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Neuroscience, B.S.

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

Gordon Rule, Department Head, Biological Sciences
Susanne Ferber, Department Head, Psychology

www.cmu.edu/ni

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists from many backgrounds apply the tools of biology, cognitive science, psychology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering to develop a comprehensive understanding of brain function at the level of molecules, neurons, brain circuits, cognitive brain modules, and behavior. Research in neuroscience across these disciplines has grown substantially in the past two decades, and a solid understanding of the physiological basis of many aspects of brain function both in health and disease has come along with this growth in research. Along with this comes an increasing need for students to begin careers in neuroscience and to be prepared to work on the problems in neuroscience and to bring new answers to the public and to patients. In order to be successful in developing new treatments and answering outstanding questions in the field, neuroscientists need to be conversant in many different levels of inquiry from neurobiology to cognitive neuroscience to computational neuroscience.

The Dietrich College of Humanities & Social Sciences and the Mellon College of Science have joined forces to establish an exciting interdisciplinary program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. The goal of this degree program is to provide an intensive interdisciplinary education to enable outstanding students to become leaders in identifying and solving tomorrow's Neuroscience problems using a variety of methods. The program's interdisciplinary curriculum is designed for students to gain a fundamental understanding of brain function on many different levels and to begin to specialize within the broad field of Neuroscience. Students in Mellon College of Science or Dietrich College may have a primary major in Neuroscience in any of the three concentrations.  Students from other colleges may have a second major in Neuroscience in any of the three concentrations, subject to double-counting restrictions.

A degree in neuroscience provides excellent preparation for medical school or other graduate programs in the health professions. These students are aided by the Carnegie Mellon Health Professions Program (HPP), an advisory and resource service for all Carnegie Mellon students who are considering careers in the health care field. (See the HPP section in this catalog or www.cmu.edu/hpp for more information.)

Students wishing to pursue the Neuroscience major through Dietrich College should contact Emilie O'Leary (emilier@cmu.edu).  Students wishing to pursue the Neuroscience major through the Mellon College of Science should contact the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office.  Students wishing to pursue an additional major in either the Neurobiology or Computational Neuroscience concentrations should contact the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Programs Office.  Students wishing to pursue an additional major in the Cognitive Neuroscience concentration should contact Emilie O'Leary (emilier@cmu.edu). It is highly recommended that students pursing this major/additional major work closely with academic advisors when schedule planning each semester.

As a note, students who completed psychology courses under the old numbering system will still have those courses count towards the requirements previously specified.  New course numbers will take effect starting Fall 2025. Spring 2026 courses will be updated once course scheduling begins.  The old course numbers remain in use until then, with catalog updates reflecting the changes beginning Fall 2026.

Learning Outcomes

Students who pursue this major will:

  • Gain a broad understanding of Neuroscience at many different levels of analysis, including: cellular biology of the brain, brain systems, cognitive brain function, and computational brain modeling
  • Gain an understanding of the sciences underlying Neuroscience, including: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cognition and Psychology, and other emerging areas
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of brain function in health and disease
  • Be familiar with neuroanatomy & neurophysiology and their implications for nervous system function
  • Be prepared for advanced study in neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, and/or neural computation
  • Be able to collaborate with Neuroscientists across a wide range of systems and levels of analysis
  • Prepare for careers in Neuroscience related companies, Neuroscience research, and/or medicine
  • Be prepared for specialization within subfields of Neuroscience given their concentration selection

Degree Requirements

All students must complete the following:

  1. General Science Requirements (see section A)
  2. Core Neuroscience Courses (see section B)
  3. Requirements for one concentration (see sections C, D, or E)*
  4. 18 additional relevant course units in their home concentration or other neuroscience areas (some examples listed in sections C, D, E, & F). At least 9 of these units must be at the 300-level or above.
  5. Their home college’s General Education requirements
  6. Free elective units to come to a total of 360 total course units
*

Double-counting restrictions and additional majors & minors

  • Students may not major in two concentrations.
  • Students using Neuroscience as an additional major or who have an additional major or minor to Neuroscience may only double-count at most 3 courses between this an their other major or minor (this restriction does not apply to prerequisites, General Education Requirements, or the General Science Requirements – section A).
  • Other majors and minors may have more stringent double-counting restrictions, please consult with your neuroscience advisors and with the advising staff for the relevant host department for the other majors/minors.
A. General Science Requirements
Units
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
21-122Integration and Approximation10
03-121Modern Biology9
or 03-151 Honors Modern Biology
03-201Undergraduate Colloquium for Sophomores *Only required for MCS Students1
03-220Genetics
*New course code (03-330) starting Fall 2027		9
or 03-221 Genomes, Evolution, and Disease: Introduction to Quantitative Genetic Analysis
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I10
09-106Modern Chemistry II10
09-207Techniques in Quantitative Analysis 19-12
or 09-221 Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis
or 03-124 Modern Biology Laboratory
09-217Organic Chemistry I 19
or 33-122 Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students
33-121Physics I for Science Students12
15-110Principles of Computing 210-12
or 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science
or 02-120 Programming for Scientists
36-200Reasoning with Data 29
or 36-218 Probability Theory for Computer Scientists
or 36-219 Probability Theory and Random Processes
or 36-225 Introduction to Probability Theory
 108-113
1

Neurobiology concentration students are required to complete 09-217 & 09-207 or 09-221.

2

Computational Neuroscience concentration students are required to complete 21-122, 15-112 or 02-120, & 36-218 or 36-219

B. Core Neuroscience Courses
Units
85-170Foundations of Brain and Behavior 39
or 03-161 Molecules to Mind
85-110Cognitive Psychology9
or 85-213 Human Information Processing and Artificial Intelligence
03-362Cellular Neuroscience9
03-363Systems Neuroscience9
15-386Neural Computation 49
or 02-319/03-360 Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain
or 85-414 Cognition in the Age of AI
or 85-419 Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing
or 85-420 Biologically Intelligent Exploration
or 86-375 Computational Perception
 45
3

Cognitive Neuroscience concentration students are required to complete 85-170.

4

Computational Neuroscience concentration students are required to complete 15-386.

C. Neurobiology Concentration
Didactic Core: Students must complete all of the following Units
03-231Honors Biochemistry9
03-320Cell Biology
*New course number (03-240) starting Fall 2027		9
 18
*

Neurobiology concentration students must complete 09-217 & 09-207 or 09-221 in their General Science Requirements (section A, above)

Required laboratory, data analysis, & methodological courses Units
03-343Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology12
03-346Experimental Neuroscience12
or 03-345 Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology
 24
Electives in Neurobiology (minimum of 18 additional units, at least 9 units at 300-level or above)** Units
03-133Neurobiology of Disease9
02-250Introduction to Computational Biology12
03-350Developmental Biology9
03-365Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory9
03-366Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain and Behavior9
03-439Introduction to Biophysics10
03-442Molecular Biology9
09-218Organic Chemistry II9
09-208Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis9
or 09-222 Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis
42-202Physiology9
42-203Biomedical Engineering Laboratory
NOTE: VERY Limited Seating Available for 42-203		9
**

At least 9 of these units must be 300-level or above

D. Cognitive Neuroscience Concentration
Didactic Core. Students must complete all of the following Units
85-100Introduction to Psychology9
36-309Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences9
or 85-309 Statistical Concepts and Methods for Behavioral and Social Science
 18
Required laboratory, data analysis, & methodological courses Units
85-300Introduction to Research Methods9
85-370Cognitive Neuropsychology Research Methods9
 18
Electives in Cognitive Neuroscience (minimum of 27 additional hours)** Units
85-130Developmental Psychology9
85-150Social Psychology9
85-190Psychopathology9
85-411Introduction to Music Cognition Research9
85-413Perception9
85-414Cognition in the Age of AI *9
85-419Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing *9
85-426Reverse engineering brains and machines9
85-432Data Science for Psychology and Neuroscience9
85-454Health Psychology9
85-471How the Brain Makes Meaning9
85-472Cognitive Neuropsychology9
*

If not used as a core course

**

At least 18 of these units must be 300-level or above

E. Computational Neuroscience Concentration    

Strong candidates for the Computational Neuroscience Concentration will have earned a B average in 21-127, 21-241, 15-112, and 15-122. We strongly recommend meeting with your advisor to discuss interest in this major and for help planning appropriate schedules to support student success.

Didactic Core. Students must complete all of the following* Units
21-127Concepts of Mathematics12
15-122Principles of Imperative Computation12
or 15-150 Principles of Functional Programming
21-241Matrices and Linear Transformations10
or 21-240 Matrix Algebra with Applications
 34
*

Computational Neuroscience concentration students must complete 21-122, 15-112 or 02-120, and 36-218 or 36-219 in their General Science Requirements (section A, above) and 15-386 in their Core Neuroscience Courses (Section B, above). Students must complete a minimum of 60 units in this concentration. Students should select their required laboratory and elective courses to complete a minimum of 31 units (Four 9 unit courses or a lesser number of 9 and 12 unit courses could be combined to complete this requirement).

Required laboratory, data analysis, and methodological courses (18-24 total units) Units
42/86-631Neural Data Analysis12
42-632Neural Signal Processing12
15-494Cognitive Robotics: The Future of Robot Toys12
15-883Computational Models of Neural Systems12
85-419Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing9
85-420Biologically Intelligent Exploration9
Electives in Computational Neuroscience (minimum of 9 units) Units
03-360/02-319Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain9
02-512Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation9
10-301Introduction to Machine Learning12
or 10-315 Introduction to Machine Learning (SCS Majors)
or 10-601 Introduction to Machine Learning
15-387Computational Perception9
15-451Algorithm Design and Analysis12
15-453Formal Languages, Automata, and Computability9
15-494Cognitive Robotics: The Future of Robot Toys12
15-883Computational Models of Neural Systems12
16-299Introduction to Feedback Control Systems12
16-311Introduction to Robotics12
21-228Discrete Mathematics9
or 15-251 Great Ideas in Theoretical Computer Science
21-259Calculus in Three Dimensions10
21-341Linear Algebra9
36-226Introduction to Statistical Inference9
36-350Statistical Computing9
36-401Modern Regression9
36-462Special Topics: Statistical Machine Learning9
42/86-631Neural Data Analysis12
42-632Neural Signal Processing12
42-688Introduction to Neural Engineering12
85-414Cognition in the Age of AI9
F. Additional Neuroscience Electives 

Students are required to take a minimum of 18 additional relevant course units beyond those required for the concentration. These electives can be additional coursework from their home concentration or other neuroscience areas.  Some examples are listed in sections C, D, & E above as well as in the list below.  At least 9 of these additional 18 units must be at the 300-level or above.

NOTE: this list is not restrictive. Concentration advisors can approve additional elective courses that contribute to the student’s neuroscience education, subject to additional approval by the major steering committee.  

Examples of Additional Electives relevant to major*
33-122Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students unless used for Science Core (section A)9
76-385Introduction to Discourse Analysis9
80-210Logic and Proofs9
80-211Logic and Mathematical Inquiry9
80-220Philosophy of Science9
80-254The History of Analytic Philosophy and Its Influence9
80-270Problems of Mind and Body: Meaning and Doing9
80-280Linguistic Analysis9
*

Up to 9 units of applicable undergraduate research course work (e.g. 03-445 or 85-507/85-508) can count as a neuroscience elective (not towards a concentration).  A maximum of 27 additional units can be counted as a free electives.

Free Electives (depending on concentration & college)51-61
TOTAL units to degree360
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