Neuroscience Learning Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of scientific inquiry that draws from many academic disciplines including biology, chemistry, philosophy, and psychology. Â鶹ÊÓƵin the Neuroscience program contemplate the moral, ethical, and philosophical implications of neuroscience on society and the world. Through hands-on laboratory experiences and course discussions, students build on this intellectual foundation by investigating such topics as the development of the brain and nervous system and their related structures, processes, and functions.
Â鶹ÊÓƵwho successfully complete the Neuroscience programÌý are assessed in three ways during the course of their program: 1) a 2.0 GPA or higher in their major required courses; 2) meeting expectations in their Capstone paper; and 3) successful performance on presentations in their Senior Capstone course.
Learning Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Scientific Method
Our graduatesÌý
- Understand and address a scientific question
- Use background knowledge to formulate a testable hypothesis to address this problem
- Design an experimental approach to investigate the validity of this hypothesis
Laboratory Practices
Our graduates
- Correctly execute standard lab practices including
- Use of lab equipment such as pipettes, centrifuges, balances, hot plates, vibratomes, and microscopes
- Calculate solute concentrations
- Plan and execute scientific measurements for statistical analysis
- Read and document results
- Perform dissection of nervous tissue
- Learn standard methodologies such as immunolabeling, histological staining, Western blot analysis, physiological approaches
- Conduct standard physiological tests on lab partnersÌý
- Evaluate and interpret experimental outcomes
- Prepare scientific figures, graphs and tables that document the observed findings
- Troubleshoot if desired outcomes are not achieved
Communication of Results of Scientific Investigations
ÌýOur graduates
- Fluently present scientific topics in form of short and long oral presentations and meet time requirements
- Answer questions from the audience
- Engage in scientific discussions applying acquired knowledge
- Develop proficiency making posters for scientific meetings
- Present scientific questions and problems to non-science audiences
ÌýCritical Thinking Skills
ÌýOur graduates
- Understand scientific questions and address questions that arise in context to these questions
- Critically evaluate scientific literature and identify strengths and limitations of a given scientific study
- Understand how to write and interpret scientific literature
- Extract important information from literature to address scientific questions
- Use acquired scientific knowledge to identify novel/correct approaches to address scientific questions
- Devise experimental approaches based on background knowledge
Anatomical and Functional Characteristics of the Nervous System
Our graduates Ìý
- Correctly explain the divisions of the human nervous system
- Identify the different brain areas of the human brainÌý
- Gain insight into the phylogenetic development of the nervous system
- Understand the role of the limbic system with regard to cognitive function
- Develop an understanding for the cellular/molecular foundation of signal transduction in neurons
- Develop and understanding neurophysiology
- Form a solid understanding of behavioral neuroscience
- Understand diseases of the brain and brain damage
- Understand the effects of venoms, drugs and toxins on the function and development of the nervous system
Awareness of Ethical, Philosophical and Moral Issues that Arise in NeuroscienceÌý
Our graduates
- Understand how developmental abnormalities of the brain lead to behavioral challenges in affected individuals and comprehend how such challenges affect individuals at a social level
- Discuss ethical aspects that arise in context with the nervous systemÌý
- Gain an understanding of nervous system-related disabilities on a social level