Bachelor of Science in Computational Neuroscience

The computational neuroscience major is designed for those students with an interest in applying mathematical and computational methodologies towards understanding the structure and functioning of the nervous system.The major will provide progressive training in interdisciplinary and interfaculty aspects of Neuroscience, and serve as a foundation for students interested in pursuing post-graduate education in graduate or professional schools or career opportunities in technically advanced occupations. Research is integral to this major and students are encouraged to engage in research with Neuroscience faculty as early as possible in their undergraduate years.

Co-Coordinators: Drs. Irving Biederman and Albert Herrera

Undergraduate Advisors: Lica Abu-Esba nd Briana Weiland

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or higher is required to count toward major requirements.

Program Requirements:

11 core courses + 6-7 electives; 62-68 units (44 core)

Core Requirements / Units
BISC220L or
BISC 221L / General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology
Advanced General Biology / 4
BISC 421 / Neurobiology / 4
CHEM-103Lx or CHEM-105aLg / General Chemistry for the Environment and Life
General Chemistry / 4
MATH 125 / Calculus 1 / 4
MATH 126 / Calculus 2 / 4
NEUR 408 / Systems Neuroscience / 4
PHYS-135aL or PHYS 151 / Physics for Life Sciences
Fundamentals of Physics I / 4
PHYS-135bL as or PHYS 152 / Physics for Life Sciences
Fundamentals of Physics II / 4
PSYC 100 / Introduction to Psychology / 4
PSYC 274 / Statistics / 4
PSYC 440 / Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience / 4

COMPUTATIONAL AREA

Students are to take a total of three courses. The coursesare listed in the table according to the programming language of the courses. It is not obligatory that all courses be from the same programming language but the student should be aware that knowledge of a different language will likely be assumed in the advanced courses. Only one introductory programming course will be counted towards the major, although an introductory programming course is not required.

Optional: Choose one course (2-4 units)

COMPUTATIONAL AREA: INTRODUCTORY COURSES / Units / Language
EE 150 / Engineering Computational Methods / 3 / Matlab
ITP 109 / Introduction to Java Programming / 2 / Java
ITP 115 / Programming in Python / 2 / Python
ITP 168 / Introduction to Matlab / 2 / Matlab
CSCI 455 / Intro to Programming System Design / 4 / Java / C++
CSCI 103L / Introduction to Programming / 3 / C/C++

Choose 2-3 courses (6-12 units). A minimum of two courses are required.

COMPUTATIONAL AREA: ADVANCED COURSES / Units
BME 210 / Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods / 3
BME 402 / Control and Communication in the Nervous System / 3
CSCI 445 / Introduction to Robotics / 3
CSCI 360 / Introduction to Artificial Intelligence / 3
PSYC 450L / Neural Network Models of Social and Cognitive Processes / 4

A graduate-level advanced course from those listed below may be substituted for the undergraduate advanced course with permission.

GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSES / Units
BME 502 / Advanced Studies of the Nervous System / 4
BME 575L / Computational Neuroengineering / 3
CSCI 561 / Foundations of Artificial Intelligence / 3
CSCI 564 / Brain Theory and Artificial Intelligence / 3
CSCI 574 / Computer Vision / 3
CSCI 662 / Advanced Natural Language Processing / 3
EE 559 / Mathematical Pattern Recognition / 3
NSCI 524 / Advanced Overview of Neurosciences / 4
NSCI 531 / Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology / 4
NSCI 532 / Systems and Behavioral Neurobiology / 4
PSYC 506 / Learning and Cognition / 4
PSYC 510 / Visual Cognition / 4
PSYC 540 / Cognitive Neuroscience / 4
PSYC 544 / Psychophyisology / 4
PSYC 545 / Neuropsychology / 4
PSYC 547 / Functional Neuroanatomy / 4
PSYC 551 / Decision Neuroscience / 4
PSYC 555 / Introduction to Functional Magnet Resonance Imaging / 4

BIOLOGICAL AREA

Choose 1-2 courses (4 units)

BIOLOGICAL AREA / Units
BISC 424 / Brain Architecture / 4
BISC 461 / Seminar in Molecular and Computational Biology / 2,
max 4
BISC 462 / Seminar in Neurobiology / 2,
max 4
BISC 481 / Structural Bioinformatics from Atoms to Cells / 4
BSIC 490 / Directed Research / 2-4, max 8

PSYCHOLOGY AREA
Choose one(4 units)

PSYCHOLOGY AREA / Units
PSYC 301L / Cognitive Processes / 4
PSYC 304L / Sensation and Perception / 4
PSYC 326 / Behavioral Neuroscience / 4
PSYC 420 / Animal Behavior / 4
PSYC 424 / Neuropsychology / 4
PSYC 425 / Functional Imaging of the Human Brain / 4
PYSC 438 / Behavioral Genetics / 4

Math Electives

Choose one (4 units) below OR from those listed above not already counting for the major.

MATH ELECTIVES / Units
MATH 225 / Linear Algebra and Linear Differential Equations / 4
MATH 226 / Calculus III / 4
MATH 245 / Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I / 4