[FUN_Mail] Neuroscience program requirements - query

[Ronald J Bayline]

Hi all,



At Washington & Jefferson College, we are in the midst of implementing a new curriculum across the college.  Along with this curricular change, the college is considering changes to the allowable sizes of majors, making the recommended maximum number of courses in a major smaller.  As an interdisciplinary major, Neuroscience at W&J is already pushing the upper limit of what is acceptable at our institution, and now we may be required to justify the size of our major if it falls outside the new requirements.  To that end, I'd like to ask for some thoughts and suggestions from schools that have Neuroscience majors, particularly those who are liberal arts colleges and universities.



Our major currently consists of a minimum of 14 four-credit courses (56 credit hours). Currently that consists of 7 introductory courses across biology, chemistry, math, physics and psychology, 3 core neuroscience courses (one with a neurophysiology lab), and 3 electives from among advanced biology, psychology, and other courses. In addition, students need to complete a research capstone, which may be completed as a summer internship, or a research experience on campus. A quick survey of other schools like us in our region shows that we are on the low end of total course requirements (most require 15-18 courses, and more than 60 credit-hours).  We feel comfortable with the size of our major as it stands given the outcomes of our students, but will likely be above new guidelines at W&J that are being discussed. I can easily look up what the major requirements are at other institutions, so I don't need that information sent to me. But I'd like to ask more qualitative questions:



  1.  What do you envision is a minimum size for a neuroscience major, and what do you see as potential problems with having a neuroscience major that is smaller (perhaps as few as 12 total courses)?
  2.  For those of you with graduate programs in neuroscience, do you see a problem with students applying to your programs if they have a smaller neuroscience major than other programs?
  3.  We offer a BA as a degree.  Do you see a distinction between a BA and BS degree in terms of the courses offered?
  4.  Do you have any other suggestions about how to defend the size of our neuroscience program?



Thanks for any input you may be able to provide.



Regards,

Ron Bayline


[Washington and Jefferson Logo]
Ronald Bayline, Ph.D. (he/him)
Professor of Biology and Highmark Professor in the Health Sciences
Washington & Jefferson College
[Phone]
724-503-1001 x3406 <tel:724-503-1001>
[Email]
rjbayline at washjeff.edu <mailto:rjbayline at washjeff.edu>
[Link]
www.washjeff.edu <https://www.washjeff.edu/>


-------------- next part --------------
   Hi all,


   At Washington & Jefferson College, we are in the midst of implementing
   a new curriculum across the college.  Along with this curricular
   change, the college is considering changes to the allowable sizes of
   majors, making the recommended maximum number of courses in a major
   smaller.  As an interdisciplinary major, Neuroscience at W&J is already
   pushing the upper limit of what is acceptable at our institution, and
   now we may be required to justify the size of our major if it falls
   outside the new requirements.  To that end, I’d like to ask for some
   thoughts and suggestions from schools that have Neuroscience majors,
   particularly those who are liberal arts colleges and universities.


   Our major currently consists of a minimum of 14 four-credit courses (56
   credit hours). Currently that consists of 7 introductory courses across
   biology, chemistry, math, physics and psychology, 3 core neuroscience
   courses (one with a neurophysiology lab), and 3 electives from among
   advanced biology, psychology, and other courses. In addition, students
   need to complete a research capstone, which may be completed as a
   summer internship, or a research experience on campus. A quick survey
   of other schools like us in our region shows that we are on the low end
   of total course requirements (most require 15-18 courses, and more than
   60 credit-hours).  We feel comfortable with the size of our major as it
   stands given the outcomes of our students, but will likely be above new
   guidelines at W&J that are being discussed. I can easily look up what
   the major requirements are at other institutions, so I don’t need that
   information sent to me. But I’d like to ask more qualitative questions:


    1. What do you envision is a minimum size for a neuroscience major,
       and what do you see as potential problems with having a
       neuroscience major that is smaller (perhaps as few as 12 total
       courses)?
    2. For those of you with graduate programs in neuroscience, do you see
       a problem with students applying to your programs if they have a
       smaller neuroscience major than other programs?
    3. We offer a BA as a degree.  Do you see a distinction between a BA
       and BS degree in terms of the courses offered?
    4. Do you have any other suggestions about how to defend the size of
       our neuroscience program?


   Thanks for any input you may be able to provide.


   Regards,

   Ron Bayline



   Washington and Jefferson Logo

                       Ronald Bayline, Ph.D. (he/him)

   Professor of Biology and Highmark Professor in the Health Sciences

   Washington & Jefferson College

   Phone

   [1]724-503-1001 x3406

   Email

   [2]rjbayline at washjeff.edu

   Link

   [3]www.washjeff.edu

References

   1. tel:724-503-1001
   2. mailto:rjbayline at washjeff.edu
   3. https://www.washjeff.edu/
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