Neuroscience Degree Requirements
Majors and potential majors are encouraged to review "Advisement Information for Psychology Majors" or "Advisement Information for Neuroscience Majors" as an aid in academic advisement and career preparation. Hard copies can be picked up from the departmental office.
Pre-Major in Neuroscience (BS Degree)
Incoming first-year students are admitted as "Pre-NSC majors." Students will be admitted into the NSC major when they have achieved the following:
- Completed the following PSY/NSC courses:
- NSC 1101 with a grade of C or better (if matriculating as a Pre-NSC major; an alternative NSE course may be used as a substitute, with approval of the chair or chair's designee.) This requirement is waived for transfer students
- Grade of C or better in NSC 1106, PSY 1305 and MTH 1321
- Grade of B or better in NSC 1306. With permission of the chair or chair's designate, followed by Dean's approval. Students who fail to earn a B may repeat the course one time.
- Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in no fewer than 40 hours attempted at Baylor University. Transfer hours and grades are not considered in meeting those requirements.
All students will be evaluated at the conclusion of the summer, fall, or spring term in which 40 hours is surpassed. Students failing to meet these requirements for promotion at that time will be ineligible to continue in the BS NSC major.
Students enrolling as transfers:
- Students transferring from another institution may select Pre-NSC as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements within their first 30 hours attempted at Baylor University. Applications for Change of Major should be made with the student's academic advisor.
- Students transferring from another major at Baylor cannot select Pre-NSC as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements listed in "A" above, must have an overall GPA of 3.30, and must do so before 45 hours are attempted at Baylor University. Upon successful application, such students will be admitted directly to the BS NSC major. Application for a Change of Major should be made through the student's academic advisor.
B.S. Degree Requirements for a Major in Neuroscience
Thirty-two semester hours including the following:
- NSC 1306-1106 Introduction to Neuroscience + Lab and 2306 Research Methods in Neuroscience
Eight hours from the following:
- NSC 3311-3111 Cognition + Lab
- NSC 3320-3120 Learning and Behavior + Lab
- NSC 3323-3123 Sensation and Perception + Lab
Six hours from the following:
- NSC 3311 Cognition
- NSC 3320 Learning and Behavior
- NSC 3323 Sensation and Perception
- NSC 3370 Affective Neuroscience
- NSC 3375 Sleep
- NSC 3381 Neuroscience and the Law
- NSC 3390 Developmental Neuroscience
- NSC 4312 Behavioral Medicine
- NSC 4317 Neuroscience Literature
- NSC 4371 Advanced Research in Neuroscience
- NSC 4V96 Special Topics in Neuroscience
NOTE: Course cannot count for both B and C requirements. Only 3 hours of 4V96 may count toward the 6 required in this category.
Advanced Neuroscience (11 hours):
- NSC 4319-4119 Clinical Neuroscience + Lab
- NSC 4330-4130 Advanced Principles of Neural Science + Lab
- NSC 4356 Neuropharmacology
A grade of “C” or better is required in all psychology and/or neuroscience courses used for the major.
Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in NSC 1101 New Student Experience during their first semester on campus.
Required courses in other fields: A grade of "C" or better is required in each course.
- PSY 1305 Psychological Science and 4400 Advanced Statistics I
- BIO 1305-1105 and 1306-1106 Modern Concepts in Biosciences I and II + Lab
- CHE 1301-1101 and 1302-1102 Basic Principles in Modern Chemistry I and II + Lab
- MTH 1321 Calculus I
- STA 2381 Introduction to Statistical Methods
- PHY 1408 and 1409 General Physics for Natural Behavioral Sciences I and II; or 1420 and 1430 General Physics I and II; requires Calculus II {MTH 1322}
NOTE: A student who earns a D or F in a PSY of NSC course may repeat the course. However, University policy prohibits students from taking a course more than three times. A withdrawal (W) counts as an attempt. Keep this in mind for repeating courses!
For the above NSC courses, do not register for the cross-listed PSY course (e.g., PSY 3311 instead of NSC 3311) – it will not count toward your degree.