Neuroscience

New to the St. Olaf Catalog in 2001-02

Director, 2001-03: James Dickson, Psychology

Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary program that will provide students access to the field by linking curricula, faculty, and students in a contract concentration that requires foundations in at least two natural sciences, and stretches to connect with courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It provides students with a broad introductory exposure to the field of neuroscience by requiring students to integrate material from several disciplines to answer questions about the brain, behavior, and consciousness. Students must first consult with the director of the Neuroscience Concentration near the end of the sophomore year and develop a contract. The contract may be altered by mutual consent at any time.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION

The neuroscience concentration consists of six courses: an introductory neuroscience course (Neuroscience 234), four core elective courses, and a capstone seminar. Neuroscience 234, Introduction to Neuroscience, will provide a foundation and overview of the important and extensive ways in which biological and psychological processes are involved in the regulation and maintenance of behavior. The four core elective courses will be selected from appropriate offerings in psychology (one 200-level course), biology (one 200-level course), any of the departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (one 300-level course), and from neuroscience-related offerings from an area outside the natural sciences (one course). The final course for the concentration will be a capstone seminar. The prerequisite for this class is the completion of the other requirements in the neuroscience concentration

COURSES

234 Introduction to Neuroscience

Neuroscience is one of the fastest growing fields, with activity ranging from the fundamentals of behavior to molecular aspects of neuronal function. This course will provide a foundation and overview of the important and extensive ways in which biological and physiological processes are involved in the regulation and maintenance of behavior. Among the topics we explore are: fundamental electrophysiology, sensory and motor systems, integration, learning and memory and the mind-body connection. CREDIT WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR BOTH THIS COURSE AND PSYCHOLOGY 238. Prerequisites: Biology 125 OR Chemistry 121 (or 125) OR Physics 126 OR Psychology 122. Counts toward Biology Major, Psychology Major. GE: NST, NSL. Offered Spring Semester 2002.

APPROVED COURSES:

BIOLOGY FOUNDATION COURSES (1 REQUIRED)

• Biology 233 Intermediate Genetics
• Biology 243 Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Biology 247 Animal Physiology
• Biology 248 Invertebrate Zoology Another appropriate biology course with director's permission

PSYCHOLOGY FOUNDATION COURSES (1 REQUIRED)

• Psychology 235 Sensation and Perception
• Psychology 236 Conditioning and Learning
• Psychology 237 Cognition, Learning and Memory Another appropriate Psychology course with director's permission

ADVANCED SCIENCE ELECTIVE (1 REQUIRED)

• Biology 372 Developmental Biology Biology 341 Cell Physiology Chemistry 379 Biochemistry
• Physics 390 Topics in Physics
• Psychology 382 Neuropsychology Another appropriate neuroscience course with director's permission

ELECTIVE OUTSIDE NATURAL SCIENCE (1 REQUIRED)

Consult director

CAPSTONE SEMINAR (REQUIRED)

• Designated Seminar in Biology (e.g., Biology 385 - "The Neuron")
• Designated Seminar in Psychology (e.g., Psychology 390-"Neuroethology")
• Other designated seminars in Chemistry or Biology or Psychology