Undergraduate Program

USC undergraduate students, as well as graduate students, have the opportunity to engage in studies that address the principal challenges of neuroscience: that is, to learn about and analyze brain and behavior at multiple levels. There has never been a more exciting time to study Neuroscience, as the tremendous advances of the last 50 years are applied to fundamental questions of enormous complexity using new methodologies. Neuroscientists are developing ways to tackle questions such as: how does the brain engender sensation and perception, learning and memory, mind and consciousness, and emotions such as fear, joy and anger? Addressing these questions requires both imagination and interdisciplinary efforts.

Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience

USC offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience. This undergraduate major is highly interdisciplinary, and includes participating faculty from various departments, including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Gerontology, Medicine and Pharmacy. Students interact closely with faculty in a variety of lecture courses and seminars, and have the option to attend research talks from visiting scientists and to participate in various social activities and honors organizations. Undergraduate Neuroscience majors are encouraged to become involved in laboratory or field research by working on a faculty-supervised research project for some of their elective units.
Bachelor of Arts Curriculum and Requirements

Honors Program in Neuroscience

An honors program is available to outstanding students who are pursuing a B.A. degree in Neuroscience. This program offers students exceptional opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, culminating in the experience of writing an honors thesis summarizing their completed research in an honors seminar. Honors students must register for Directed Research (NEUR 490), or an equivalent course in another department. Honors students are also required to take one semester of a research seminar (NEUR 494) in which small groups of students discuss recent findings from the Neuroscience literature or their own research. Students earning honors in neuroscience must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 at graduation. This program leads to the designation on the transcript of Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience with Honors.

Minor in Neuroscience

The neuroscience minor is designed to acquaint students with a broad range of the problems and opportunities available in the study of the brain and the mind. The minor requires a core course, (BISC 230), which provides basic knowledge of the biological aspects of brain function. In addition, four upper division courses (16 additional course units) are required. These courses are chosen in consultation with the advisors of the Neuroscience Minor, and must constitute a logical area of study of some aspect of the neurosciences. Appropriate departments include but are not limited to Anthropology, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Gerontology, Linguistics, Philosophy and Psychology. At least one course must include a research component. Directed Research may be used to satisfy the requirement of one of the upper division courses. Research in a laboratoriy is encouraged but not required for completion of the minor. A grade of no less than B must be earned in each of the courses used to satisfy the neuroscience minor.

Undergraduate students at USC may obtain application forms from College Academic Services at USC, or from the Neuroscience Program, Hedco Neurosciences Building 120.

Hedco Neurosciences Building 120
(213) 740-3804
FAX: (213) 740-5687
Coordinator: William O. McClure, Ph.D.