• Home
• Why WSU
• Academics & Majors
• Academic Offerings
• Research Opportunities
• Honors College
• Study Abroad
• Libraries
• Admission
• Scholarships & Finances
• Student Life & Housing
• Student Visits

• Admitted Students

Neuroscience

College of Veterinary Medicine

	QUICK JUMP
	Neuroscience
	Study Options: Computational and General Neuroscience, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Pre-Health Sciences
	Requirements and Core Courses
	Honors Pre-Admit Pre-Veterinary Program
	Careers in Neuroscience
	Salaries
	Scholarships and Financial Aid
	Campus Organizations and Activities
	Related Fields of Study That May Interest You
	Contact Information

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a cross-disciplinary biomedical curriculum studying the brain and the nervous system. It combines many traditional fields of study, including biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. The brain is perhaps the most remarkable phenomenon in the biological universe, controlling who we are and all that we do--from the regulation of our every function to the execution of complex thoughts and emotions. This field prepares students for careers as neurobiologists, who unravel mysteries of the brain such as how our minds process information or how neurological and psychiatric disorders are caused. Offered at WSU: Bachelor of science, minor, master of science, doctorate Available at: Pullman

Back to top

Study Options: Computational and General Neuroscience, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Pre-Health Sciences

WSU neuroscience majors may pursue concentrations in four different options: • Pre-veterinary medicine • Pre-health sciences: Advising for medical, dental, and optometry school and other health science professions • Computational neuroscience • General neuroscience (described below)

Back to top

Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of science in neuroscience Neuroscience at WSU provides an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental biomedical curriculum in the study of the brain and nervous system. The bachelor of science degree in neuroscience will provide you with a broad spectrum of curricular experience encompassing all aspects of the brain and nervous system. The program combines the expertise and resources of faculty in seven colleges including the College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences, College of Engineering and Architecture, and the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING THE NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM Students are assigned a neuroscience advisor in their freshman year. To certify, or declare neuroscience as their major, students must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) in the following math and science courses: Biol 106/107 Chem 105/106 OR 115/116 Math 140 OR 171 OR 202 OR 206 Neuro 301 OR 302 Phys 101/102 OR 201/202 OR 205/206 The neuroscience program currently has a cap of 40 certified majors. REQUIRED CORE COURSES Students must complete the following: Biol 106—Introduction to Biology: Organismal Biology Biol 107—Introduction to Biology: Cell Biology and Genetics Chem 105—Principles of Chemistry I Chem 106—Principles of Chemistry II Chem 345—Organic Chemistry I Math 140—Math for Life Scientists      or Math 171—Calculus Physics 101—General Physics Physics 102—General Physics Psych 105—Introduction to Psychology MAJOR CORE COURSES Neuro 301 OR 302—Exploring the Brain OR Honors Exploring the Brain Psych 311—Elementary Statistics in Psychology MBioS 303—Introductory Biochemistry Neuro 409—Affective Neuroscience      or Psych 384—Psychology of Perception      or Psych 390—Operant Behavior      or Biol 438—Animal Behavior Neuro 403—Cellular Neurobiology Neuro 404—Neuroanatomy Neuro 430—Principles of Neurophysiology Neuro 490—Senior Project Neuro 495—Directed Research      or 499—Special Problems MAJOR ELECTIVE COURSES Neuroscience majors select nine credits from the following: Biol 315 – Gross and Microanatomy Biol 321 - Principles of Animal Development Biol 352 – Cell Physiology Biol 353 – Mammalian Physiology Biol 438 – Animal Behavior MBios 301 – General Genetics MBios 305 – General Microbiology MBios 401 – Introduction to Cellular Biology Neuro 409 - Affective Neuroscience Psych 265 – Biopsychological Effects of Alcohol and other Drugs Psych 312 – Experimental Methods in Psychology Psych 372 – Introduction to Physiological Psychology Psych 384 – Sensation and Perception Psych 390 – Operant Behavior Psych 473 – Advanced Physiological Psychology Phys 466 – Biological Physics VAn 308 – Functional Anatomy of Domestic Animals NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the catalog to graduate.

Back to top

Honors Pre-Admit Pre-Veterinary Program

The Honors/Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program enables qualified students to complete a BS/DVM in seven years instead of eight. Academically qualified students may be admitted provisionally to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine upon completion of one year in the WSU Honors College. This seven-year program leads to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree after satisfactory completion of the neuroscience curriculum. It consists of three years of neuroscience coursework and the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional program. For additional information about this program, contact the Honors College at 509-335-3784 or the College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Admissions at 509-335-3063.

Back to top

Careers in Neuroscience

A bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from WSU uniquely prepares graduates to enter the growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, where much research is devoted to neurodegenerative diseases. The degree can also lead to professional programs such as medical, veterinary, dental, or graduate school. WSU graduates find employment researching neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, AIDS, dementia, and multiple sclerosis. Other employment areas include laboratory and medical technical specialties, health care specialties, physical therapy, education, scientific or pharmaceutical sales, veterinary technical assistance, technical writing, nutrition, pharmacy, research assistance, scientific illustration, and patent law.

Back to top

Salaries

Neuroscience graduates enter many different fields and have varying starting salaries. The Society for Neuroscience reports that those with a doctorate working in medical schools, higher education, or industry average an annual starting salary of $68,900 to $75,000. Technical specialties requiring only a bachelor’s degree may earn less initially, but the biotechnical and biomedical industries offer advancement, stock options, and other perquisites that are unmatched elsewhere.

Back to top

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The University, Honors College, pre-health sciences program, and neuroscience program award many scholarships to students. For more information or to apply for scholarships, contact the offices of WSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Services, the Neuroscience Program, Honors College, or Pre-Health Sciences Advising.

Back to top

Campus Organizations and Activities

WSU’s Neuroscience Club and Ambassadors Program allows students to meet other neuroscience majors, network with current professionals, build leadership skills, arrange field trips, sponsor guest speakers, plan social events, and demonstrate to public school students that Neuroscience is fun.

Back to top

Related Fields of Study That May Interest You

• Bioengineering • Computational neuroscience • Psychology

Back to top

Contact Information

Neuroscience Program

McCoy Hall 110 P.O. Box 646520 Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-6520

neuromajor@wsu.edu

(509) 335-7675

Back to top

Strengths of the Program

• Work alongside more than 40 renowned neuroscientists, many of whom are among the best in the world.
• Assist in leading-edge research on heart disease, muscle impariments, Parkinson's Disease, substance abuse, addictions, eating disorders, vision disorders, sleep, reproduction, and robotics.
• Benefit from early personal relationships with neuroscience faculty, who advise students beginning with the freshman year.
• Class sizes are routinely less than 30 students, providing more personal and effective learning.
• Neuroscience majors can minor in psychology by taking as few as four additional credits.
• A computational neuroscience option provides a minor in software engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering.
• You can join a math, science, and engineering community residence hall at WSU Pullman—share classes with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s computer lab.

Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us