Neuroscience, Bachelor of Science
To obtain a BS with a major in Neuroscience, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. As an interdisciplinary major, Neuroscience major requirements meet the college breadth requirement.
Neuroscience Bachelor of Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - 34 Hours Required | ||
| Minimum of “C-“required | ||
| Fundamental Skills | 15 | |
Writing – 6 hrs. | ||
| ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | ||
| COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | ||
Oral Communication – 3 hrs. | ||
| PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | ||
or CMST 2120 | ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | |
Quantitative Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING | ||
or MATH 1130 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY | |
or MATH 1140 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS | |
or MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | |
Data Literacy – 3 hrs. | ||
Select one from the following: | ||
| DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION | ||
| ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | ||
Until Fall 2028, students can satisfy this requirement with an approved data literacy course, or any approved natural or social science general education course. | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 13 | |
Social Science – 3 hrs. | ||
Humanities – 3 hrs. | ||
Natural & Physical Science (must complete a lab) – 4 hrs. | ||
Arts – 3 hrs. | ||
| Individual and Social Responsibility | 6 | |
Cultural Knowledge – 3 hrs. | ||
Civic Knowledge and Engagement – 3 hrs. | ||
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| **Course will satisfy UNO's General Education requirement | ||
| ^Course requires pre-requisite(s) | ||
| Note: BIOL 1450 may be used either in Core or in Path, not both | ||
| Neuroscience Major - 50-59 Hours Required | ||
| Required Neuroscience Fundamentals Courses (Core) | 20-23 | |
| SUPERHEROES, ZOMBIES, CYBORGS AND DROIDS: COULD THEY LIVE AMONG US? (** ^) | ||
or BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | |
| INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE I (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE II (^) | ||
| STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (^) | ||
or STAT 3000 | STATISTICAL METHODS I | |
| RESEARCH METHODS IN NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
or PSYC 3140 | RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCE I and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY I (** ^) | ||
OR | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (** ^) | ||
OR | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (** ^) | ||
and | ||
| GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (^) | ||
| Neuroscience Pathways: select one of the following | 12-17 | |
| Pre-Health & Traditional Path - 12-17 credit hours | ||
| BIOLOGY I (** ^) | ||
or BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | |
| GENETICS (^) | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCE II and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II (^) | ||
OR | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (^) | ||
OR | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II (^) | ||
and | ||
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (^) | ||
| Philosophy Path - 12-14 credit hours | ||
| NEUROSCIENCE PATHWAYS TO DISCOVERY (^) | ||
or BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | |
or BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | |
or BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | |
| INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: BRAINS, MINDS, AND MACHINES (** ) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS (**) | ||
| CRITICAL REASONING (**) | ||
or PHIL 2010 | SYMBOLIC LOGIC | |
or MEDH 2010 | SYMBOLIC LOGIC | |
| Medical Humanities Path - 12-14 credit hours | ||
| NEUROSCIENCE PATHWAYS TO DISCOVERY (^) | ||
or BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | |
or BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | |
or BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | |
| INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL HUMANITIES (**) | ||
| HISTORY OF MEDICINE: FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT (** ^) | ||
| BIOMEDICAL ETHICS | ||
| Computing Path - 12-14 credit hours | ||
| NEUROSCIENCE PATHWAYS TO DISCOVERY (^) | ||
or BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | |
or BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | |
or BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | |
| INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING USING PRACTICAL SCRIPTING (^) | ||
or CIST 1400 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I | |
| DIGITAL HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (**) | ||
| APPLIED BIOINFORMATICS (^) | ||
| Criminal Justice Path 12-14 credit hours | ||
| NEUROSCIENCE PATHWAYS TO DISCOVERY | ||
or BIOL 1450 | BIOLOGY I | |
or BIOL 1750 | BIOLOGY II | |
or BIOL 2140 | GENETICS | |
| CRIME TO COURTROOM: THE JUSTICE JOURNEY (**) | ||
| Choose two of the following | ||
| CRIMINOLOGY (^) | ||
| MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (^) | ||
| DRUGS AND CRIME (^) | ||
| VIOLENCE (^) | ||
| Advanced Neuroscience Courses | 18-19 | |
| In addition to the required fundamentals courses, 18-19 credit hours as a combination from the Cornerstone Neuroscience Lecture (3 credits), Laboratory (3 – 4 credits), and Block I, Block II, and Block III Courses (12 credits) from the lists below must be selected. Within the 12-hour credit selection, at least 3 credits must come from Block I and at least 3 credits must come from Block II. To complete the 18 credits required, a minimum of 6 credits can be taken from a combination of Block I, Block II, and Block III. No more than three hours of Experiential Study in Neuroscience (NEUR 4960) may be applied to the Additional Neuroscience Courses category. NEUR 4910, NEUR 4920, and NEUR 4930 may be taken more than once as long as they are different topics. No courses can double-count within this 18-credit hour group. | ||
| Select one of the following Cornerstone lab courses - | ||
| ADVANCED NEUROSCIENCE LABORATORY (^) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL GENETICS (^) | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY (^) | ||
| Select one of the following Cornerstone lecture courses that has not already been used to satisfy the Neuroscience Block Courses requirement below | ||
| SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| NEUROPHARMACOLOGY (^) | ||
| SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| NEUROIMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (^) | ||
| GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| HORMONES & BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| Block I, II, and III Courses | ||
| Select at least one of the following from Block I Neuroscience Choices: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | ||
| SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| NEUROPHARMACOLOGY (^) | ||
| NEUROETHOLOGY (^) | ||
| ADVANCED BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| NEUROIMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| NEURAL MECHANISMS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (^) | ||
| GLIA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE (^) | ||
| NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (^) | ||
| GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN NEUROSCIENCE - BLOCK 1 (^) | ||
| Select at least one of the following from Block II Neuroscience Choices: Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF AGING (^) | ||
| ADVANCED BIOLOGY OF AGING | ||
| BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| SOCIAL NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| NEUROMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT (^) | ||
| AI IN HEALTHCARE AND NEUROSCIENCE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN NEUROSCIENCE - BLOCK 2 (^) | ||
| COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| SENSATION AND PERCEPTION (^) | ||
| LIMITS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (^) | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| HORMONES & BEHAVIOR (^) | ||
| Block III Additional Neuroscience Choices: | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN NEUROSCIENCE - NEURO ELECTIVE BLOCK (^) | ||
| EXPERIENTIAL STUDY IN NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| College Breadth | ||
| College of Arts and Sciences’ college breadth requirement satisfied by this major | ||
| Bachelor Science Cognate Requirement | 15 | |
| Students must complete 15 credits worth of a cognate set of courses (see below) OR may choose a minor of at least 15 hours or a double major. Courses taken within the major may not also be used toward the completion of cognate coursework. One cognate course may double-count with your Gen Ed requirements. No more than 6 hours of cognate coursework may be at the 1000 level. At least 3 hours of cognate coursework must be at the 3000-4000 level. Note that some classes have prerequisites. | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY (**) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (** ^) | ||
| ETHNOMEDICINES OF THE AMERICAS (^) | ||
| MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| DIGITAL HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS (**) | ||
| HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (^) | ||
| HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNOLOGY (^) | ||
| STATISTICS FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (^) | ||
| MOLECULAR GENETICS (^) | ||
| CELLULAR BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| EVOLUTION (^) | ||
| BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY (^) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY I and BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (^) | ||
| VERTEBRATE ENDOCRINOLOGY (^) | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY (^) | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (^) | ||
| COMPARATIVE GENOMICS (^) | ||
| ADVANCED GENETICS (^) | ||
| HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY & ANATOMY I (**) | ||
| HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND ANATOMY II (^) | ||
| BIOINSPIRED ROBOTICS | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY (^) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY OF METABOLISM (^) | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY I and BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (^) | ||
| COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES and COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES LABORATORY (** ^) | ||
| ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HUMAN HEALTH (^) | ||
| CALCULUS FOR BIOMEDICINE (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF MIND | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF MIND (^) | ||
| NEUROETHICS (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS (^) | ||
| ELEMENTS OF ELECTRONICS (^) | ||
| BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS (^) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I (**) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II (^) | ||
| EXPLORATIONS IN THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| CHILD PSYCHOLOGY (^) | ||
| LEARNING (^) | ||
| LABORATORY IN PSYCHOLOGY: LEARNING (^) | ||
| LABORATORY IN PSYCHOLOGY: BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (^) | ||
| ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (^) | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING (^) | ||
| MENTAL HEALTH AND AGING (^) | ||
| SENIOR THESIS (^) | ||
| ELECTIVES | ||
| Elective hours as required to reach a total of 120 hours | ||
Neuroscience Bachelor of Science Four Year Plan
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| NEUR 1000 or BIOL 1450 | SUPERHEROES, ZOMBIES, CYBORGS AND DROIDS: COULD THEY LIVE AMONG US? or BIOLOGY I | 3-5 |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| MATH 1120 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING (See advisor for other options) or QUANTITATIVE LITERACY or QUANTITATIVE REASONING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 3-4 |
| NEUR 1520 | INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE I | 3 |
Attend Durango Days; other campus events. Set up a Handshake account and take the Pathway U career assessment. Attend the Student Involvement & Volunteer Fair to explore student organizations. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. Work with your advisor to develop your Pathway in Stellic. | ||
| Credits | 12-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | COLLEGE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY | 3 |
| NEUR 1540 | INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE II | 3 |
| Neuroscience Pathway Course | 3-5 | |
| Neuroscience Pathway Course | 3-5 | |
Attend campus events such as major exploration week to get an idea of interests and career paths. Schedule a resume review with UNO Career Services. Visit faculty office hours and ask about undergraduate research opportunities. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 12-16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 1140 & CHEM 1144 | FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (*) | 5 |
| PSYC 3130 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | 3 |
| Neuroscience Block 2 Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend the Career & Internship Fair to start networking with employers. Look for volunteer, research, or part-time work to gain experience. Join a student organization or club related to your field or interests. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 1110 or CMST 2120 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | 3 |
| NEUR 3600 or PSYC 3140 | RESEARCH METHODS IN NEUROSCIENCE or RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY | 3-4 |
| Neuroscience Pathway Course | 3-5 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
Attend a career fair for informational and networking purposes. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with new experiences. Investigate and apply for summer internships, research, or study abroad programs. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 12-15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Neuroscience Pathway Course or Elective | 3-4 | |
| Neuroscience Block 1 Course | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Apply for a paid internship or research assistantship. Attend a mock interview workshop or use online interview tools with Career Services. Start researching and visiting graduate programs or professional schools. Visit Career Center, continue updating resume. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept-Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| NEUR 4200 | ADVANCED NEUROSCIENCE LABORATORY | 3-4 |
OR | ||
| ANIMAL BEHAVIOR LABORATORY | ||
OR | ||
| BEHAVIORAL GENETICS | ||
| Cornerstone Neuroscience Lecture Course | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Neuroscience coursework (Block 1, 2, or 3) | 3 | |
| General Education Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Check in with Career Center for networking tips. Finalize graduate school applications or job search strategy. Attend a career fair and start applying for full-time jobs. Prepare for interviews and salary negotiations with Career Services. Make advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Neuroscience coursework (Block 1, 2, or 3) | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
Request letters of recommendation from faculty for jobs or grad school. Attend the All-Majors Career Fair with a plan to network. Meet with your advisor or submit for a graduation check-in to review remaining degree requirements. Make advising appointment for summer and fall: February – March. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 110-122 | |
College Breadth: The Neuroscience major satisfies Option 3 of the CAS Breadth Requirement.
Upper Level Credits: Students need 27 upper level credits throughout the degree with at least 18 upper level credits within the major. Electives may need to be selected at the 3000-4000 level to reach these minimums.
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, World Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study.
GPA Requirements: 2.0
Note: This plan provides a general guide, but your specific courses, experiences, and career goals may differ. Work with your academic advisor to ensure you’re meeting degree requirements and consult with career advisors to explore internships, research opportunities, and post-graduation plans. Regular check-ins will help you stay on track and make the most of your time at UNO!