Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Program Learning Outcomes for the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Upon completing the BS degree with a major in Neuroscience, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the biological basis for brain and neuron function and the experimental strategies that led to our current understanding.
- Understand proper experimental design in neuroscience, including how to apply the modern scientific methods, statistics and the most common experimental methods to measure and manipulate brain activity.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively to both a scientific and lay audience.
- Search through, review and evaluate the scientific literature on neuroscience and related fields.
Additionally, upon completing the BS degree with a major in Neuroscience and a major concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced ability to apply concepts in molecular and cellular biology towards the understanding of the nervous system.
Requirements for the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BS degree with a major in Neuroscience and a major concentration in Computational Neuroscience must complete:
- A minimum of 27-30 courses (73-77 credit hours), depending on course selection, to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 29 credit hours taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit after matriculation at Rice may be applied towards specific major requirements. For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- The requirements of a major concentration. When students declare the major in Neuroscience, students must additionally identify and declare one of two major concentrations, either in:
Because of the common core requirements, it is possible for students to change their major concentration at any time, even after initially declaring the major. To do so, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
The Bachelor of Science (BS) Core Requirements emphasize a broad foundational knowledge of neuroscience. The major concentrations provide an in-depth exposure to various subfields.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | 73-77 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Non-Neuroscience Courses | ||
| BIOS 201 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| or CHEM 111 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | |
| CHEM 123 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 1 |
| or CHEM 113 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I | |
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| PHYS 125 | GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB) 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 126 | GENERAL PHYSICS II (WITH LAB) 3 | 4 |
| PSYC 203 | INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Core Programming Experience Course | ||
| CMOR 220 | INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING COMPUTATION | 3 |
| or COMP 140 | COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | |
| Core Statistics Course | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR BIOSCIENCES | ||
| PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | ||
| PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS FOR DATA SCIENCE | ||
| Core Neuroscience Lecture Courses | ||
| BIOS 385 | CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF THE NEURON | 3 |
| NEUR 362 / PSYC 362 | COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE: EXPLORING THE LIVING BRAIN | 3 |
| NEUR 380 | FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE SYSTEMS | 3 |
| NEUR 383 / BIOE 380 / ELEC 380 | INTRODUCTION TO NEUROENGINEERING: MEASURING AND MANIPULATING NEURAL ACTIVITY | 3 |
| Core Neuroscience Laboratory Courses | ||
| BIOS 212 | INTERMEDIATE EXPERIMENTAL CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | 2 |
| NEUR 310 | INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR NEUROSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES 4 | 1-4 |
| Core Laboratory Elective | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 1-3 | |
| EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| METHODS IN SOCIAL COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| FUNCTIONAL HUMAN NEUROANATOMY | ||
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | ||
| Lecture Courses | ||
| BIOS 301 | BIOCHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| BIOS 341 | CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOS 344 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | 3 |
| CHEM 122 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| or CHEM 112 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | |
| CHEM 124 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | 1 |
| or CHEM 114 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB II | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION I | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| GENE THERAPY | ||
| SENSORY NEUROENGINEERING | ||
| BRAINSTEM - TEACHING STEM THROUGH NEUROSCIENCE 5 | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 6 | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY 6 | ||
| ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE 6 | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS | ||
| ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | ||
| MOVEMENT DISORDERS | ||
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR NEUROSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES 4 | ||
| THE SCIENCES OF THE MIND | ||
| ANIMAL MINDS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN THE SCIENCES OF THE MIND | ||
| MEMORY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING | ||
| VISUAL COGNITION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES | ||
| Capstone Requirement 6 | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| MOLECULES, MEMORY AND MODEL ANIMALS: METHODS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| ADVANCED CELL AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | 73-77 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 12-16 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | MATH 111 and MATH 112 may be substituted for MATH 101 or MATH 105. |
| 2 | PHYS 101 and PHYS 103 or PHYS 111 may be substituted forPHYS 125. The Neuroscience program has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 141 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I is not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Neuroscience major. |
| 3 | PHYS 102 and PHYS 104 or PHYS 112 may be substituted for PHYS 126. The Neuroscience program has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 142 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS II is not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Neuroscience major. |
| 4 | NEUR 310 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOR NEUROSCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES may be taken twice for credit to fulfill major requirements. Additional semesters of the course will not fulfill major requirements. The first instance of the course may fulfill the Core Neuroscience Laboratory requirement. The second instance of the |
| 5 | BIOS 128 BRAINSTEM - TEACHING STEM THROUGH NEUROSCIENCE is a 1 credit hour course. It must be taken at least 3 times (for 3 total credit hours) in order to fulfill Elective Requirements. |
| 6 | The Capstone Requirement is in addition to the Elective Requirements. The same course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement for this major and/or major concentration. |
Policies for the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, under Declaring Majors, Minors and Certificates, students may not obtain both a BA and a BS in the same major. Students pursuing the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience may not additionally pursue the BA Degree with a Major in Neuroscience.
- Students pursuing the major in Neuroscience may pursue only one major concentration within the major.
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, students may not major and minor in the same subject.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Program Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Neuroscience should be aware of the following program transfer credit guideline:
- No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards specific major requirements after matriculation at Rice.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Neuroscience website: https://neuroscience.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BS Degree with a Major in Neuroscience and a Major Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Research in Neuroscience
Research is highly encouraged for all neuroscience programs, and many opportunities are available for independent research at Rice and other institutions of the Texas Medical Center. Students can receive course credit for independent research through the course NEUR 310.
Please Note: Students pursuing the major in Neuroscience may repeat NEUR 310 for credit once as an elective for the major. The first instance of the course may fulfill the Core Neuroscience Laboratory requirement. The second instance of the course may fulfill the Elective Requirement.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Neuroscience website: https://neuroscience.rice.edu/.