Neuroscience, BSLAS

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Neuroscience

The School of MCB’s neuroscience curriculum combines the study of molecular and cellular biology with neuroscience, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, and neuro-pathology. Students will gain an understanding of brain function at multiple levels, from behavior and information processing to systems and integrative physiology. We use model organisms like fruit flies, fish, and mice, and we will explore cells at all levels, from the dish to cells functioning in animals. We seek to understand the causes of a variety of disorders, from neurodevelopmental to neurodegenerative disorders, from brain cancer to epilepsy, and to develop biomedical treatments for them. As a neuroscience major, you’ll take a variety of cutting-edge courses and develop critically-important laboratory skills. Students conduct research alongside faculty who lead pioneering programs in sensory processing, neuroendocrinology, physiology of neurons and glia, regeneration, and cell signaling with advanced techniques, such as optogenetics and neuroimaging.

Undergraduate degree programs in Molecular & Cellular Biology

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Neuroscience

Minimum Required Courses: 83-84 hours including 29 hours of 300- or 400-level courses. 12 hours of advanced level courses in the major must be taken on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

In addition, undergraduate research (MCB 290) in an MCB Neuroscience-designated lab is strongly recommended for students planning to go to graduate school. No more than 10 hours of MCB 290 credit may be counted towards the 120 hours required for a degree in Neuroscience.

Students earning a degree in Neuroscience may not also earn a second degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry.

Students earning a degree in Neuroscience may not double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Distinction

Students in Neuroscience can qualify for Distinction via one of the following:

Distinction for Excellence in Research:

To be eligible for graduation with Distinction a student must:

Complete 3 semesters of MCB 290 for 2 credit hours or more each semester. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the end of penultimate semester. Give at least one poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research symposium or other approved venue. Obtain a letter of support from their Principal Investigator.

To be eligible for graduation with High Distinction a student must:

Complete at least 2 semesters of MCB 290, in an MCB Neuroscience-designated lab, for 2 credit hours or more each semester. Complete 1 semester of MCB 492, in the same Neuroscience-designated lab, for 3 credit hours or more in their final semester. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the end of penultimate semester. Give at least one presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium or other approved venue. Submit a written thesis that is approved by the Distinction Committee. Obtain a letter of support from their Principal Investigator.

To be eligible for graduation with Highest Distinction a student must:

Complete at least 2 semesters of MCB 290, in an MCB Neuroscience-designated lab, for 2 credit hours or more each semester. Complete 1 semester of MCB 492, in the same Neuroscience-designated lab, for 3 credit hours or more in their final semester. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.90 at the end of penultimate semester. Give at least one presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium or other approved venue. Submit a written thesis that is approved by the Distinction Committee. Obtain a letter of support from their Principal Investigator.

Distinction for Excellence in Academics:

To be eligible for graduation with Academic Distinction a student must:

  • Maintain a major GPA of 3.90 or higher in the Neuroscience major (MCB/Neuroscience, Chemistry, Physics and Math courses for the Neuroscience major) at the end of their penultimate semester.
  • General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements, including the campus general education language requirement.
  • Minimum required major and supporting course work: 83-84 hours, including 29 credit hours of 300- or 400-level courses; 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
  • Minimum Hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Minimum hours required major and supporting course work: 83-84, including 29 hours of 300-/400- level courses. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

University Requirements

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
fulfilled by MCB 150, CHEM 102, CHEM 104, PHYS 101, PHYS 102
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
fulfilled by PSYC 100 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Science
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
fulfilled by MATH 220 or MATH 221 & MATH 231 or STAT 212
Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-20

Major Requirements

Supporting Courses30-31
MATH 220
Calculus
or MATH 221
 Calculus I
MATH 231
Calculus II
or STAT 212
 Biostatistics
CHEM 102
& CHEM 103
& CHEM 104
& CHEM 105
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Lab I
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 232
Elementary Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 233
Elementary Organic Chem Lab I
PHYS 101
& PHYS 102
College Physics: Mech & Heat
and College Physics: E&M & Modern
Neuroscience Introductory Courses11
MCB 150
Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life
MCB 170
Society and the Brain
PSYC 100
Intro Psych
Neuroscience Core Courses13
MCB 250
Molecular Genetics
MCB 251
Exp Techniqs in Molecular Biol
MCB 252
Cells, Tissues & Development
MCB 253
Exp Techniqs in Cellular Biol
PSYC 210
Behavioral Neuroscience
or PSYC 224
 Cognitive Psych
Advanced Neuroscience Courses14
MCB 314
Introduction to Neurobiology
MCB 354
Biochem & Phys Basis of Life
MCB 460
Neuroanatomy Laboratory
MCB 461
Cell & Molecular Neuroscience
MCB 462
Integrative Neuroscience
Advanced Neuroscience Elective Courses
Five additional three- or four-credit hour courses (minimum of 15 hours) at the 300- to 400-level from the Approved Advanced Elective Courses List are also required. 115
Total Hours83-84
1

The Approved Advanced Elective Course List will be available on the MCB website and will be updated each semester to most accurately reflect the courses to be offered each academic year.

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Neuroscience

Sample Sequence

This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Free Elective course1
MCB 1703
CHEM 1023
CHEM 1031
Composition I or MATH 220 or MATH 2214
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
MCB 1504
PSYC 1004
CHEM 1043
CHEM 1051
MATH 220 or 221 (or Composition I)5
 17
Total Hours 17
Second Year
First SemesterHours
MCB 2503
MCB 2512
CHEM 2324
STAT 212 or MATH 2313
Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
MCB 2523
MCB 2532
CHEM 2332
PSYC 210 or 2243
Language Other Than English (4th level)4
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
First SemesterHours
MCB 3143
MCB 3543
PHYS 1015
General Education course3
 14
Total Hours 14
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
MCB 4602
Advanced Neuroscience elective3
PHYS 1025
General Education course3
Free Elective course1
 14
Total Hours 14
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
MCB 4613
Advanced Neuroscience elective3
Advanced Neuroscience elective3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
MCB 4623
Advanced Neuroscience elective3
Advanced Neuroscience elective3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Neuroscience

Upon successful completion of the Neuroscience undergraduate curriculum, students will be able to:

  1. Understand and appreciate the diversity of life as it evolved over time by processes of mutation, selection and genetic change.
  2. Illustrate that fundamental structural units define the function of all living things.
  3. Explain that the growth, development, and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
  4. Summarize that living systems grow and change by processes based upon chemical transformation pathways and are governed by the laws of physics.
  5. Illustrate that living systems are interconnected and interacting across scales of space and time.
  6. Design a scientific process and employ the scientific method, demonstrating that neuroscience is evidence based and grounded in the formal practices of observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing.
  7. Execute quantitative analysis to interpret data.
  8. Construct and utilize predictive models to study and describe complex systems.
  9. Apply concepts from other sciences in order to interpret molecular and neural phenomena.
  10. Communicate concepts of neuroscience to members of a diverse scientific community as well as to the general public. 

for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Neuroscience

School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

School Faculty
undergrad@mcb.illinois.edu
MCB advising
advising@mcb.illinois.edu

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Overview of College Admissions & Requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences