Getting Started
College: CNS
Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major Page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
PSYCH 100 is a strongly recommended SB GenEd for Neuroscience majors and a prerequisite for some upper-level Neuroscience electives offered by the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Suggested Major and Pre-requisites Courses
Required prerequisites, including recommended sequence:
- BIOLOGY 151 (BS), BIOLOGY 152 and BIOLOGY 153 lab
- CHEM 111 (PS) and CHEM 112 (if eligible according to Math Placement Exam)
- One the following computational courses: MATH 127, CICS 110, PSYCH 240 or STAT 240 (if eligible according to Math Placement Exam)
- PSYCH 100 (SB)
Minimum GPA or grades in prerequisite courses (if any):
- C or higher in BIOLOGY 151 required for BIOLOGY 152
- C- or higher in CHEM 111 required for CHEM 112
- C- or higher in PSYCH 100 required for PSYCH 240
How to Declare/ Change into the Major
For current and admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. Visit How to Declare a CNS Major : College of Natural Sciences for specific instructions.
To make good progress in the major and access upper-level courses that are restricted to Neuroscience majors, it is strongly recommended that students declare the major as early as possible and preferably by the beginning of sophomore year. Current students may declare the Neuroscience major during fall and spring semesters. Details for how to declare the major are available at the PBS Advising Center in Tobin 501 and on the PBS website at https://www.umass.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/undergraduate.
Summary of Requirements for Major
The Neuroscience major emphasizes fundamental scientific concepts and depth in multiple areas of neuroscience while allowing students to tailor their electives to their own interests within the field. Minimum total # or range of credits required: 72-78
See the Major Page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements?
No, a minor is not available.
For further information, contact:
Psychological and Brain Sciences Advising Center
501 Tobin Hall
413-545-0377
psyadvising@umass.edu
https://www.umass.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/undergraduate/advising