Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience

The B.S. in Neuroscience combines foundational coursework in psychology, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics with core neuroscience courses, computational training, a specialization track and an undergraduate research experience. All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, regardless of their program of study:

• FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
• UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Required Foundational Coursework

• PY151 Introduction to Psychology
• BY160 Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology
• BY162 Biology II Laboratory (2 credits)
• CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CM132 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
• PH141 Physics for Life Sciences I or PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
• PH142 Physics for Life Sciences II or PH132 Physics II (4 credits)
• MA180 Introduction to College Math or MA131 Calculus I for the computational neuroscience track (4 credits)
• MA181 Basic Calculus or MA132 Calculus II or MA239 for the computational neuroscience track

Computational Science Requirements

Choose one statistics course:

• STAT282 General Statistics
• STAT318 Biostatistics
• STAT383 for the computational neuroscience track

Choose one research or modeling course:

• MA200 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and Software
• PY456 Research Methods

PY456 is recommended for students pursuing the cognitive science track. Linear algebra, MA330 or MA339, is also recommended for students pursuing the computational neuroscience track.

Core Neuroscience Requirements

• BY/PY458 Cognitive Neuroscience
• BY/PY454 Biological Psychology or BY/PY359 Perception
• BY/PY460 Neurobiology

Undergraduate Research Requirement

Every neuroscience student completes at least one semester of directed laboratory research or a senior thesis. Options include:

• PY492 Directed Research in Psychophysiology
• PY493 Directed Research in Cognitive Psychology
• PY495 Directed Research in Developmental Science
• PY497 Directed Research in Neuroscience
• PY400 Thesis

Specialization Tracks

Choose at least two courses from one of the following tracks.

Cognitive Science

• BY/PY358 Animal Learning and Cognition
• PY/BY357 Human Cognitive Evolution
• BY/PY359 Perception
• PY360 Learning and Memory
• PY462 Abnormal Psychology
• PY463 Health Psychology
• PY377 Prenatal, Infancy and Child Development
• PY459 Neuroscience and Society
• PY461 Judgment and Decision Making

Neurobiology

• BY471 Anatomy and Physiology I
• BY472 Anatomy and Physiology II
• BY480 Advanced Cell Biology
• BY350 Comparative Anatomy
• BY360 Comparative Physiology
• BY214 Genetics
• BY430 Developmental Biology
• BY/PY359 Perception

Computational Neuroscience

• CS141 Computer Science I or IS237 Applied Machine Learning
• EE402 Machine Learning on Biomedical Signals
• EE404 Deep Learning
• EE428 Machine Learning: Mathematical Approach

General Neuroscience

Choose any two approved neuroscience electives from the cognitive science, neurobiology and computational neuroscience tracks.

Build a neuroscience degree that matches the questions you want to answer by selecting a specialization track that meets your career goals.

Cognitive Science

Explore how the brain supports perception, learning, memory, decision-making and other mental processes. This track is a strong fit if you are interested in cognition, behavior, mental health or clinical psychology.

Neurobiology

Examine the nervous system at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. This track can prepare you for paths in medicine, biomedical research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and other health professions.

Computational Neuroscience

Use mathematics, computer science and machine learning to study neural systems and interpret complex data. This track is designed for students interested in artificial intelligence, neuroengineering, biomedical signals, data science or brain-computer interfaces.

General Neuroscience

Combine approved electives from across the program to create a broader interdisciplinary path based on your interests and goals.

Take neuroscience beyond the classroom through an internship, co-op or other professional experience. Depending on your interests, you could pursue opportunities in healthcare, mental health, biomedical research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, data science or emerging neurotechnology.

Clarkson’s Career Center can help you explore opportunities, prepare application materials and connect your academic interests with a professional path. You can also work with faculty to identify research-based experiences that support your goals for graduate school, professional school or industry. 

Learn more about career development and internships at Clarkson.

Research is a required part of the neuroscience major. You’ll spend at least one semester working in a lab or completing a senior thesis, putting scientific methods into practice as you investigate questions about the brain and behavior.

Depending on your interests, you may study topics such as cognition, perception, learning, memory, psychophysiology, neural development, social cognitive neuroscience or the analysis of neural and behavioral data. You’ll work closely with faculty as you develop a research question, collect and interpret evidence and communicate your findings.

Your experience may also prepare you to present at a conference, contribute to a publication or continue your research in graduate school.

Our faculty research interests include:

• Development of cognitive, social and emotional functioning
• Hearing and attention
• Human cognitive evolution
• Social cognitive neuroscience

Study the mechanisms that guide processes like attention, memory, perception and emotion. This minor is ideal for students interested in clinical health careers, such as medicine, physical therapy, clinical psychology and neuropsychology. Learn more about the cognitive neuroscience minor.

Biology Minor

Build a strong foundation in biology while pursuing another major at Clarkson. This 20-credit minor explores areas such as genetics, ecology, microbiology and physiology through core courses, advanced electives and hands-on laboratory experience. Learn more about the biology minor.

Biology, Behavior and Society Minor

To understand human cognition, social behavior and social organization, you need a background in multiple disciplines. This minor provides a foundation in biology, psychology and social science, so you can join the discussion. Learn more about the biology, behavior and society minor.

Medicine and Healthcare Minor

The best healthcare practitioners are more than technically proficient. They're also keenly aware of ethics, history and other perspectives on their profession. Get insights that will prepare you for what awaits in the field while gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Learn about the medicine and healthcare minor.

Psychology Minor

Psychology minors develop the critical skills of problem-solving and communication. These skills include being able to formulate a problem; acquiring the information needed to solve the problem, either through researching the existing literature or designing methods to collect new data; analyzing and interpreting the information; integrating the information and applying it to the problem; and communicating the solution to others. Learn more about the psychology minor. 

A neuroscience degree can take you in many directions. If you're interested in pursuing a career in the health sciences or healthcare, we'll work with you to ensure you're going the right way. Each semester, faculty advisors will help you choose classes and activities that can make it easier to get into graduate programs. The departmental neuroscience curriculum is so flexible that it provides an ideal starting point for students who want to double major (e.g., degrees in neuroscience and psychology, neuroscience and healthcare, or neuroscience and biology) within their regular course load.

Available advising tracks include:

• Occupational Therapy (feeds into Clarkson's OT Program)
• Physical Therapy (feeds into Clarkson's PT Program)
• Physician Assistant Studies (feeds into Clarkson's PA Program)
• Pre-dental
• Pre-medical
• Pre-optometry
• Pre-pharmacy
• Pre-public health
• Pre-veterinarian

Clarkson’s professional partnerships with local psychiatric and mental health facilities give undergraduates the rare opportunity to observe clinical work and supportive care in professional and community-based settings.

Throughout a semester, participating students may spend a full day each week, or the equivalent, at a local partner site. They work alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, peer support staff and other members of mental health teams while learning how knowledge of the brain and behavior connects to patient care.

Few, if any, undergraduate neuroscience programs offer students this level of professional immersion and clinical experience.

Participating students may observe or support areas such as:

• Case management
• Crisis intervention
• Diagnostic evaluation
• Individual and group counseling
• Medical evaluation
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychosocial support
• Psychological testing
• Psychopharmacology
• Recreational therapy
• Structured learning therapy
• Task and skill training
• Vocational assessment

At internship sites, students learn by observing professionals and support staff as they provide care and discuss treatment or intervention plans. Depending on the placement, students may also take part in clinical and support activities while receiving guidance and feedback from site professionals and Clarkson faculty.

More about our professional partnership with the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center

How does the brain focus attention? What shapes the way we learn and remember? How do emotion, motivation and social experience influence the mind and body? In Clarkson’s specialized labs, you can help investigate questions like these while building practical research skills.

Labs include:

• Culture, Family and Child Development Lab
• Evolution of Cognition Lab
• Hearing and Attention Lab
• Motivation and Emotion Lab
• Phenomenology Lab

Students interested in the biological and computational sides of neuroscience may also find research opportunities with faculty across psychology, biology, engineering and computational science.