Undergraduate

Neuroscience, Minor

Understand the neural underpinnings of behavior.

Student poses in a scientific lab.

About the Minor in Neuroscience

The College of Liberal Arts offers the interdisciplinary minor in Neuroscience. It allows students to access the expertise of faculty across campus in biology, biomedical engineering, communication sciences, exercise science, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy, philosophy, and psychology.

The minor gives students a comprehensive and flexible course curriculum for their chosen area within the diverse field of neuroscience, which spans from molecular biology to animal behavior. Additionally, students are armed with the ability to critically analyze and communicate information.

Hands-on lab experience prepares students for an array of career opportunities in applied and research fields such as

  • drug discovery,
  • medical research,
  • clinical psychology, and
  • brain-computer interface.

On this Page…

    Program Information

    Degree

    Required Credit Hours

    18-22

    Program Type

    Minor

    Program Location

    Oxford

    Academic Requirements

    Find out about credit hour and course requirements for the Neuroscience minor, including information about course prerequisites and the application form for the Neu 491, 492, 493 independent research courses. 

    Students complete 18-22 credit hours of courses, including four courses at the 300 level or above, of which one must be a formal laboratory course, and at least one 500-level course. Six hours, not including the 2 core courses, must be outside the student's major.

     

    Required Courses

    • Psy 319: Brain and Behavior
    • Bisc 327: Introductory Neuroscience

     

    Lab Courses

    • Bisc 330: Principles of Physiology
    • Bisc 427: Methods in Comparative Neuroscience
    • Bisc 512: Animal Behavior 
    • Bisc 518: Microtechnique
    • BME 314: Biomedical Measurement 
    • ES 514: Applied Electromyography
    • NEU 491: Directed Research in Neuroscience 
    • NEU 493: Neuroscience Capstone Research
    • NEU 579: Advanced Topics of Neuroscience 
    • PSY 390: Lab in Psy: Behavioral Neuroscience 

     
    Neuroscience Courses

    • Bisc 529: Endocrinology
    • Bisc 533: Advanced Neuroscience 
    • Bisc 538: Hormones and Behavior
    • Bisc 541: Cell Biology of Neurodegenerative Disorders 
    • Bisc 543: Functional Neuroanatomy
    • BMS 471: Targeting Neurodegenerative Diseases 
    • CSD 455: Neuroanatamy & Neurophy of Speech & Hearing
    • CSD 505: Neurophysiology and Genetics of Communication 
    • CSD 526: Aphasia and Adult Language Disorders
    • BME 313: Physiology for Biomedical Engineering
    • BME 413: Biomedical Signal Processing 
    • ES 344: Aging in 21st Century 
    • ES 338: Neuroscience of Exercise
    • ES 515: Stress and the Brain 
    • MEDC 416: Intro to the Principles of Medicinal Chemistry I 
    • MEDC 417: Intro to the Principles of Medicinal Chemistry II 
    • MEDC 418: Neuroscience Principles of Drug Abuse 
    • PHCL 586: Receptors and Channels 
    • PHIL 332: Personal Identity and the Self 
    • PHIL 342: Philosophy of the Mind 
    • PSY 309: Learning 
    • Psy 320: Cognitive Psychology
    • PSY 322: Drugs and Behavior 
    • PSY 326: Sensation and Perception 
    • PSY 505: Conditioning and Learning 
    • PSY 511: Neural Basis of Learning and Memory

     

    Students interested in an independent research experience to earn lab course credit should complete the following form.

    Neu 491, 492, 493 Enrollment Form

     

    Alternative Prerequisites 

    Course prerequisites are designed to help students prepare for courses where information builds from one course to another or to help students complete courses in a logical sequence. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the minor, you may be prepared for a course outside of your major without having the prerequisites listed in the course catalog.  

    Students that believe they have adequate preparation for a Neuroscience Minor course should obtain the the syllabus for the course, list the courses they believe have prepared them for the course, and present their case to the course instructor to determine if they are a good match for the course. Faculty can decide if they will grant permission to be manually enrolled.

    Lainy Day

    Welcome from the Director

    Students at the University of Mississippi can study a wide range of neuroscience topics given the research and teaching interests of neuroscience-related faculty in departments across the university. The study of neuroscience is invaluable for those considering going to medical or veterinary school, or for those considering neuroscience in graduate school. You can even combine the study of neuroscience with other related topics as part of the Interdisciplinary Studies or Multidisciplinary Studies degrees. 

    Please reach out to me with any questions regarding the Neuroscience minor. Inquiries regarding research projects can be directed to the relevant faculty member(s).

    Lainy Day

    Professor of Biology and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Neuroscience

    Affiliated Faculty

    Meet the faculty member that teach neuroscience courses.
    Lainy Day

    Lainy Day

    • Professor of Biology and Director of the Interdisciplinary Minor in Neuroscience
    Jeff Bednark

    Jeff Bednark

    • Instructional Assistant Professor of Psychology
    Richard Buchholz

    Richard Buchholz

    • Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research
    Alberto Del Arco Gonzalez

    Alberto Del Arco Gonzalez

    • Associate Professor of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management
    Robert Doerksen

    Robert Doerksen

    • Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Sharday Ewell

    Sharday Ewell

    • Assistant Professor of Biology
    Carolyn Higdon

    Carolyn Higdon

    • Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders
    Toshikazu Ikuta

    Toshikazu Ikuta

    • Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
    Mika Jekabsons

    Mika Jekabsons

    • Professor of Biology
    Bradley Jones

    Bradley Jones

    • Associate Professor of Biology
    Christopher Leary

    Christopher Leary

    • Associate Professor of Biology
    Tess Lefmann

    Tess Lefmann

    • Associate Professor of Social Work
    Paul Loprinzi

    Paul Loprinzi

    • Associate Professor of Health, Exercise Science & Recreation Management
    Matthew Reysen

    Matthew Reysen

    • Associate Professor of Psychology
    Todd Smitherman

    Todd Smitherman

    • Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training
    Gregory Snyder

    Gregory Snyder

    • Associate Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders
    Roy Thurston

    Roy Thurston

    • Associate Professor of Special Education
    Dwight Waddell

    Dwight Waddell

    • Chair and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Affiliate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the Center for Diagnostics, Design, Devices, and Biomechanics
    Donovan Wishon

    Donovan Wishon

    • Professor of Philosophy and Graduate Program

    Enhance the Neuroscience Minor

    According to national surveys, employers are more likely to hire students who have: 

    • had professional internships, 
    • worked with people from diverse backgrounds on community service, 
    • collaborated with peers on projects, 
    • taken multiple courses with significant writing,
    • produced a senior project or thesis, and
    • studied abroad.

    These experiences are central to the liberal arts skills of thinking, communicating, interpersonal skills, and understanding the world around us. Showcase and enhance these skills in an internship opportunity for that first step into the professional world. We encourage students in the Neuroscience minor to combine coursework with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.

    In addition to providing valuable research experience that looks great on a CV, many summer research programs also pay a stipend, provide housing while you are participating in the program, and provide professional development opportunities related to graduate school. 

    Check out the programs linked below for further information on program specifics, dates, and deadlines to apply.

    Institution Name

    Program Title

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology

    National Institutes of Health

    NIH Summer Internship Program

    Rutgers University

    Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience (NeuroSURP)

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Blazer BRAIN Undergraduate Summer Program

    University of Minnesota

    Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)

    University of Virginia

    Summer Research Internship Program

    Boston University

    Summer Program in Neuroscience

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

    Undergraduate Research Program

    Colorado State University

    Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Molecular Biosciences

    Drexel University

    Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

    Louisiana State University

    REU Summer Research Program

    The University of Chicago-Marine Biological Laboratory

    REU Biological Discovery in Woods Hole

    Medical University of South Carolina

    Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

    Thomas Jefferson University

    Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

    Sens Research Foundation

    SRF Summer Scholars Program

    Stanford University

    SSRP-AMGEN Scholars Program

    The Rockefeller University

    Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program ( SURF)

    The Scripps Research Institute- California

    Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows/ Research Experiences for Undergraduates

    University of Massachusetts Medical School

    Summer Undergraduate Research Program

    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    The Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program

    UC Irvine

    Summer Institute in Neuroscience Program

    University of Michigan Medical School

    Summer Intensive Research Experience in Neuroscience (SIREN)

    University of Pennsylvania

    MindCORE Summer Fellowship Program

    UCLA

    BRI Summer Undergraduate Research Experience  (BRI-SURE)

    Brown University

    Carney Summer Scholars

    Boston University

    Research Experience for Undergraduates

    There are a variety of institutes and societies that offer opportunities to further your neuroscience education. 

    Society for Neuroscience

    Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience

    Neuroscience News

    TED Talks about neuroscience

    FAQ

    1. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the Neuroscience minor, there may be exceptions made to the standard prerequisites for approved courses.  
    2. Students who have not completed the formal prerequisite course yet believe they have adequate preparation for a neuroscience course should obtain the the syllabus for the course, list the courses they believe have prepared them for the course, and present their case to the course instructor to determine if they are a good match for the course. Faculty can decide if they will grant permission to be manually enrolled.
    3. Students pursuing the neuroscience minor that have made an A or B in Psy 319, are generally allowed to enroll in Bisc 327. Send a copy of your unofficial transcript to lainyday@olemiss.edu for final approval. Standard UM rules still hold: Students cannot count courses for the major and the minor. Courses counted for general education requirements can generally count towards minor or major requirements.

    Consider a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies or Multidisciplinary Studies where you combine the study of neuroscience with other fields as part of an interdisciplinary major. 

    1. You must speak with professors to get in.
    2. Ask for the syllabus and reading materials and provide the professor with a list of relevant courses taken and grades.
    3. If the professor approves, ask them to send an email stating such to whoever can sign you up for the course in their department.
    4. 600 level courses can count for the minor by enrolling in Neu 579.

    1. Declare the minor on myolemiss.
    2. Send lainyday@olemiss.edu your email address.
    3. Like the Facebook page and post.
    4. If you are interested in a Neuroscience Honors society, contact Dr. Lainy Day at lainyday@olemiss.edu

    1. The best way to do this is to take the Directed Research Neu 491, 492, 493 series. 
    2. Find a professor whose research interests you and ask if they are currently taking Neu 491 students. 
    3. Some research opportunities are listed on NURO- Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
    4. If they say yes, complete the attached form below and bring it to the Department of Biology main office (Biology2@olemiss.edu). Professors may e-sign the form, students must print and sign.

    Form for Neu 491, 492, 493

    image of Morgan Davis in white medical coat

    Alum Spotlight

    "After serving as a research assistant in Dr. Sufka's lab, I directed my own study that helped establish a valid animal model of migraine that may ultimately lead to treatment of the third most common medical condition in the world! Working with Dr. Sufka inspired me to also conduct medical research."

    Dr. Davis earned her M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC-San Diego in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. Her research interests included facial analysis, tissue regeneration and healing especially in minority populations, head and neck oncology, and vestibular migraine. She then became a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow at Johns Hopkins. 

    Dr. Morgan Davis | BA in Biochemistry, minor in Neuroscience '19

    Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow, Johns Hopkins

    What You Can Do After Graduation

    • Medical or Nursing School
    • Graduate School
    • Asst. Behavioral Tech, Brent Woodall Foundation for Exceptional Children
    • Patient Care Coord., Nephrology Assoc. of N. Illinois/Indiana
    • Clinical Research Associate, IQVIA
    • Biopharmaceutical Sales Representative, Amgen
    • Consultant, Accessible Health
    • Electrical Engineer, Raytheon
    • Neuropsychology Researcher, Methodist Rehab Center
    • Medical Doctor/Resident, UC San Diego

    Your Major + Neuroscience

    Neuroscience can pair with a wide variety of majors on campus. Here are some likely combinations.

    Stay Connected with Neuroscience

    Find out about neuroscience related events and activities on our Facebook channel.

     

    Next Steps

    Explore Affordability

    We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.

    Apply to the University of Mississippi

    Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?