What is Neuroscience?
The word “neuroscience” is relatively new, however, the study of the brain has been carried out over many centuries. Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system and how it regulates behavior. Explaining this interaction has been described as one of the last frontiers in the biological sciences by renowned neuroscientist and Nobel Prize recipient, Dr. Erik Kandel. This field is challenging, exciting, and interdisciplinary. The interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience allows scientists, physicians, and clinicians to share a common interest about the nervous system. Central to neuroscience are questions such as:
• What are the neurobiological substrates of knowledge acquisition, processing, consolidation, and memory?
• What are the short- and long-term neural consequences of drug abuse?
• What are the molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric and neurological disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's Disease?
• How does the brain rewire itself after a traumatic injury?
The list of questions is nearly endless! The very nature of this list of questions changes and grows as we continue to learn more about the workings of the nervous system.
The Neuroscience Program at ECU
At ECU, Neuroscience is offered as a concentration in the Multidisciplinary Studies Program. The concentration offers both BA and BS degrees. It is designed to provide students with a diverse scientific background that will allow them to pursue a career in neuroscience and a wide variety of other fields. The program is not only designed for students desiring to pursue a career in neuroscience, but is also an excellent program for students desiring a career in medicine or other health-related professions. Indeed, many of the course requirements in the curriculum overlap with the undergraduate courses required by most medical schools (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
The curriculum includes a strong core of required biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology courses, lab research experience in neuroscience, a two-semester Capstone sequence, and many electives. The large selection of electives permits a student to learn about many neuroscience-related areas or to concentrate on a single area. Seminars, lectures, and laboratory research experiences are designed to give students:
- An understanding of the molecular, cellular, biochemical, physiological mechanisms and processes underlying nervous system functioning, behavior, and psychological processes.
- A fundamental understanding of the basic scientific method and many of the basic research techniques used by neuroscientists.
- A major that is flexible enough for students to select courses for themselves which will prepare them for entering into advanced degree programs beyond or within ECU that offer MA, MS, PhD, or MD degrees. Advanced degrees are often needed in the following career areas:
- Academia
- Research
- Medicine
- Government
- Private Industry
- A bachelor's degree in neuroscience may also assist in occupations where employers do not require an advanced degree but prefer college-educated individuals with good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
In so many ways the combination of psychology, biology, and chemistry courses with the foundations core of ECU, makes the neuroscience concentration a firm example of a liberal arts education. Contributing faculty are found in twelve departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Brody School of Medicine, the School of Allied Health, and the School of Health and Human Performance.
One can either minor or major in the neuroscience concentration. To minor, students need to have earned at least a 2.0 overall GPA and 30 semester hours, while to declare the major, students must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA and enough credit hours for declaring a major. Furthermore, if you are interested in proper advising towards the minor or major, then please contact Dr. Tran. It is highly essential that you are motivated, very eager to learn, have high standards for work ethics, and have high tolerance for many challenges.
