Apr 10, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Catalog

Neuroscience, Computational, Perceptual, and Cognitive Neuroscience Emphasis, B.S.

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In addition to adhering to General Education  and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Requirements , a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience requires a minimum of 83 units. Courses in the major emphasis must be taken for a letter grade and may not be taken on a pass/no pass basis unless the course is only offered on a pass/no pass basis.

Neuroscience, B.S. Four-Year Course Plan  

Requirements for the Neuroscience Major

Lower Division Major Core Requirements [42 Units]

Biology Requirement [10 units]

Complete the following courses:

Chemistry Requirement [10 units]

Complete the following courses:

Computing Requirement [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

Mathematics Requirement [8 units]

Complete one of the following sets of courses:

Calculus
Calculus for Physical Sciences and Engineering

Physics Requirement [10 units]

Complete one of the following sets of courses:

Introductory Physics for Physical Sciences
Introductory Physics for Biological Sciences

Introductory Course Requirements [8-9 units]

Introductory Cognitive Science or Psychology [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

  • NEUR 001: Introduction to Neuroscience 

Statistics Requirement [4-5 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

Writing Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following course:

Upper Division Major Requirements [17 Units]

Complete the following courses:

  • NEUR 101: Fundamentals of Neuroscience

Cell Biology [4 units]

Complete the following course:

Upper Division Cognitive Science or Psychology [4 units]

Complete one of the following courses:

Computational, Perceptual and Cognitive Neuroscience Emphasis Requirements [12 Units]

Complete 12 units from the following course options:

Transfer Students

Transfer students seeking to major in Neuroscience should complete the IGETC at their community college. Transfer students will need to meet specific major preparation to be admitted to the Neuroscience major. Below are the current Transfer Selection Criteria for the Neuroscience Major.

Transfer Selection Criteria

The Neuroscience program is designed so that the first 2 years of required courses can all be met through community college transfer. The UC Merced Neuroscience program values transfer students as part of our community and classrooms (minimum 2.4 GPA for California residents and or 2.8 for non-residents). For students entering through TAG, additional requirements apply. GPA: Minimum transferable unit GPA of 3.0.

In addition to the general education requirements, transfer students to the B.S. program are required to complete courses equivalent to:

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