College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: BA or BS
Specialized Admission: No
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The Department of Biological Science offers an undergraduate major in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience that focuses on the development, anatomy, and physiology of the brain. The curriculum emphasizes Biology and Psychology, with essential foundations in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics. Elective coursework the Cell and Molecular Neuroscience major offers a focus that includes genetics, molecular biology, immunology, histology, aging and development, comparative approaches to animal anatomy and behavior, and experimental and human physiology. The unique multi-disciplinary breadth of the Cell and Molecular Neuroscience major prepares students for a variety of STEM-related careers – scientific research and/or education, all health professions, biomedical engineering, and computer science.
Note: Prospective transfer students should contact as-admissions@fsu.edu (Arts & Sciences Admissions) with specific questions about admission and mapping requirements.
The following courses are mandated elements of any Neuroscience program in the state of Florida. All the following courses may also apply toward General Education, major and/or collateral requirements.
BSC X010, X010L (3, 1) Biological Science I and Lab
BSC X011, X011L (3, 1) Biological Science II and Lab
CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I and Lab
CHM X046, X046L (3,1) General Chemistry II and Lab
CHM X210 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM X211(3) Organic Chemistry II
PHY X053C (4) General Physics I
PHY X054C (4) General Physics II
MAC X311 (4) Calculus I
STA X0XX (3) Statistics: STA 2122 (3) Applied Statistics preferred
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Science requires proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate (2220 or equivalent) level or sign language through the advanced (ASL2160C or equivalent) level.
Admission Requirements to the Upper-Division Major
Due to the limitations in the number of faculty and physical resources, admission to the undergraduate program will be based on the following admission requirements:
1) Completion of each of the following courses with a final grade of “C minus” or higher:
• BSC X010, X010L (3, 1) Biological Science I and Lab
• BSC X011, X011L (3, 1) Biological Science II and Lab
• CHM X045, X045L (3,1) General Chemistry I and Lab
• CHM X046, X046L (3,1) General Chemistry II and Lab
• MAC X311 (4) Calculus I
• STA X0XX (3) Statistics: STA 2122 (3) preferred
2) Completion of at least 52 academic credits or an A.A. Degree.
3) PSY 3213C must be completed by the end of Term 5 (first semester, junior year).
4) A preliminary meeting with the Neuroscience Academic Advisor to discuss program requirements and career goals.
Certification and admission to upper-division status can occur during any semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). However, prospective transfer students should contact Ms. Shellie Camp, as-admissions@fsu.edu, with specific questions about admission and mapping requirements.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: 36 hours of degree core and elective coursework. Grades below “C minus” will not be accepted for major credit.
Students who have more than four grades below "C minus" (D+, D, D minus, or F) in courses required for the Cell and Molecular Neuroscience major, excluding State Common Program Prerequisites listed as Term 1-4 milestones, taken after enrolling at FSU, will not be permitted to graduate with a degree in this major.
Students must complete the following requirements:
Degree Core Coursework:(19 hours)
PSY 2012 General Psychology (3) - recommend completing as a core General Education requirement
PCB 3134 Cell Structure and Function (3)
PSY 3213C Research Methods in Psychology (4)
PCB 4843 Fundamentals of Neuroscience (3)
PSB 3004C Physiological Psychology with Brain Anatomy Lab (4)
PSB 4400 Neuroscience Methods: Molecules to Behavior (2)
Degree Elective Coursework:(17 hours)
Take any combination of Biological Science Electives up to 11 hours:*
PCB 3063 General Genetics (3)
PCB 4024 Molecular Biology (3)
PCB 4024L Molecular Biology Lab (1)
PCB 4233 Immunology (3)
PCB 4233L Immunology Lab (1)
PCB 4244 Biology of Aging (3)
PCB 4253 Developmental Biology (3)
PCB 4701 Human Physiology (3)
BSC 4731L Experimental Physiology Lab (2)
BSC 4900 Directed Individual Study I (1-6)
BSC 4901 Directed Individual Study II (1-6)
BSC 4970 Honors in the Major Research (1-6)
ZOO 3713C Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
ZOO 4343C Biology of Lower Vertebrates (4)
ZOO 4353C Biology of Higher Vertebrates (4)
ZOO 4513 Animal Behavior (4)
ZOO 4753C Histology (4)
MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Biology (3)
*Students may substitute one Biological Science Elective course with one of the following:
BSC 3052 Conservation Biology (3)
BSC 3312 Marine Biology (3)
PCB 3043 General Ecology (3)
PCB 4674 Evolution (3)
Take any combination of Psychology Electives up to 6 hours:
EXP 3202C Sensation and Perception with Lab (4)
EXP 3422C Conditioning and Learning with Lab (4)
EXP 3604C Cognitive Psychology with Lab (4)
EXP 4404 Human Memory and Learning (3)
EXP 4640 Psychology of Language (3)
PSB 4006 Social Neuroscience (3)
PSB 4040 Affective Neuroscience (3)
PSB 4240 Neurobiology of Brain Dysfunction (3)
PSB 4447 Psychopharmacology (3)
PSB 4461 Hormones and Behavior (3)
PSB 4710 Biology of Eating Disorders and Obesity (3)
PSB 4731 Biopsychology of Sexual Behavior (3)
PSY 4039 Honors in the Major Research (1-6)
PSY 4910 Augmented Research Topics (1-6)
PSY 4915 Honors Advanced Research Topics (1-6)
PSY 4930 Special Topics - Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (3)
PSY 4930 Special Topics - Science of Consciousness (3)
CLP 4143 Abnormal Psychology (3)
CBH 4304 Behavioral Genetics (3)
SOP 3004 Social Psychology (3)
PSY 4930 Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
Minor Coursework: None beyond the prerequisite science coursework, which constitutes a minor.
Digital Literacy: (0 hours beyond major requirements)
PSY 3213C Research Methods in Psychology meets this requirement.
BSC 2011Lab- Biological Sciences II Lab also meets this requirement.
CHM 1045L- General Chemistry I Lab also meets this requirement.
Oral Communication Competency: (0-3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with a University approved college-level course such as SPC 1017 or SPC 2608.
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hours Required: 120
General Education: 36 (encouraged to take PSY 2012 to fulfill Social Science requirement) *
Collateral Coursework: 37 - 40 (depending on chemistry and physics sequence)
Major Coursework: 36
Minor Coursework: 0 (none beyond collateral science coursework, which constitutes a minor)
Foreign Language: 0-12 (depending on placement)
Digital Literacy: 0 beyond major requirements (PSY3213C, BSC2011L, CHM1045L)
Oral Competency: 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
*NOTE: Some coursework required for the major may also be applied towards General Education and/or minor requirements.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
4. The B. A. degree requires an additional 9 hours in the fields of history and humanities beyond General Education.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Medical Technician, Clinical Research Associate, EEG Technologist, Forensic Science Technician, Science Writer, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Health Educator, Substance Abuse Counselor, Psychiatric Technician, Nurse Practitioner, Neuroimaging Technician, Physician’s Assistant, Applied Behavior Analyst, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Genetic Counselor, Epidemiologist, Occupational Therapist, Biostatistician, Orthotist/Prosthetist, Speech-Language Pathologist, Physical Therapist, Food Scientist, Audiologist, Optometrist, Research Scientist, College or University Professor, Medical Doctor, Pharmacist, Dentist, Veterinarian, Bioethicist, Biomedical Engineer, Computational Scientist.
Representative Employers: Educational Institutions, Consulting Firms, Research Institutions, Biotechnology Companies, Publishers, Biomedical Products Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Companies, Health Care Providers, Medical Laboratories, Museums, Zoos, Aquaria, Federal and State Agencies (those involved in commerce, defense, diplomacy, education, intelligence, law enforcement, and public health), Non-profit Organizations.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and multicultural requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
The Cell and Molecular Neuroscience major offers focused study of the development, anatomy, and physiology of the brain. Broadly multi-disciplinary, the principles of Neuroscience are derived from Biology and Psychology, with essential foundations in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics. The curriculum offers students the opportunity to synthesize knowledge across the natural and social sciences – exploring the elaborate chains of causality that lead from molecules to behavior, as well as the dramatic impact exerted by social, personal, and environmental influences on dynamic patterns of human thought and emotion. Students are encouraged to work in Neuroscience research labs and participate in Program in Neuroscience professional development and public outreach activities. The unique multi-disciplinary breadth of the Neuroscience degree prepares students for a variety of STEM-related careers – scientific research and/or education, numerous health professions, biomedical engineering, and computer science.
Mapping Coordinator: Shellie Camp
Email: scamp@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| MAC1105 College Algebra (or higher mathematics)3 |
| BSC2010/L Biological Science I and Lab 4 |
| PSY2012 General Psychology 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete (or waive) MAC1105 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| MAC1140 Pre-Calculus Algebra 3 |
| BSC2011/L Biological Science II with Lab4 |
| STA2122 Intro to Applied Statistics 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete MAC1140 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete BSC2010/L or CHM1045/L ( ≥ C minus ) in each |
| Summer hrs |
| CHM1045/L General Chemistry I and Lab4 |
| Humanities and Cultural Practice/Ethics3 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| MAC1114 Analytic Trigonometry3 |
| CHM1046/L General Chemistry II and Lab4 |
| PSB4400 Neuroscience Methods2 |
| PSY Elective3 |
| Humanities and Cultural Practice/Ethics3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete MAC1114 ( ≥ C minus) |
| Complete STA2122 ( ≥ C minus) |
| Complete BSC2010/L ( ≥ C minus ) in each |
| Complete CHM1045/L ( ≥ C minus ) in each |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| MAC2311 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I4 |
| CHM2210 Organic Chemistry I3 |
| PSY3213C Research Methods3 |
| Core History3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete MAC2311 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete BSC2011/L ( ≥ C minus ) in each |
| Complete CHM1046/L ( ≥ C minus ) in each |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| PSB3004C Physiological Psychology with Lab4 |
| CHM2211 Organic Chemistry II 3 |
| BIO Elective 3 |
| Oral Communication Competency 3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| Complete PSY2012 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PSY3213C ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PSB4400 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| PHY2053C College Physics A with Lab4 |
| PCB3134 Cell Structure and Function 3 |
| BIO Elective3 |
| Foreign Language 14 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| Complete CHM2210 or PHY2053C ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PCB3134 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete PSB3400C ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Begin Foreign Language |
| Complete a Pre-Graduation Check |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| PHY2054C College Physics B with Lab4 |
| PCB4843 Fundamentals of Neuroscience3 |
| BIO Elective3 |
| Foreign Language 24 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| No Milestones |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| BIO Elective3 |
| PSY Elective3 |
| Gen Ed3 |
| Foreign Language 34 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply for Graduation in 1st two weeks |