Application Qualifying for the Minor requires filling out an application form. Acceptance into the Minor assures students access to associated courses. The application form can be downloaded below, or picked from the Offices of the Undergraduate Deans, the Honors College, or from the various departmental undergraduate offices. Applications should be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences ; Flinn Hall, Suite 110 ; University of South Carolina. Download Application Here

This minor is designed for students going into graduate studies in neuroscience, animal behavior, or psychology, students going into medicine, and students simply interested in gaining a better understanding of their own interactions with the world. The minor will provide opportunities to develop a strong background of how the nervous system works from the social and behavioral to the cellular and molecular levels. Beyond a core requirement, students may focus on topics of specific interest. Research experience is required.

Application. Students must complete an application and qualify for the Neuroscience Minor. Applications can be submitted any time after the freshman year (30 credit hours completed). Normally, students will be expected to have at least a 3.3 grade point average. Applications will be evaluated by a Neuroscience Education Committee, and they will be judged on overall academic merit. Application forms can be obtained from the Departments of Psychology, Biological Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Honors College.

Opportunity to Participate in Honors College Courses. Courses suitable for the Neuroscience Minor may be offered as honors courses. Students minoring in Neuroscience will be able to take these courses, and they will have priority in registration, even over Honors College students who are not minoring in Neuroscience. This will provide students outside of the Honors College with the opportunity to do course work in the Honors College.

Requirements. Eighteen credit hours are required to satisfy the minor. Students must complete at least 2 of the listed core courses (Group A), and an optional distribution of courses from a secondary list (Group C). Students must also complete 2 to 3 credits of Independent Study in Neuroscience, either as a research experience in a participating laboratory or as an independent project developed with a suitable mentor (Biol 399, Psyc 498 or SCHC 399) - - these 2-3 credits are in addition to the research or practicum credits that may be applied to the chosen major. Additional honors proseminars or other specialized courses in the Neurosciences may satisfy minor requirements in Group C, provided the course substitutions are approved by the Neuroscience Education Committee.

COURSES:

Group A (required): Core classes, choose at least two out of three classes.
• Introduction to Neuroscience, SCHC 330P - 3 credits
• Physiological Psychology, Psyc 460 - 3 credits
• Neurobiology, Biol 635 (includes lab) - 4 credits

Group B (required): Independent Study in Neuroscience, choose one of the following.
• Independent Study, Biol 399 - 2 to 3 credits
  
• Independent Study, SCHC 399 - 2 to 3 credits
  
• Independent Study, Psyc 498 - 2 to 3 credits
  
• An equivalent courses from another department may be approved by the Neuroscience Education Committee

Group C (electives): Select courses (typically three classes) from the following list to complete 18 credit hours.
Anthropology:
• Becoming Human, Anth 361 - 3 credits
  
Biology:
• Cell and Molecular Biology, Biol 302 - 3 credits
  
• General Physiology, Biol 460 or Comparative Physiology, Biol 543 - 3 credits*
  
• Animal Behavior, Biol 534 - 3 credits
  
• Laboratory in Animal Behavior, Biol 534L - 1 credit
  
• Bioinformatics, Biol 653 - 3 credits
  
Honors College:
• Brain and Evolution, SCHC 386J - 3 credits
Philosophy:
• Mind and Nature, Phil 351 - 3 credits
  
Psychology:
• Psychology of Consciousness, Psyc 370 - 3 credits
  
• Survey of Learning and Memory, Psyc 400 - 3 credits
  
• Survey of Cognitive Psychology, Psyc 405
  
• Sensation and Perception, Psyc 450 - 3 credits
  
• Psychology of Drug Use and Effects, Psyc 503 - 3 credits
  
• Psychology of Mental Retardation, Psyc 524 - 3 credits
  
• Cognitive Neuroscience, Psyc 507 - 3 credits
  
• Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Psyc 571 - 3 credits
  
• Advanced Physiological Psychology, Psyc 560 - 3 credits
  
• Physiological Psychology Laboratory, Psyc 570 - 3 credits
  

Public Health; Communicatio Sciences and Disorders:

• Neurocognitive Bases of Language Behavior, COMD 502 – 3 credits
*Note that Biol 460 and 543 cover similar material and therefore cannot both be counted toward the minor (i.e. one or the other only).
NOTE: Additional elective (Group C) courses may be approved at the descretion of the Neuroscience Eduction Committee.