For Duke Students
Q. Has the new major/minor already started?
A. Yes! The major (B.S./A.B.) and minor in neuroscience is now available (as of the fall term, 2009). The full curriculum will roll out gradually over the next 2-3 years. Incoming first year students matriculating into Trinity College (class of 2013) will be in the best position to plan their coursework for this major.
Q. I will be a sophomore/junior/senior in Fall 2009. May I still major/minor in neuroscience?
A. Perhaps. This new major has new requirements. The coursework that will allow students to meet these new requirements is being rolled out over the next several years, with current freshmen in mind. That said, if you are able to arrange your schedule to meet these requirements in your remaining semesters at Duke, you are welcome to declare a major or minor in Neuroscience, or change your major or minor to Neuroscience. You should meet with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience to discuss the feasibility, and advisability, of making this change given your particular circumstances.
Q. I will be a sophomore/junior/senior in Fall 2009 and I am currently in the neuroscience concentration or certificate program. What are my options?
A. You have several options:
- You may continue as you are: the Neuroscience concentration and certificate program will continue through the graduation of the Class of 2013. Undeclared students should note that it is no longer possible to declare the UNP Certificate academic plan. However, the Department of Biology and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience will continue to offer concentrations in neuroscience to their newly declared Biology and Psychology majors, respectively. For those students who will remain in their neuroscience concentration, please do use this website as your primary means of accessing information that pertains to your undergraduate studies in neuroscience (the old “UNP” website is no longer supported).
- If you are in the UNP certificate program, you may switch to a Neuroscience Minor; the requirements of the Minor are closely related to the requirements of the certificate program.
- You may be able to change your major to Neuroscience; see caveats above.
Q. So what is the curriculum?
A. A summary of the curriculum can be found on the Academics page.
Q. Why is computer programming included on the list of pre-/co-requisites for the major?
A. Computer programming skills are essential for conducting research in many areas of neuroscience, especially systems and cognitive neuroscience. We recommend that students with an interest in these areas pursue one of the programming options that are available.
Q. Do I have to take computer programming?
A. No. You may take an additional chemistry or biology course, as listed on the Academics page.
Q. I'm confused by the course numberings ‐ should I worry about that?
A. We plan to cross list most of the courses in the major so that they have course numbers in Neuroscience with the subject code: NEUROSCI. As courses get scheduled and new courses become available, you will see more NEUROSCI courses in ACES. But hold on! As you may know, Trinity College is developing a complete revision of its system for numbering courses. So, be sure and keep track of the course titles to avoid confusion as we roll out new NEUROSCI courses and the new numbering scheme.
Q. When will the “to be developed” courses listed in the curriculum be available?
A. Courses listed in the curriculum with a “to be developed” label are planned for a two or three year period starting in Fall 2010. (The specific course offerings for any given year are planned about a year in advance).
Q. I have taken/plan to take a course that is not on the list of electives, but I would like to know if I may count it in the neuroscience major. What do I do?
A. If there is a course that you think should be eligible to count as a neuroscience elective, please submit a request in writing to the DUS or Associate DUS explaining the basis for your request. If possible, please also provide a copy of the syllabus for the course in question. There are many terrific courses in our University that are germane to studies of the brain sciences, and new courses coming online each academic term! Our detailed course listing represents our best attempt to capture those courses that are most relevant to the undergraduate neuroscience major/minor.
Q. I'm majoring in a related field and there are many courses cross-listed in both my major field and neuroscience. May I do a double major or minor?
A. Yes, but there will be a limit on the number of courses you can count for both programs. That limit is two courses for the major and one course for the minor. These same limits apply to students in the Pratt School of Engineering who are seeking to double-major or minor in neuroscience.
Q. What department offers this major?
A. This major is a joint, interdisciplinary major that draws courses from many individual departments, chiefly Psychology & Neuroscience and Biology in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, with important contributions from Neurobiology in the School of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering in the Pratt School of Engineering, and other departments across campus.
Q. Who are the faculty of this major?
A. Faculty from many different departments form the Undergraduate Neuroscience Faculty. If you are faculty and have an interest in being a member of this team, please contact Leonard White, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience, at len.white@duke.edu (613‐5028), or Christina Williams, Director of Undergraduate Studies, williams@psych.duke.edu.
Q. I'm still unsure. I have more questions. Whom do I contact?
A. Please contact Len White, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience, at len.white@duke.edu (613‐5028), or Christina Williams, Director of Undergraduate Studies, williams@pysch.duke.edu. You can learn more about our administrative support for undergraduate studies in neuroscience by clicking here.
Q. This sounds great! How and when do I sign up?
A. Please let us know your interest in the major by contacting Cindy Sherwood, Program Coordinator, at cindy.sherwood@duke.edu, B123 LSRC. If you are ready to do so, you can make an initial declaration as part of your pre-major advising or change your current major to neuroscience using the normal procedures (see T-reqs). Similarly, a minor may be declared using T-reqs. For more information on T-reqs, click here.
Q. Is there an Office of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience? Where is it?
A. Yes; please do stop by our office in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS), which is located in LSRC B123 (click here and scroll down for a map). Come around and introduce yourself to Cindy Sherwood, our Program Coordinator, and Len White, our Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in Neuroscience.
