Neuroscience

Director:  Annemarie Shibata, Ph.D.
Department Office:  Biology Department, Hixson-Lied Science Building, Room 422

The Neuroscience Program, housed within the Biology department, is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide an integrated, comprehensive, and investigatory learning experience that imparts a broad and strong understanding of the fundamental concepts and research principles that form the neurosciences.

Neuroscience is the study of 1) how the nervous system controls and responds to bodily functions and directs behavior; 2) how nervous system structure and function are determined by genes and the environment; and 3) how the brain serves as the foundation of the mind, awareness and thought.  The Bachelor of Science with a major in Neuroscience is intended for students interested in pursuing careers in a variety of health professions and graduate programs, scientific research in academia and industry, or related life science careers.

The mission of the Neuroscience major is to deliver a comprehensive curriculum in neuroscience providing students with thorough understanding of neuroscience principles and modern application.  This program will provide technical and intellectual skills for neuroscience and neuroscience related careers.  Our role is also to work with colleagues across disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences and Health and Professional Schools to develop students who understand what science contributes and what methodologies it necessitates.  Our program will explain and reinforce how neuroscience contributes to our understanding of human behavior and will join with the Magis Core curriculum at Creighton to shape well-informed students/citizens. 

Participating Departments and Faculty

Various faculty from the following departments participate in our multidisciplinary major: Biology, Psychology, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Philosophy, Theology, and Pharmacology and Neuroscience.


 

B.S., Major in Neuroscience

Requirements for Admission to the Neuroscience Major

  • Admission to the B.S., Major in Neuroscience program requires sophomore standing, completion of General Biology lecture and laboratory series, General Chemistry lecture and laboratory series, and Introduction to Psychology courses, with a grade of "C" or better in those pre-requisites.  

Prerequisite Courses

BIO 201General Biology: Organismal and Population3
BIO 202General Biology: Cellular and Molecular3
BIO 205General Biology: Organismal and Population Laboratory1
BIO 206General Biology: Cellular and Molecular Laboratory1
PSY 201Introductory Psychology3
CHM 203General Chemistry I3
CHM 204General Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHM 205General Chemistry II3
or CHM 285 Advanced General Chemistry II
CHM 206General Chemistry II Laboratory1
or CHM 286 Chemical and Statistical Analysis Laboratory
Total Credits19

Support Courses

Chemistry support4
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Physics support6
Choose 1 of the Physics course sequences below:
Option 1 (recommended for pre-medical, pre-health and pre-graduate program students)
General Physics for the Life Sciences
General Physics Laboratory I
General Physics for the Life Sciences II
General Physics Laboratory II
Option 2 (recommended for students interested in electives requiring calculus-based physics)
General Physics for the Physical Sciences I
General Physics Laboratory I
General Physics for the Physical Sciences II
General Physics Laboratory II
Option 3 (given approval from the Physics Department)
Advanced General Physics I:Modeling the Physical World
Project Physics Laboratory I
Advanced General Physics II:Modeling the Physical World
Project Physics Laboratory II
Total Credits10

B.S., Neuroscience (40 Credits) 

Neuroscience Core Requirements (Maximum of 33 Credits, Depending on Course Selections. Completion of Required Courses will fulfill Designated Courses within the Magis Core.)

Required Courses:
PSY 437Behavioral Neuroscience3
BIO 462Neurobiology3
BIO 463Neurobiology Laboratory1
PHR 350Introduction to Neuropharmacology3
PHL 424Philosophy of Mind3
NES 510Neurophysiology Lab2
NES 592Neuroscience Senior Seminar1
Select one of the following:3
Developmental Biology
Neurobiology of Disease
Bioethics and Society
Sciences, Ethics & Society
Biomedical Ethics: Philosophical and Theological Approaches
Select one of the following: 3
Physiology
Human Physiology (Follows Pharmacy School Schedule)
Select one of the following: 3
Cell Structure and Function
Biochemistry of Metabolism
Select one of the following: 3
Biostatistics
Elementary Probability and Statistics
Probability and Statistics in the Health Sciences
Electives12
Total Credits40

Electives: 4 courses

A minimum of 4 additional courses from any of the groups listed below may be selected. Electives may also fulfill Magis Core requirements.
Cellular and Organismal Neuroscience
Neurobiology of Disease
Pharmacology of Drugs and Abuse
Introduction to Clinical Neuroscience
Animal Behavior
Animal Behavior Laboratory
Developmental Biology
Current Topics in Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience
Psychopathology
Neuropsychology
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Principles of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
Physical Neuroscience
Modern Physics
Modern Physics Laboratory
Electronics Laboratory
Physics in Medicine
Introduction to Biological Physics
Radiation Biophysics
Physics of Medical Imaging I
Physics of Medical Imaging II
Computational Neuroscience
Bioinformatics
Advanced Linear Algebra
Advanced Differential Equations
Mathematics in Medicine and Life Sciences II
Data Structures
Algorithm Design and Analysis
Introduction To Artificial Intelligence
Special Topics
Philosophical Neuroscience
Epistemology
Philosophy Of The Human Sciences
Philosophy Of The Natural Sciences
Metaphysics
Theological Neuroscience
Ultimate Questions: Where Theology Meets Neuroscience

Service Learning

Independent Study Service Learning Course (Optional - Instructor Consent)

This course is designed to allow students to receive credit for educational outreach. The course may be taken up to four times. Outreach of 0 credits may be taken if the student has reached 18hrs of course credit.  Students will use knowledge acquired in Neuroscience major specific course work and develop content to support Neuroscience education outreach and high school student tutoring in preparation for the Brain Bee.  The Brain Bee is a high school level, Neuroscience competition that is held at Creighton annually. The winner of this competition qualifies for the national competition. The Brain Bee is delivered by Creighton's Chapter of Nu Rho Psi, the Neuroscience Honor Society under the direction of Dr. Gwen King.  

Neuroscience Outreach
NES 498Neuroscience in the Community0-3

Research  COURSEs

Introduction to Research Design and Methods (Optional - Instructor Consent)

This course allows students to receive credit for research activities.  The course may be taken one time. Research of 0 credits may be taken if the student has reached 18hrs of course credit.

NES 297Directed Research0-3

Neuroscience Research Designation (Optional - Instructor Consent)

An equivalent of two semesters worth of directed research credit is required (NES 397, NES 497).  Research of 0 credits may be taken if the student has reached 18hrs of course credit. The research designation will be met by submission of a written abstract and evaluation of a presentation (oral and/or written) of the research project at a local, regional, and/or national meetings for each semester of NES 397 or NES 497.  

NES 397Directed Independent Research (Extramural)0-3
NES 497Directed Independent Research (Intramural)0-3