Neuroscience Course Descriptions
Helpful Documents: Degree Plan | Professional Outcomes
Required Courses
Core Curriculum – Genes
Fall (1st half)
2 credit hours
Instruction includes molecular genetics of model organisms; DNA replication, repair and recombination; transcription; RNA catalysis, processing and interference; translation; protein turnover; developmental biology; and genomics.
Core Curriculum – Proteins
Fall (1st half)
2 credit hours
Instruction includes the energetic basis of protein structure; stability; ligand binding and regulation; enzyme mechanics and kinetics; methods of purification; and analysis by spectroscopic methods.
Core Curriculum – Neuroscience
Fall (2nd half)
2 credit hours
Instruction focuses on neuronal membrane structure and transport, cellular electricity, synaptic transmission, diseases involving ion channels, and organization of the nervous system.
Fundamentals of Neuroscience
Spring (full semester)
4.5 credit hours
The goal of this course is to provide broader fundamental knowledge that builds on the basic concepts introduced in the Neuroscience Core Course. This course will provide an introduction and overview of several core neuroscience areas, including membrane physiology, ion channels, cellular neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, sensory and motor systems, brain regulation of behavior and body physiology, and neural development. Principles of Neural Science, Edited by Kandel, Schwartz, and Jessell is the primary reading material.
Professionalism, Responsible Conduct of Research, and Ethics I
Fall (full semester)
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: goals of education in RCR; professionalism; collaboration; teambuilding and professional behaviors; everyday practice of ethical science; mentorship; data management and reproducibility; animal research; genetics and human research.
Professionalism, Responsible Conduct of Research, and Ethics II
Spring (full semester)
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: codes of ethics and misconduct; building interprofessional teams; conflict of interest; sexual boundaries and professional behavior; applications of genetic testing; technology transfer and intellectual property; plagiarism, authorship, and citation; peer review; image and data manipulation.
Recommended
Core Curriculum – Cells
Fall (2nd half)
2 credit hours
Instruction includes cell structure; membrane biology; intracellular membrane and protein trafficking; energy conversion; signal transduction and second messengers; cytoskeleton; cell cycle; and introductory material in microbiology, immunology, and neurobiology.
Electives
Please review the degree plan (page 2) for specific elective requirements.
Neurobiology of Mental Illness
Spring (1st half on even years)
1.5 credit hours
The goal of this course is to provide an understanding of the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. This course will highlight recent developments in depression, schizophrenia, and other related psychiatric illnesses, and emphasize the importance of translational research to better understanding these diseases.
Neural Control of Homeostasis
Spring (2nd half on even years)
1.5 credit hours
The hypothalamus is one of the most essential and evolutionarily conserved regions of the mammalian brain. It lies at the base of the brain and is remarkably small, being approximately 4-5 grams of the total ~1,400 grams of the adult human brain weight. Absence of the hypothalamus is not compatible with life. In this course, we will explore the long array of diverse homeostatic processes that the hypothalamus governs. We will focus on hypothalamic-mediated control of body weight, glucose, and temperature homeostasis, as well as sleep/awake cycle and reproductive functions. Experts on the various topics will present lectures, followed by student presentations of relevant literature.
Heritable Neurological Diseases of Mice and Men
Spring (1st half on odd years)
1.5 credit hours
Many diseases of the mammalian nervous system are the result of mutations in single or multiple genes. In this course, we will explore the major inherited neurological disorders involving sensory, motor, and higher integrative systems. Our primary focus will be diseases of humans, but we will also consider insights gained in mouse, fly, and worm model systems. This course will have a molecular orientation, with the goal of correlating the neurological phenotypes with the functions of the affected proteins. Experts on the various topics will present lectures, followed by student presentations of relevant literature.
Synapses and Channels
Fall (1st half on even years)
1.5 credit hours
This course will explore the physiology and molecular architecture of chemical synapses. It will begin with an overview of synaptic anatomy and physiology before moving into details of how voltage gated channels bring the signal to the synapse and trigger vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. It will then jump across the synapse to the ionotropic and metabotropic receptors that transmit the chemical signal across the postsynaptic membrane and the scaffolds that localize them. The course will end with termination of signaling by endocytosis and the action of transporters.
Neurotechniques
Spring (1st half on odd years)
1.5 credit hours
This class will cover the major neuroscience research technologies and focus on cutting-edge methods. The technologies to be discussed include the following major aspects: 1) the methods of elucidating the structure of the brain at genetics, molecular, and cellular levels; 2) the methods of recording activities in the brain; and 3) functional control and manipulation of brain activities.
