CC Addendum CC Motion 6 (Neuroscience) April 9, 2018 CC Motion 6: Approve new Neuroscience major. Proposed Major Neuroscience examines the structure and function of the nervous system at a variety of levels, from individual molecules involved in neural function, to brain network analysis, to behavior of the whole organism. As a field, Neuroscience combines elements of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology. At Illinois Wesleyan University, the Neuroscience program is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the scientific concepts of each of these disciplines as they relate to the structure and function of the brain. The major in Neuroscience includes a minimum of 13-15 courses depending on the concentration, at least 7-9 of which are 300-level or higher. Students will complete core sequences in Biology (that will give students a foundation for understanding human anatomy and physiology), Chemistry (that will give students a foundation in general chemistry), and Psychology (that will teach students about the field of neuroscience in general and provide a more in-depth study of the field through a content specific study) in addition to 300-level electives and a capstone course. Requirements for the Major 6 Core Courses. Students must also complete the course work in one of two concentrations (Behavioral Neuroscience or Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience). The Neuroscience Core 1) Biol 107: Human Biology: Anatomy and Physiology I 2) Biol 108: Human Biology: Anatomy and Physiology II 3) Chem 201: General Chemistry I 4) Chem 202: General Chemistry II 5) Psyc 213: Behavioral Neuroscience 6) Senior capstone experience. Choose one of the following: a. Neur 400: Neuroscience capstone b. Biol 499: Research/Thesis c. Psyc 400 and 401: Directed Research and Thesis in Psychology Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience Concentration A minimum of 15 courses (at least 9 of which are 300-level or above) to include the following (in addition to the core courses listed above): 7) Choose one of the following a. Biol 209: Biostatistics and Experimental design 1 b. Psyc 300: Research Methods (Please note that Psyc 300 has a prerequisite of Psyc 227: Psychological Statistics) 8) Chem 311: Organic Chemistry I 9) Chem 312: Organic Chemistry II 10) Biol 312: Genetics 11) Biol 317: Survey of Biochemistry (cross-listed as Chem 317) or Biol 414: Biochemistry I (cross- listed with Chem 414) i. Note: Biol/Chem 317 is a survey course that covers biomolecules and biochemical processes in a single semester. Biol/Chem 414 and Chem 415: Biochemistry II constitute a two-semester sequence for students seeking a more detailed presentation of biochemistry. The first semester concerns biological molecules and the second semester concerns metabolism, cell signaling, and biochemical genetics. Students who elect to take Biol/Chem 414 are advised to also take Chem 415. 12) Biol 325: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 13) Two additional biology/chemistry courses at the 300- or 400-level Biol 307: Animal Physiology Biol 311: Developmental Biology Biol 410: Molecular Foundations of Developmental Biology Biol 411: Experimental Embryology Biol 412: Molecular Genetics Biol 495: Directed Study Biol 499: Research Chem 415: Biochemistry II Chem 495: Directed Study 14) One additional Psychology course from the following: Psyc 302: Neuropsychopharmacology Psyc 313: Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience Psyc 314: Advanced Human Neuroscience Psyc 321: Brain Injury and Recovery Psyc 329: Special topics in neuroscience (as approved by chair) Psyc 395: Directed study Behavioral Neuroscience Concentration A minimum of 13 courses (at least 7 of which are 300-level or above) to include the following (in addition to the core courses listed above): 7) Psyc 227: Statistics 8) Psyc 300: Research Methods 9) Two additional Psychology courses from the following: Psyc 302: Neuropsychopharmacology Psyc 311: Foundations of Learning Psyc 313: Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience Psyc 314: Advanced Human Neuroscience 2 Psyc 321: Brain Injury and Recovery Psyc 329: Special topics in neuroscience (as approved by chair) 10) Three additional courses at the 300- or 400-level Biol 307: Animal Physiology Biol 311: Developmental Biology Biol 312: Genetics Biol 325: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Biol 410: Molecular Foundations of Developmental Biology Biol 411: Experimental Embryology Biol 412: Molecular Genetics Biol 495: Directed Study Psyc 302: Neuropsychopharmacology Psyc 311: Foundations of learning Psyc 313: Advanced behavioral neuroscience Psyc 314: Advanced human neuroscience Psyc 321: Brain injury and recovery Psyc 329: Special topics in neuroscience (as approved by chair) Psyc 395: Directed study 11) At least one of the above courses at the 300- or 400-level must include a laboratory component. In Psychology, these courses are denoted in the course catalog with an EXP designation. In Chemistry and Biology, courses are denoted with a LAB designation. Students pursuing a major in Neuroscience should be aware of the following: ● As listed above, students may receive course credit for an independent study in any represented discipline (biology, chemistry or psychology), assuming the research is directly related to the field of neuroscience (as approved by the neuroscience program chair). ● Students may count up to two units of research, via directed study, toward fulfilling major requirements. That directed study should occur in a single discipline, though a student may petition to include research from different disciplines pending the program director’s approval. Rationale for the Major and Its Requirements from Professor Abbie Kerr Neuroscience examines the structure and function of the nervous system at a variety of levels, from individual molecules involved in neural function, to brain network analysis, to behavior of the whole organism. As a field, Neuroscience combines elements of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology. A number of technological advances in recent years in genetic sequencing and manipulation, proteomics, and imaging have contributed to the rising popularity and relevance of Neuroscience as a field of study. Neuroscience training is excellent preparation for students interested in basic research, careers in medicine, pharmacology, physical or occupational therapy, nursing, or medical engineering or technology. While Neuroscience overlaps considerably with Biology and Psychology, and relies heavily on Chemistry, in the last 20 years Neuroscience has become a major field of study in its own right. 3 Although IWU has a number of faculty in Biology and Psychology that do research and mentor undergraduate students on topics that would traditionally be considered Neuroscience, we have not had a formal Neuroscience major, minor, or concentration. The lack of any sort of Neuroscience program at IWU sets us apart from our peer and aspirant institutions. The majority of institutions in our peer and aspirant group offer Neuroscience majors, and all of them offer either majors, minors, or concentrations. ● Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) offers a major. ● Carleton College (Northfield, MN) offers a minor. ● Denison University (Granville, OH) offers a concentration. ● DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) offers a major. ● Franklin and Marshall College (Lancaster, PA) offers a major. ● Kenyon College (Gambier, OH) offers a major and a concentration. ● Knox College (Galesburg, IL) offers a major and minor. ● Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) offers a major and a minor. ● Macalester College (Saint Paul, MN) offers a major. ● Rhodes College (Memphis, TN) offers a major. ● St Olaf College (Northfield, MN) offers a concentration. ● The College of Wooster (Wooster, OH) offers a major. Nationally, over 200 institutions provide undergraduate Neuroscience programs. Of the Top 50 Liberal Arts institutions as ranked by US News and World Reports in 2017, 30 offer a Neuroscience major, and 44 offer either a major, minor, or concentration. Given the quality of our Science faculty and facilities, we are well positioned to join our peer and aspirant groups in offering a undergraduate Neuroscience program. We are proposing the addition of an interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience. This program/major will be delivered by members of the Biology, Chemistry and Psychology departments and will include two concentrations that take advantage not only of the strengths of the involved academic departments but also the primary interests of students at IWU (as evidenced by recent enrollments in post- graduate programs). * The challenge for any interdisciplinary program is to provide students with the appropriate interdisciplinary breadth of understanding as well as depth of knowledge in the field without overburdening students with too many unit requirements. As a field, Neuroscience involves Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, with most professionals specializing in one of these disciplines. Therefore, the major has been designed to give students a general foundation in all three fields of study, in statistical and research methodologies, and also to provide opportunities to specialize through elective courses. The program requirements for the Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and Behavioral Neuroscience concentrations in Neuroscience were developed largely through a survey of similar programs at Colleges and Universities in our peer and aspirant group. Chemistry, Biology and 4 Psychology faculty were consulted on and collaborated in the design of the program. The program was designed using courses that