Students with a major interest in neuroscience may wish to elect the neuroscience track. Such students are considered Psychology majors for whom the requirements have been modified to accommodate their interests, and to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of modern neuroscience and psychology. Given the broad nature of the field of neuroscience, students may wish to concentrate their studies in one area of the field (e.g., behavioral, cellular and molecular, cognitive, affective, social, clinical, or developmental).
Please direct questions or concerns to the neuroscience track DUS, Dr. Stephanie Lazzaro, stephanie.lazzaro@yale.edu. Students who wish to declare the psychology-neuroscience track major should contact the department registrar, fredericka.grant@yale.edu to make that declaration. Majors in the neuroscience track are encouraged to contact with the track adviser at the beginning of each term in their junior and senior years.
Requirements for the neuroscience track are the same as for the standard major, with the following exceptions:
1. Two terms of introductory biology are required for the major, either MCDB 120 or BIOL 101 and 102, and either E&EB 122 or BIOL 103 and 104. Students who have scored 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Biology may place out of these courses.
2. Students must take PSYC 160 or 170 and a data-collection course chosen from PSYC 230L, 260, or 270. MCDB 320 may substitute for the PSYC 160 or 170 requirement, or MCDB 320 and 321L may substitute for the PSYC 230L, 260, or 270 requirement, but not both. If MCDB 320 is substituted for a Psychology course, it cannot be counted as one of the two advanced science courses outside the department (see item 4 below).
3. As required for the standard major, students in the neuroscience track must take two courses from the social science list above, at least one of which must be designated as “Core” in the course listings. Students in the neuroscience track must also take a course from the natural science list in addition to the courses specified in item 2 above.
4. At least two advanced science courses must be chosen from Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology courses numbered 200 and above that deal with human and/or animal biology; recommended courses include MCDB 200, 202, 205, 210, 250, 300, 315, 320, E&EB 220, 225, and 240. Certain courses outside of these departments may also meet the advanced science requirement, including BENG 350, 421, CPSC 475, MB&B 300, 301, 420, 435, 443, 452, MATH 222, 225, 230, 231, and STAT 241. Other courses may qualify for this requirement with permission of the neuroscience track adviser. Laboratory courses do not count toward the advanced science requirement. Students should note that many advanced science courses have prerequisites that must be taken first.
5. The senior requirement for the neuroscience track is the same as for the standard major, except that the two required course credits from PSYC 400–495 must have neuroscience content. Students pursuing the B.S. degree in the track must carry out a neuroscientific empirical project in PSYC 499 and must be supervised by a faculty member within the neuroscience area of the Psychology department. Students who wish to work with an affiliated faculty member studying neuroscience outside the department must obtain permission from the neuroscience track adviser.
Have more questions? Then contact the Neuroscience Track advisor: stephanie.lazzaro@yale.edu