Carnegie Mellon University

Courses

Any of the following courses may be used as an elective in the Neuroscience Major, provided that course is not being used to fill another requirement.  Some major requirements specify that a portion of some electives course has to be 300-level or above.

Students may also wish to consult our recommended Neuroscience-relevant electives.

Several course substitutions are allowed, but are not always explicitly listed in the catalog.  Individual departments can provide a full list. 

Additional electives may be approved by the concentration advisors.

Comp Bio  Bio  Chem & Physics  Comp Sci  Math  Statistics  BME  Philosophy & Language  Psych  NSI

Computational Biology

02-250        Introduction to Computational Biology           
02-251        Great Ideas in Computational Biology
02-252        Introduction to Computational Cell Biology
02-319/03-360    Genomics and Epigenetics of the Brain
02-512        Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation

Biological Sciences

03-121/151  Modern Biology / Honors Modern Biology
03-124        Modern Biology Lab
03-133        Neurobiology of Disease
03-201        Undergraduate Colloquium
03-231/232  Biochemistry I
03-220        Genetics
03-320        Cell Biology
03-343        Experimental Techniques in Molecular Biology
03-345        Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology
03-346        Experimental Neurobiology
03-350        Developmental Biology                     
03-365        Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory
03-366        Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain, and Behavior
03-439        Biophysics
03-442        Molecular Biology

Chemistry & Physics

09-105        Introduction to Modern Chemistry I (see possible substitutions)
09-106        Modern Chemistry II
09-207        Techniques in Quantitative Analysis 1 (see possible substitutions)
09-217        Organic Chemistry I (see possible substitutions)
09-218        Organic Chemistry II (see possible substitutions)
09-208        Techniques in Organic Synthesis and Analysis (see possible substitutions)
33-121        Physics I for Science Students (see possible substitutions)
33-122        Physics II for Biological Sciences and Chemistry Students (see possible substitutions)

Computer Science, Machine Learning, & Robotics

10-301        Introduction to Machine Learning (Undergraduate)
10-601        Machine Learning
15-110        Principles of Computing     
15-112        Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science
15-122        Principles of Imperative Computation
15-150        Principles of Functional Programming              
15-251        Great Theoretical Ideas in Computer Science
15-386        Neural Computation
15-/86-387  Computational Perception
15-451        Algorithm Design and Analysis
15-494        Special Topic: Cognitive Robotics
15-883        Computational Models of Neural Systems
16-299        Introduction to Feedback Control Systems
16-311        Introduction to Robotics

Mathematical Sciences

21-120        Differential and Integral Calculus (see possible substitutions)
21-122        Integration and Approximation 
   or 21-124 Calculus II for Biologists and Chemists
21-228        Discrete Mathematics
21-241        Matrices and Linear Transformations                
   or 21-240 Matrix Algebra with Applications
21-259        Calculus in 3D
21-341        Linear Algebra

Statistics

36-200        Reasoning with Data
36-218        Probability Theory for Computer Scientists
  or 36-219  Probability Theory and Random Processes
  or 36-225  Probability Theory
36-226        Introduction to Statistical Inference
36-309        Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences
36-350        Statistical Computing
36-401        Modern Regression
36-462        Topics in Statistics: Data Mining

Biomedical Engineering

42-202        Physiology                             
42-203        Biomedical Engineering Laboratory      [BME majors have strong priority]          
42-/86-631  Neural Data Analysis
42-632        Neural Signal Processing

English & Philosophy

80-210        Logic and Proofs
80-211        Logic and Mathematical Inquiry
80-220        Philosophy of Science
80-254        Analytic Philosophy
80-270        Philosophy of Mind
80-280        Linguistic Analysis

Psychology

85-102        Introduction to Psychology
85-221        Principles of Child Development
85-241        Social Psychology
85-261        Psychopathology
85-310        Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology
85-314        Research Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience
85-356        Expertise: The cognitive (neuro)science of mastering almost any skill
85-370        Perception
85-406        Autism: Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives
85-408        Visual Cognition
85-412        Cognitive Modeling
85-414        Cognitive Neuropsychology                     
85-419        Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing
85-442        Health Psychology                         
85-501        Readings in Developmental Psychology

Neuroscience Institute

86-351    What is Attention?
86-375    Computational Perception

Core Neuroscience Courses

The following courses are the core Neuroscience courses that are most directly about brain function and its relationship to behavior.

02-219/03-360    Genomics & Epigenetics of the Brain
03-133    Neurobiology of Disease
03-161    Molecules to Mind
03-346    Experimental Neuroscience
03-362    Cellular Neuroscience
03-363    Systems Neuroscience
03-365    Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory
03-366    Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain, and Behavior
03-762    Advanced Cellular Neuroscience
03-763    Advanced Systems Neuroscience
03-765    Advanced Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory
10-301    Introduction to Machine Learning (Undergraduate)
10-601    Introduction to Machine Learning (Masters)
15-386    Neural Computation
15-494    Special Topic: Cognitive Robotics
15-883    Computational Models of Neural Systems
16-299    Introduction to Feedback Control Systems
16-311    Introduction to Robotics
36-401    Modern Regression
36-759    Statistical Models of the Brain
42-631    Neural Data Analysis (cross-listed as 86-631)
42-632    Neural Signal Processing
85-211    Cognitive Psychology
85-213    Human Information Processing and Artifical Intelligence
85-219    Biological Foundations of Behavior
85-314    Cognitive Neuroscience Research Methods
85-356    Expertise: The cognitive (neuro)science of mastering almost any skill
85-370    Perception
85-406    Autism: Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives
85-408    Visual Cognition
85-412    Cognitive Modeling
85-414    Cognitive Neuropsychology
85-419    Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing
85-719    Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing
85-765    Cognitive Neuroscience
86-375    Computational Perception

Recommended Neuroscience Electives

The following courses are recommended because they have the most direct relevance for many Neuroscience applications.

Bio & Comp Bio  Physics & Chemistry  Comp Sci & Math  Statistics  BME  Philosophy  Psych  NSI

Biology and Computational Biology

03-133        Neurobiology of Disease
03-220        Genetics
02-512        Computational Methods for Biological Modeling and Simulation
03-231/232 Biochemistry I
03-320        Cell Biology
03-346        Experimental Neurobiology
03-350        Developmental Biology
02-319/03-360   Genomics & Epigenetics of the Brain            
03-365        Neural Correlates of Learning and Memory
03-366        Neuropharmacology: Drugs, Brain, and Behavior
03-439        Biophysics
03-442        Molecular Biology

Physics & Chemistry

09-217        Organic Chemistry I
33-122        Physics II for Biologists and Chemists

Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, & Mathematics

10-301        Introduction to Machine Learning (Undergraduates)
10-601        Machine Learning
15-386        Neural Computation
15-/86-387  Computational Perception
15-494        Special Topic: Cognitive Robotics
15-883        Computational Models of Neural Systems
16-299        Introduction to Feedback Control Systems
16-311        Introduction to Robotics

Statistics

36-200        Reasoning with Data
36-309        Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences
36-350        Statistical Computing
36-401        Modern Regression
36-462        Topics in Statistics: Data Mining

Biomedical Engineering

42-202        Physiology 
42-/86-631  Neural Data Analysis
42-632        Neural Signal Processing

Philosophy

80-220        Philosophy of Science
80-270        Philosophy of Mind
80-280        Linguistic Analysis

Psychology

85-102        Introduction to Psychology
85-310        Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology
85-314        Research Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience
85-356        Expertise: The cognitive (neuro)science of mastering almost any skill
85-370        Perception
85-406        Autism: Psychological and Neuroscience Perspectives
85-408        Visual Cognition
85-412        Cognitive Modeling
85-414        Cognitive Neuropsychology                     
85-419        Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing                    

Neuroscience Institute

86-351        What is Attention?
86-375        Computational Perception

Common Course Substitutions

The department offering a course or the college that houses the department may offer substitutions.  For a current list, please consult the department administration.  This is a list of common substitutions.

These substitutions are not listed in the Neuroscience major in the course catalog because it is generally not advisable for students to take them as they are more challenging and many are less directly applicable to neuroscience.  However, these substitutions are always acceptable for Neuroscience Majors.

Important note: These are approved substitutions only for the Neuroscience Major.  Other majors and departments may not accept these substitutions.

Instead of 03-121 (Modern Biology), a student may substitute 03-151 (Honors Modern Biology).

Instead of 09-105 (Introduction to Modern Chemistry I), a student may substitute 09-107 (Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals Concepts and Applications).

Instead of 09-217 (Organic Chemistry I), a student may substitute 09-219 (Modern Organic Chemistry).

Instead of 09-218 (Organic Chemistry II), a student may substitute 09-220 (Modern Organic Chemistry II).

Instead of 09-207 (Techniques in Quantitative Analysis), a student may substitute 09-221 (Laboratory I).

Instead of 09-208 (Techniques in Organic Synthesis & Analysis), a student may substitute 09-222 (Laboratory II).

Instead of 21-120 (Differential and Integral Calculus), a student may substitute BOTH 21-111 and 21-112.
               21-259 (Calculus in 3D) may also be used to substitute for one of the 2 calculus requirements.

Instead of 33-121 (Physics I for Science Students), a student may substitute either 33-141 or 33-151.

Instead of 33-122 (Physics II for Biologists and Chemists), a student may substitute either 33-142 or 33-152.

Transfer Credit

In order for a course to count as a substitute for a specific, required course toward the degree, two criteria must both be met:

  • The course must be approved by the department that offers the CMU course as equivalent to the corresponding CMU course, and
  • The course must be introductory level (200-level or below; the reason for this is that earning a degree from CMU means taking required, advanced courses from CMU).

Electives that are taken abroad can be used to satisfy 100-level or 200-level elective requirements toward the major if they are approved by the student's home department advising staff.

Students who wish to study abroad should discuss their plans with their major advisor and the office of study abroad.  A plan should be reached before the student leaves for which classes they will take and how those classes will count toward their degree.  Academic advisors and home department advising staff can also help a student obtain permission to take general education and core requirements abroad, subject to approval from the student's home college: MCS, or Dietrich.