Applicable for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Neuroscience at Colorado College is an interdisciplinary investigation into the structure and functioning of the nervous system. Students who major in Neuroscience gain familiarity with experimental approaches in neuroscience from molecular to behavioral, and they learn to critically read, write about, and discuss primary literature in neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, neuropharmacology, and neurophysiology.

Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Students wishing to major in neuroscience complete a minimum of 14 courses (15 units) across several departments. See the Neuroscience section of the course catalog for a summary of regular course offerings.

1. Required courses 

PSYCHOLOGY (PY)

• PY100 (or 101 or 105 or 111): Introduction to Psychology
• PY205: Introduction to Methods and Statistics AND PY305: Topics in Advanced Methods and Statistics
• PY299: Neuroscience (2 blocks)

CHEMISTRY (CH)

• CH107 and CH108: General Chemistry I, II
• CH250: Structures of Organic Molecules

MATHEMATICS (MA)

• MA125: Pre-Calculus & Calculus or MA126: Calculus I

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (MB)

• MB131: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

and two of the following 400-level courses

• PY408: Topical Seminar (Neuroscience topics only)
• PY412: Neuropsychology
• PY419: Neuroscience Methods
• PY420: Cognitive Neuroethology
• PY433: Neuropharmacology
• MB415: Developmental Neurobiology (previously MB440)

2. Electives:  Any three of the following courses (note that some of these courses have additional prerequisites not listed above, and some are not taught every year):

CHEMISTRY (CH)

• CH241 Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry
• CH251: Reactions of Organic Molecules
• CH382: Biochemistry I
• CH383: Biochemistry II
• CH410: Medicinal Chemistry
• CH480: Advanced Metabolic Pathways

COMPUTER SCIENCE (CP) 

• CP115: Computational Thinking
• CP122: Computer Science I
• CP222: Computer Science II

HUMAN BIOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY (HK)

• HK204: Introduction to Human Anatomy
• HK321: Human Physiology
• HK354: Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy

MATHEMATICS (MA)

• MA256 - Mathematical Models in Biology

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (MB)

• MB201: Laboratory in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics
• MB231: Genetics
• Any 300-level MB course

PHYSICS (PH)

• PC141: Physics for the Life Sciences I
• PC142: Physics for the Life Sciences II
• PC241: Physics for the Physical Sciences I: Mechanics
• PC242: Physics for the Physical Sciences II: Electricity and Magnetism 

PSYCHOLOGY (PY)

• Any 300-level or 400-level PY course

Students must give an oral or poster presentation at the Psychology/Neuroscience Poster Day, CSURF, or other departmental or professional conference of research they have conducted or an internship in which they have participated during their time at CC. The research or internship experience can be a research course from one of the following:

• PY251/451
• MB209/397/399/498
• CH201/301/303/304/401/403/404
• HK350

It can also be a structured on-campus or off-campus research or internship experience during the summer or school year. The research or internship experience must be approved by, and the presentation scheduled with, the Director of Neuroscience at least one semester prior to the presentation.