Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Neuroscience > Course Offerings



Foundational Courses

NS 109 Introduction to Neuroscience  (4 CH)
A lecture /laboratory course that will introduce students to the field of neuroscience and provide prospective majors with the knowledge needed for further study of the neurosciences.  An examination of the biological basis of neural and sensory function, motor and sensory systems and their integration as learning and memory, cognition, behavior and illness.  The laboratory component provides an understanding of neuroscience through hands-on experimental procedures using state of the art equipment and field trips to an affiliated research laboratory.   3 one-hour lectures and one 3 hour laboratory per week.

NS 231 Neuropsychopharmacology (4 CH)
Students will be able to understand and explain administration, pharmacokinetics, behavioral effects and drug interactions of psychoactive substances. Students will be able to identify major classes of psychoactive substances. Students will also be able to explain how psychoactive substances may be used to treat psychopathologies and disorders of the nervous system.  The laboratory will  study the modes of drug action using a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate model systems

Math 211 Elementary Statistics (4 CH)
Descriptive statistics including tables, graphs, measures of centrality and dispersion, percentiles, and zscores. Elementary probability including discrete and continuous random variables and the binomial and normal distributions. Inferential statistics including point and interval estimation, parametric tests of hypotheses, simple linear regression and correlation, and some non-parametric tests such as chisquare and sign tests. Lab work with a statistical computer program.

Phys 214 Digital Electronics* (3 CH)
Digital Electronics is laboratory based. It begins at a level suitable for those with no previous exposure to electronics or the theory of electricity. The course is largely non-mathematical with an emphasis on hands-on experience. Basic elements of the course are digital logic, Boolean algebra, logic gates and networks, logic families, flip-flops, clocks, registers, counters, and memories. The course can be taken independently of Phys 213 (Analog Electronics), and is suitable for physics, pre-engineering and computer science students. Two three-hour laboratory afternoons per week.

Psy 270 Neuropsychology (3 CH)
Introduction to the neuron and the neuronal systems underlying (primarily) mammalian behavior. Sensory inputs, central processing and outputs to muscles, glands and other organs will be considered in terms of their relationships to behavioral phenomena such as learning, memory, language, and psychopathology.

Bio 294 Human Physiology (4 CH)
A study of the activity of the organ systems of the human. Function will be examined at the molecular as well as at the integrated systems level. The relationship of structure to function will be emphasized. The laboratory consists of experiments designed to demonstrate and/or to amplify principles presented in lecture.

Courses Providing Depth
                       
Psy 222 Research Methods (4 CH)
A survey of research methods used to describe, predict, and explain behavioral and thought processes. The methods of observation, correlation, and experimentation will be emphasized. An independent project in an appropriate content area is also required.

Psy 342 Cognitive Psychology (4 CH)
The theory and data of cognition, information systems, and memory from the viewpoint of modern cognitive psychology. Emphasis will be placed on the methods of determining and measuring cognitive processes and on the data relating to these processes. Laboratory experiments in sensation, perception, and memory will investigate selected phenomenon from these areas.

Psy 344 Sensation and Perception (4 CH)
An introduction to the sense organs of the human body and the psychological methods for measuring sensory processes. Study of the sensory process in dimensions such as vision, audition, and body senses. Exploration of the complex organization and integration of sensory information into meaningful interpretations or reflections of the environment and into behavioral systems.

Bio 343 Developmental Biology (4 CH) *
A study of the development of biological organisms. Topics to be considered are gametogenesis, fertilization, cell division, morphogenetic movements, differentiation and organogenesis. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of the underlying mechanisms of the developmental processes common to microorganisms, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. Related phenomena such as metamorphosis, regeneration and aging will also be considered.

Capstone Experiences

NS 402 Internship in Neuroscience (3 CH)                                                                        
An opportunity for junior or senior students to gain practical experience in a field related to their major. A log book will be required as well as a final paper in which the student will react to the internship both objectively and subjectively, correlating his or her academic knowledge with practical experience. A minimum of 40 hours of supervised experience per credit hour is generally required.

NS 482  Independent Research  (3CH)
Students design and conduct a research project in an area of neuroscience. The research project must include library, laboratory, and/or field research, and a written report in the format of a scientific publication. The project is done under the guidance of one faculty member and may be conducted for more than one term.

INDS 444 Capstone Seminar (Kemper)  (3CH)
This capstone seminar is designed to assist seniors in evaluating their professions and the role that their liberal arts education will play therein. Discussions facilitated by faculty members from different disciplines of the college prepare students for bi-weekly dinners and presentations.  These dinners will feature successful Thiel alumni/ae who will discuss the role of their liberal arts education in their professional lives as well as the ethical and motivational factors that affect their careers.