Prerequisites to Concentration

Complete one Introductory Biology Course and all of the Chemistry courses.
BIOLOGY 162: Introductory Biology
BIOLOGY 163: Honors Introductory Biology
BIOLOGY 171 and BIOLOGY 172: Introductory Biology Sequence
BIOLOGY 195: AP Credit for Introductory Biology
 
(Chem 125/126 & Chem 130)
CHEM 210: Structure and Reactivity I
CHEM 211: Investigations in Chemistry
CHEM 215: Structure and Reactivity II
CHEM 216: Synthesis and Character of Organic Compounds
 
Concentration Program
A minimum of 36 credits is required.
 
Core Requirements
Four courses are required.
 
All of the following:
PSYCH 230: Introduction to Biopsychology
BIOLOGY 222: From Message to Mind: An Introduction to Neurobiology
BIOLOGY 305: Genetics
 
One of the following:

BIOLOGY 310: Introductory Biochemistry

BIOLOGY 311: Introductory Biochemistry
BIOLCHEM 415: Introductory Biochemistry
 
Electives
Elect 6 courses for a minimum of 18 credits.
 
A. Lecture Courses at 200-300 level.
At least one, and up to two courses from:
BIOLOGY 225: Principles of Animal Physiology: Lecture
MCDB 307: Developmental Biology
PSYCH 240: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
PSYCH 345: Introduction to Human Neuropsychology
 
B. Advanced lecture and discussion courses in Neuroscience.
At least three courses (and up to five courses). At least one course must be from
Group B1 and one course from Group B2. One advanced course from List C may be
used toward this requirement.
 
B1. Cell and Molecular Neuroscience:
 
• MCDB 402: Molecular Biology of Pain and Sensation
• MCDB 403: Molecular and Cell Biology of the Synapse
• MCDB 418: Endocrinology
• MCDB 422: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
• MCDB 426: Molecular Endocrinology 
• MCDB 450:  Genetics and Molecular Biology of Complex Behavior
• MCDB 455:  Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration
• MCDB 456:  Genes, Circuits, and Behavior
 
B2. Behavioral Neuroscience:
• BIOLOGY 541/PSYCH 532: Mammalian Reproductive Endocrinology
• PSYCH 346: Learning and Memory
• PSYCH 347: Perception
• PSYCH 402: Special Problems in Psychology
• PSYCH 433: Biopsychology of Motivation
• PSYCH 434: Biopsychology of Learning and Memory
• PSYCH 435: Bilogical Rhythms and Behavior
• PSYCH 436: Drugs of Abuse, Brain and Behavior
• PSYCH 437: Current Topics in Biopsychology
• PSYCH 438: Hormones and Behavior
• PSYCH 531: Advanced Topics in Biopsychology
• PSYCH 533/NEUROSCI 520: Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine & Society
 
 
Additional courses may be approved as advanced neuroscience courses by the
concentration advisory panel.
 
C. Additional Advanced Course
 
• MCDB 411: Protein Structure and Function
• MCDB 427: Molecular Biology
• MCDB 428: Cell Biology
• MCDB 435: Intracellular Trafficking
• EEB 492: Behavioral Ecology
• PSYCH 420: Faculty Directed Advanced Tutorial Reading for Psychology as a
Natural Science
• PSYCH 447: Current Topics in Cognition and Perception
• STATS 250 (350) or 400: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis or Applied
Statistical Methods
• STATS 401 or 405: Applied Statistical Methods II or Introducation to Statistics
 
 
Additional advanced courses may be approved as cognates by the concentration
advisory panel.
 
Lab Requirement
At least two different courses for a minimum of five credits total from the following
categories, with at least one course being a Methods-Based laboratory:
 
A. Method-Based Laboratory courses: Choose at least one course from:
 
• PSYCH 231/UC 261: Brain, Learning, and Memory
• BIOLOGY 226: Animal Physiology Laboratory
• MCDB 306: Introductory Genetics Laboratory
• MCDB 308: Developmental Biology Laboratory
• MCDB 419: Endocrinology Laboratory
• MCDB 423: Introduction to research in Cellular and Mollecular Neurobiology
• MCDB 429: Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Biology
 
 
B. Research-Based Laboratory Courses
 
• MCDB 300: Undergraduate Research
• MCDB 400: Advanced Research
• PSYCH 326: Faculty Directed Early Research for Psychology as a Natural Science
• PSYCH 331/332: Laboratories in Biopsychology
• PSYCH 422: Faculty Directed Advanced Research for Psychology as a Natural
Science
 
 
Note: Each course must be taken for a minimum of two credits each and be
completed in a single academic term. Only three credits of independent study may
count toward the concentration program.
 
Quantitative Requirement Cognate
Two courses are required.
If Stats 350, 400, 401, or 405 is used in Elective Group C, it cannot be used for a
Quantitative Cognate. (While 100-level courses may be used to satisfy this
requirement, the credits for 100-level courses may not be used toward the
minimum number of credits required for the concentration).
 
 
• STATS 250 (350): Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis or STATS 400:
Applied Statistical Methods.
• Note: STATS 405 cannot be combined with STATS 350 or 400 to fulfill this
requirement.
• STATS 401: Applied Statistical Methods or STATS 405: Introduction to Statistics
• PSYCH 448: Mathematical Psychology
• MATH 115: Calculus I or MATH 185: Calculus I Honors
• MATH 116: Calculus II or MATH 186: Calculus II Honors
• PHYSICS 125 or 140 or 160: General Physics I
• PHYSICS 126 or 240 or 260: General Physics II
 
 
It is recommended that students interested in pursuing advanced training in
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience elect MATH 115 and 116, CHEM 230, PHYSICS
125/126 & 127/128 OR 140/141 & 240/241. Those interested in advanced training
in Behavioral Neuroscience should take at least one Statistics course.
 
Students intending to go to graduate school should have at least two terms of
research experience. These can appear as graded courses, UROP participation, or
be independent of the graded curriculum. Most graduate school-bound students will
have 1-2 graded research courses (2-4 credits/each) on record. Students intending
to go to graduate school in Neuroscience within a CMB-type program will need
research experience as well as two term of Calculus and two terms of Physics.
Students intending to go to medical school will need to take two terms of Physics
and CHEM 230.
 
Honors Concentration
The Neuroscience B.S. degree is the basis for the Honors degree in Neuroscience.
Students must elect two semesters of independent research (under PSYCH
424/426, MCDB 300 or MCDB 400), maintain a cumulative AND concentration GPA
of 3.4 or higher, complete an Honors thesis and give a research (poster)
presentation based on their Honors work. Prior to applying to the Neuroscience
Honors Program students must identify a research mentor in the Department of
Psychology or MCDB. Students may conduct Honors research with faculty in other
units on the University of Michigan campus, but must have a formal co-sponsor
relationship with a research track or tenure-track faculty in Psychology or MCDB.
Students apply to the Honors Program in Neuroscience by submitting an Honors
application that includes a research proposal along with their unofficial transcript.
Upon approval by the Steering Committee students can then declare an Honors
concentration (no later than 6 months prior to submitting the honors thesis).
Written evaluations of the Honors thesis must be submitted by the mentor and two
faculty readers (students need to secure these readers and list them on their
application). Honors theses must be submitted no later than the deadline given -
April, August or December 1. Extensions of any coursework will be considered only
in cases such as illness or family emergency. Students are expected to present their
Honor’s Thesis Data at public forum – currently either the Psychology Honor’s
Poster Session or the MCDB Honor’s Poster session.
 
Faculty Steering Committee
MCDB Undergraduate Office
1111 Natural Science Building
830 North University Avenue
(734) 764-2446 (phone)
(734 647-0884 (fax)
https://www.lsa.umich.edu/mcdb/
 
Psychology Student Academic Affairs Office
1343 East Hall
530 Church Street
(734) 764-2580 (phone)
(734) 764-3520 (fax)
https://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/
 
 
• John Kuwada (Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology)
• Joshua Berke (Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Scholar)
• Jonathan Demb (Assistant Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental
Biology)
Terry Robinson (Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience)