Neuroscience

The Neuroscience major offering takes all aspects of the study of neuroscience. A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience option offers a comprehensive scientific learning experience, not only in molecular and cell neurobiology, psychology, cognitive sciences, and biomedical engineering but also the subject matters that biological systems are based on, such as chemistry, physics and mathematics.

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system of humans and animals from an anatomical, molecular, and functional perspective. From an anatomical perspective, neuroscientists study the structure of neurons, synapsis, enzymes, and molecules involved in neural signal transmission, as well as the structure of the brain and sensory and cognitive systems (visual, auditory, motor, memory, and attention). From a molecular and functional perspective, neuroscientists study how biochemical and enzymatic reactions facilitate neural inhibitions and excitations within and across neuro-muscular structures and in turn how these processes mediate processing of environmental stimuli, regulate organ functions, and maintain body homeostasis. Moreover, the study of modern neuroscience includes a macro examination of how neural signaling across the entire nervous system manifests in behavior and disease, typically studied in the fields of Psychology, Health, and Cognitive science. Such macro topics include how brain encoding of environmental, linguistic, and musical stimuli, emotions, memory, artistic talent, and languages facilitate learning and development and how social interactions influence mental and physical health.

Graduates of the Neuroscience program will develop skills that go beyond a neuroscience focus, including critical thinking, communicating ideas effectively, and analyzing problems effectively. Graduates of the Neuroscience program will be well prepared to go on to graduate school in disciplines related to Neuroscience, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Health, including nursing and medicine. Moreover, neuroscience graduates will be well prepared for high school teaching careers, and careers as researchers in health and pharmaceutical settings. Finally, neuroscience graduates are highly sought after in industry, especially in companies that utilize data science to study social trends and social biases.

The B.S. option offers three emphases to suit students’ career plans. These emphases are: 1) Molecular, Systems and Cellular, 2) Computational, Perceptual, and Cognitive 3) Neuroscience of Human Health and Development. Alternatively, UC Merced offers a Bachelor of Art (B.A.) in Neuroscience option, which is similar to the B.S. option but with less emphasis on physics and mathematics. Finally, UC Merced also offers a Minor in Neuroscience (20-21 units), which has 2 required courses and 3 electives.

Neuroscience Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate:

1. Basic knowledge: By describing key concepts of the field of Neuroscience, from a bottom-up perspective (cell and molecular based; bio-base) and a top-down perspective (large scale, brain wide functions; cognitive and psychological based). Concepts include anatomy and physiology of the nervous system (e.g., neurons, dendrites, neural development, brain areas, neural signaling—synaptic transmissions, molecular signaling), systems (sensory systems—vision, audition, somatosensory, etc.), language learning, selective attention, decision making, memory encoding, emotional encoding, molecular and behavioral factors underlying neural deficits/diseases, and knowledge of anatomical and functional imaging methods in neuroscience.
2. Ability to program: By demonstrating an ability to use programing skills to Select and implement appropriate programing techniques for data operations including creating graphics, performing divisions and multiplications, and performing basic statistics.
3. Statistical knowledge: By applying basic statistical principles used in neuroscience, by identifying statistical tests and performing basic statistical analyses.
4. Critical assessment skills: By critically evaluating scientific studies/publications as they pertain to experimental design, data collection, and data analysis and interpretation.
5. Communication skills: By presenting what they’ve learned both orally and in writing using a lay scientific language.

Programs

• Neuroscience, B.A.
• Neuroscience, B.S.
• Neuroscience, Computational, Perceptual, and Cognitive Neuroscience Emphasis, B.S.
• Neuroscience, Molecular, Cellular, and System Neuroscience Emphasis, B.S.
• Neuroscience, Neuroscience of Human Health and Development Emphasis, B.S.
• Neuroscience, Pre-Med Emphasis, B.S.

• Neuroscience Minor