Students pursuing the undergraduate Neuroscience degree at Ramapo will gain an in-depth understanding of the organization of the nervous system in terms of its anatomy and physiology. Topics include vertebrate anatomy and physiology, molecular structure of the neural system, primate developmental neurobiology, and comparative neural anatomy and physiology. By exploring these areas of knowledge, students will gain an appreciation for and fluency with multiple levels of analysis and study of the nervous system (e.g., molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience levels).

Students will develop a basic understanding of the interaction between neural structure and function by exploring the brain’s relation to behaviors such as motor control, basic sensory processes (e.g., audition, proprioception, vision), higher cognition (e.g., attention, memory, learning, language), and emotional processing. Major theories of brain-behavior relations, which address behavioral neuroscience, learning, cognitive neuroscience, sensation, and perception, will be studied.

Students will develop fluency in multiple levels of empirical analysis and converging methodologies in the research and study of brain and behavior. The major will allow students to gain a basic understanding of the methodology and current technology used to investigate phenomena from the molecular level to complex behaviors. A critical analysis of the reliability, efficacy, and validity of current research methods and techniques will be employed to engage students in developing in-depth knowledge of the state of primary neuroscience research on specialized and advanced neuroscience topics.

Students will have an opportunity to perform neuroscience research with faculty members.

Students will develop an understanding of the role of the brain in the behavior of atypical populations in comparison to typical populations. In-depth investigation of the assessment techniques and methods used in neuropsychological research will be presented so that students
understand the typical assessment tools and procedures used for diagnosing and treating neurologically-based disorders such as dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke.

Furthermore, students will gain an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and the study of mind, brain, and behavior. Students will be encouraged to seek new insights by integrating across subject areas that have traditionally been studied separately (e.g., psychology, philosophy, public health, anthropology, and art/literature). Students will explore the relationships of conscious and unconscious behaviors with consideration of the spectrum defining typical and atypical behaviors. Students will be encouraged to use a broad ecological perspective to contextualize findings from current neuroscience research.

Program Goals

Upon completion of the program, students will have achieved the following goals.

Goal 1: Understand core concepts in psychology, biology, and chemistry, as providing the basis for the scientific study of the nervous system and its relationship to behavior and mental processes.

Goal 2: Utilize proficient scientific literacy and analytical skill to critically evaluate the scientific merit of original research and scientific dissemination by popular and social media.

Goal 3: Demonstrate effective communication about neuroscience in both written and oral form.

1. Demonstrate understanding of neuronal communication via resting potential, action potential, and neurotransmission.

2. Demonstrate understanding of the general organization of the brain.

3. Relate organization of the brain to cognitive processes such as visual processing, auditory processing, attention, and/or memory via an understanding of functional lateralization or hemispheric specialization.

4. Demonstrate understanding of typical and atypical cognitive and emotional processes and the pathological mechanisms underlying common diseases and/or disorders of the nervous system.

5. Demonstrate proficiency in reading papers in the primary literature by recognizing the research question being investigated and its significance, the hypothesis being tested, and the predictions from the hypothesis.

6. Evaluate the appropriateness of the experimental design and the interpretation of the results.

7. Evaluate claims in mass media against what is known from the scientific literature.

8. Demonstrate effective writing skills.

9. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.

1. Transfer students who have 48 or more credits accepted at the time of transfer are waived from the courses marked with a (W) below.  Waivers do not apply to Major Requirements.
2. Double counting between General Education, School Core, and Major may be possible.  Check with your advisor to see if any apply.
3. Writing Intensive Requirement (five courses):  two writing intensive courses in the general education curriculum are required: Critical Reading and Writing and Studies II in Arts & Humanities; the other three courses are taken in the major.
4. Not all courses are offered each semester.  Please check the current Schedule of Classes for semester course offerings.
5. The Career Pathways Program requirements must be completed prior to graduation.  Visit the Cahill Career Center.

NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR

Note: A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.

Students will gain an understanding of the organization of the nervous system as well as an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and the study of mind, brain, and behavior.  Courses offered will allow students to explore the interaction between neural structure and function via the brain’s relation to behaviors such as motor control, basic -sensory processes (e.g., audition, proprioception, and vision), higher cognition (e.g., attention, memory, learning and language) and emotional processing. Major theories of brain-behavior relations will be studied. Several of these topics include behavioral neuroscience and learning, perception, neuropsychopharmacology and cognitive neuroscience.

Goal 1: Understand core concepts in psychology, biology and/or chemistry as providing the basis for the scientific study of the nervous system and its relationship to behavior and mental processes.

Outcome 1: Demonstrate understanding of neuronal communication via action potential.

Outcome 2: Demonstrate understanding of the general organization of the brain.

Outcome 3: Relate organization of the brain to cognitive processes (such as visual processing, auditory processing, attention and/or memory) via an understanding of functional lateralization and/or hemispheric specialization.
Outcome 4: Demonstrate understanding of typical and atypical cognitive processes and the pathological mechanisms underlying common diseases and/or disorders of the nervous system.

Goal 2: Appreciate, from a liberal arts perspective, the role of the neuroscience perspective to inform issues within the larger cultural, social, historical and ethical framework.

Outcome 1: Demonstrate understanding of the strengths of the neuroscience approach in responding to societal, cultural and/or ethical issues such as substance use, poverty, criminal behavior, and/or therapeutic interventions.

Outcome 2: Demonstrate understanding of the weaknesses of the neuroscience approach in responding to societal, cultural and/or ethical issues such as substance use, poverty, criminal behavior, and/or therapeutic interventions.

Outcome 3: Demonstrate proficiency in reading papers in the primary literature by recognizing the research question being investigated and its significance, the hypothesis being tested, and the predictions from the hypothesis.

Outcome 4: Evaluate the appropriateness of the experimental design and the interpretation of the results.

Outcome 5: Evaluate claims in mass media against what is known from the scientific literature.

Goal 3: Demonstrate effective communication about neuroscience in both written and oral form.

Outcome 1: Demonstrate effective writing skills.

Outcome 2: Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.

1. Courses fulfilling the requirements for the primary or second major may count towards the requirements of the minor, but may not exceed one-half of the credits required in the minor. A School core does not need to be completed for a minor.  Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.

NEUROSCIENCE MINOR

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