Neuroscience BS

Students pursuing the undergraduate Neuroscience degree at Ramapo will gain an in-depth understanding of the organization of the nervous system in terms of its anatomy and physiology. Topics include vertebrate anatomy and physiology, molecular structure of the neural system, primate developmental neurobiology, and comparative neural anatomy and physiology. By exploring these areas of knowledge, students will gain an appreciation for and fluency with multiple levels of analysis and study of the nervous system (e.g., molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience levels).

Students will develop a basic understanding of the interaction between neural structure and function by exploring the brain’s relation to behaviors such as motor control, basic sensory processes (e.g., audition, proprioception, vision), higher cognition (e.g., attention, memory, learning, language), and emotional processing. Major theories of brain-behavior relations, which address behavioral neuroscience, learning, cognitive neuroscience, sensation, and perception, will be studied.

Students will develop fluency in multiple levels of empirical analysis and converging methodologies in the research and study of brain and behavior. The major will allow students to gain a basic understanding of the methodology and current technology used to investigate phenomena from the molecular level to complex behaviors. A critical analysis of the reliability, efficacy, and validity of current research methods and techniques will be employed to engage students in developing in-depth knowledge of the state of primary neuroscience research on specialized and advanced neuroscience topics.

Students will have an opportunity to perform neuroscience research with faculty members.

Students will develop an understanding of the role of the brain in the behavior of atypical populations in comparison to typical populations. In-depth investigation of the assessment techniques and methods used in neuropsychological research will be presented so that students understand the typical assessment tools and procedures used for diagnosing and treating neurologically-based disorders such as dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke.

Furthermore, students will gain an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and the study of mind, brain, and behavior. Students will be encouraged to seek new insights by integrating across subject areas that have traditionally been studied separately (e.g., psychology, philosophy, public health, anthropology, and art/literature). Students will explore the relationships of conscious and unconscious behaviors with consideration of the spectrum defining typical and atypical behaviors. Students will be encouraged to use a broad ecological perspective to contextualize findings from current neuroscience research.