U-NEUR-MIN - Neuroscience - Minor

Like the inner workings of the brain itself, neuroscience synthesizes discovery from diverse sources of knowledge. The undergraduate curriculum in neuroscience reflects this interdisciplinary perspective and challenges students to explore knowledge across levels of analysis: from the molecular and cellular level, through the level of neural circuits within which cells are organized and interconnected, and toward the level of behavior where the functions of neural circuits and systems, including human cognition, are manifested. A comprehensive understanding of neuroscience requires knowledge of each level and integrative learning across levels.

The principal strength of this program is that it provides rich opportunities for undergraduate students to study brain science with faculty from diverse disciplines who bring their complimentary perspectives and expertise to the classroom and laboratory. Thus, the undergraduate curriculum in neuroscience is truly a joint, interdisciplinary major/minor that draws faculty and courses from several departments, chiefly the Department of Psychology in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Students may also elect to pursue faculty-mentored research and scholarship wherever brain science discovery happens at Duke. Indeed, the broad impact of neuroscience discovery now extends beyond the academic disciplines in the natural sciences to spaces where neuroscientists collaborate and regularly interact with experts in ethics, law, business, social sciences, philosophy, engineering, the fine arts and performing arts, and the humanities. Accordingly, our neuroscience curriculum reflects this broad interdisciplinary platform for discovery and learning, with a rich offering of coursework and experiences that reflect the exciting growth of neuroscience and its increasing relevance to human flourishing, the diverse challenges facing society, and the health and wellness of all life.

Website: psychandneuro.duke.edu/undergraduate/neuroscience/requirements