 |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-18 | |
| Senior | ||
| Autumn | ||
| NEUR 458 | Neuroscience Research Techniques Lab | 4 |
| BIOE 406 |
Behavior & Evolution (Intersection Course) or New Visions Dance or Health and Mind/Body/Spirit or Fundamentals of Psychology of Aging |
1-4 |
| Upper Division Elective 2 | 6 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Additional Major Course Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective 2 | 6 | |
| General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 122-128 | |
Last updated Autumn 2024
- 1
The following neuroscience courses fulfill the Additional Major Course elective categories as well as upper division electives: NEUR 441, NEUR 491 (Neuropharmacology), NEUR 491 (Neuroanatomy)
- 2
Students can earn credit in Undergraduate Research in Neuroscience (NEUR 390 or NEUR 490) which will count as upper division elective credit.