Neuroscience

Minor Requirements – 47 Total Credits

Core Courses – Required 20 credits

• BIOL 125: Genes, Evolution & Development & Lab
• NEUR 127: Foundations in Neuroscience and Lab
• NEUR 238: Neurons, Circuits and Behavior
• NEUR 239: Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Lab

The BIOL 125: Genes, Evolution & Development & Lab requirement is waived if a student received a score of 5 on the AP Biology Exam or a higher level IB exam score of 6 or 7.

Senior Capstone – Required 3 credits

• NEUR 395: Neuroscience Capstone Seminar

Elective Courses – Required 24 credits

• NEUR 127 Foundations in Neuroscience and Lab

  This course is an introduction to basic neural function. Topics include neural transmission, development of the nervous system, anatomy, sensory systems, learning and the corresponding change in the brain, and the role of the nervous system in behavior. Team-based learning will be used to understand the experiments that shape current knowledge.

  During registration, students will register for both the lecture and a corresponding lab section, which will appear on the student's academic transcript in a single entry.

  • Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
  • Credits: 6
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: LS, Science with Lab QRE, Quantitative Reasoning
  • Tags: CGSC Elective CL: 100 level NEUR Core
  • Faculty: Joel Tripp 🏫 👤 · Sarah Meerts 🏫 👤 · Eric Hoopfer 🏫 👤

• NEUR 238 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior

  Neurons are the building blocks of the nervous system. Molecular and cellular neuroscience seeks to understand the fundamental principles that govern how neurons function, how they communicate with each other, and how they assemble into circuits that generate behavior. This course focuses on the molecular and cellular basis of nervous system function from the level of genes and molecules to neural circuits and behavior. We will take an integrative approach to examine the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neuronal communication, the molecular basis of sensation and innate behaviors, neural plasticity, and nervous system disorders. This course will emphasize the experimental evidence and techniques that have built our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of behavior through team-based learning, analysis of primary literature papers and laboratory experimentation. A grade of C- or better must be earned in both Neuroscience 238 and 239 to satisfy the LS requirement.

  • Offered: Spring 2026
  • Credits: 6
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: LS, Science with Lab QRE, Quantitative Reasoning
  • Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): NEUR 127 OR BIOL 125 with grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Biology AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the Biology IB exam or equivalent.

  • Co-requisites: NEUR 239: Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Lab
  • Tags: BIOL Elective CL: 200 level NEUR Core CGSC Elective
  • Faculty: Eric Hoopfer 🏫 👤

• NEUR 239 Neurons, Circuits and Behavior Lab

  This laboratory course will provide experience in performing experiments to elucidate the structure and function of neurons and neural circuits using classical and cutting-edge techniques. Students will apply these techniques to develop and carry out an independent research project.

  • Offered: Spring 2026
  • Credits: 2
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration
  • Co-requisites: NEUR 238: Neurons, Circuits and Behavior
  • Tags: BIOL Elective NEUR Core
  • Faculty: Eric Hoopfer 🏫 👤

• NEUR 294 Directed Research in Neuroscience

  Students work on a research project related to a faculty member's research interests, and directed by that faculty member. Student activities vary according to the field and stage of the project. The long-run goal of these projects normally includes dissemination to a scholarly community beyond Carleton. The faculty member will meet regularly with the student and actively direct the work of the student, who will submit an end-of-term product, typically a paper or presentation.

  • Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026
  • Grading: S/CR/NC
  • Credits: 1 – 6
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration
  • Tags: CL: Faculty Research
  • Faculty: Eric Hoopfer 🏫 👤

• NEUR 394 Directed Research in Neuroscience

  Students work on a research project related to a faculty member's research interests, and directed by that faculty member. Student activities vary according to the field and stage of the project. The long-run goal of these projects normally includes dissemination to a scholarly community beyond Carleton. The faculty member will meet regularly with the student and actively direct the work of the student, who will submit an end-of-term product, typically a paper or presentation.

  • Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026
  • Grading: S/CR/NC
  • Credits: 1 – 6
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration
  • Tags: CL: Faculty Research
  • Faculty: Joel Tripp 🏫 👤 · Eric Hoopfer 🏫 👤

• NEUR 395 Neuroscience Capstone Seminar

  This capstone seminar will cover current approaches and techniques in the field of neuroscience. Guest speakers in neuroscience and related areas will present their research.

  • Offered: First Five Weeks, Spring 2026
  • Grading: S/CR/NC
  • Credits: 3
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration
  • Prerequisites:

    Student is a Neuroscience minor AND has Senior Priority AND has completed the following course(s): BIOL 125 with a grade of C- or better or received a score of 5 on the Biology AP exam or received a score 6 or better on the Biology IB exam AND NEUR 127 with a grade of C- or better AND student has completed or is in the process of completing NEUR 238 AND NEUR 239 with grade of C- or better.

  • Tags: CL: 300 level NEUR Capstone
  • Faculty: Joel Tripp 🏫 👤