Neuroscience (B.A.) Academic Course Map

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Art degree in Neuroscience (NRSC) at CU Boulder provides students with a fundamental understanding of brain function that emerges from knowledge of the interplay of the molecular, cellular and systems-level operation of the nervous system, with subfields including molecular, cellular, developmental, neural circuits or systems, behavioral, cognitive and translational or medical neuroscience.

Students take courses in neuroscience, genetics, biology, chemistry, genomics, statistics, quantitative thinking, neurobiology, neuroendocrinology and neuropharmacology, as well as elective courses in biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and psychology. The curriculum is intended for students interested in advanced graduate training in neuroscience or life sciences, or careers in health-related fields or the biotechnology industry. Careers that a neuroscientist could pursue include biological scientist, physician or surgeon, pharmacist, veterinarian, scientific research and development, speech language pathologist and physical therapist.

CU Boulder's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has been ranked by the National Academy of Sciences as one of the best in the country with respect to the quality of the faculty and their scholarly productivity. Moreover, the department offers undergraduates a wide range of opportunities for involvement in research.


Admission Requirements

Students who begin at a Colorado Community College can transfer directly to CU Boulder to finish their degree in any of the programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences’ Colorado Community College webpage for more information detailed information admissions requirements for students transfering from a Colorado Community College. 


Transfer Recommendations

To graduate in a 4-year overall time frame, it is important that students follow the recommended schedule below. Students who wish to continue their education at the community college beyond the number of credits specified below should explore with both community college and CU Boulder staff how their graduation timeline, COF stipend, and financial aid will be affected.


Suggested Four-Year Course Plan for the Neuroscience (NRSC) major 

This is a suggested guide of coursework only and is subject to change. Always consult your academic advisor for graduation planning purposes. Depending on a student’s situation, a different plan might be more applicable.

Community College (first two years)

Fall Semester 1

CourseCourse TitleCredits
ENG 121/1021*English Composition I (GT-CO1)3

BIO 111/1111

General College Biology I with Lab (GT-SC1)

5
PSY 101/1001General Psychology I (GT-SS3)3
MAT 135/1260Intro to Statistics (GT-MA1)3
 Total Credits14

Spring Semester 1

CourseCourse TitleCredits
ENG 122/1022English Composition II (GT-CO2)3

BIO 112/1112

Gen College Biology II with Lab (GT- SC1)

5
CHE 101/1011**Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab (GT-SC1)5
PSY 102/1002General Psychology II (GT-SS3)3
 Total Credits16

Fall Semester 2

CourseCourse TitleCredits
CHE 111/1111General College Chemistry I with Lab (GT-SC1)5
 Guaranteed Transfer History Course (GT-HI1)3
 Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4)3
 Transfer Elective [PSY 255/2661 Brain and Behavior recommended if available]3
 Total Credits14

Spring Semester 2

CourseCourse TitleCredits
CHE 112/1112General College Chemistry II with Lab (GT-SC1)5

COM 125/1250 OR

COM 220/2300

Interpersonal Communication GT-SS3) OR
Intercultural Communication (GT-SS3)

3
 2nd Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course from a different GT AH area than the 1st3
 

Guaranteed Transfer Course in any one of the following categories (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4, GT-HI1, GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3)

3
 Transfer Elective2
 Total Credits16

Total credits at Community College: 60

Completion of the four semesters of coursework above fulfills the requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree at a Colorado community college and fulfills all the General Education Requirements at CU Boulder.

 

CU Boulder (last two years)

Fall Semester 3

CourseCourse TitleCredits
NRSC 2125Intro to Neuroscience I: Foundations4

MCDB 2150

Principles of Genetics

3

MCDB 1161 OR
MCDB 1171 OR
MCDB 1181 OR
MCDB 2171

From Dirt to DNA: Phage Genomics Laboratory I OR
Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens I OR
Biological Probiotic/Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens OR
Drug Discovery Through Hands-On Screens 2

2
 

Upper-Division Non-Major Elective

3
 Upper-Division Non-Major Elective3
 Total Credits15

Spring Semester 3

CourseCourse TitleCredits
NRSC 2150Intro to Neuroscience I: Systems4

NRSC 2200

Lab Techniques in Neuroscience

2

MCDB 3135

Molecular Biology

3
 

Upper-Division Non-Major Elective

3
 Upper-Division Non-Major Elective3
 Total Credits15

Fall Semester 4

Course TitleCredits
Upper-Division Neuroscience Core Major Course3

Upper-Division Neuroscience Core Major Course

3

Upper Division Neuroscience Major Elective

3

Upper Division Elective

3
Upper Division Elective3
Total Credits15

Spring Semester 4

Course TitleCredits
Upper-Division Neuroscience Core Major Course3

Upper Division Neuroscience Major Elective

3

Upper Division Neuroscience Major Elective

3

Upper Division Elective

3
Upper Division Elective3
Total Credits15

Total credits at CU Boulder: 60

Completion of all eight semesters of the above coursework fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Neuroscience at CU Boulder.


*For community college courses, the first course number is before summer 2022 and the second course number is in summer 2022 and after.

**Prep course for CHE 111/1111 General College Chemistry. If student can start with CHE 111/1111, replace credits with electives.


NSF
This material was supported by NSF grant #1649201. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not nec​essarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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