Neuroscience major
How do we process the sensory stimuli we receive? How does the nervous system grow, develop and learn? How do medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, deafness, dementia and depression afflict the brain and nervous system? Neuroscientists are interested in the answers to these questions and how nervous system function can be restored after disease and injury to the brain. You will be taught by academics with established international reputations in neuroscience research at all levels—from the molecules that make up individual nerve cells and the transfer of information from one nerve cell to another, to the complexities of how behaviour, thought and emotions are produced.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate a sound knowledge of basic cell and systems biology and biological chemistry and apply this knowledge to neural cells and systems; (2) recall and integrate key facts and concepts about the structure and function of the nervous systems of humans and other animals; (3) conduct some basic anatomical, cellular, physiological and behavioural investigations of nervous tissues and systems; (4) understand the basic neuroscience underpinning common pathological conditions of the nervous systems; (5) work productively in small groups in a neuroscience laboratory environment; (6) research neuroscience literature and incorporate into a written report on a neuroscience subject; (7) explain and critically appraise recent neuroscience literature; (8) discuss some current issues in basic or applied neuroscience research and recognise the ongoing expansion of knowledge in these areas; (9) be aware of the positive contributions of neuroscience research to health and society; and (10) be aware of the ethical implications of advances in neuroscience.
Degree-specific major
Neuroscience can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP004 Bachelor of Science
BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Neuroscience is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
- three Level 1 complementary units
- one Level 2 complementary unit
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2019 |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2020 or 2021.
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | PSYC1101 | Psychology: Mind and Brain | |
| S2 | PSYC1102 | Psychology: Behaviour in Context |
Take complementary units to the value of 18 points, SCOM1101 and either (BIOL1130 and SCIE1106) or (ANHB1101 and SCIE1106) or (ANHB1101 and ANHB1102).
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | |
| S2 | ANHB1102 | Human Biology II: Being Human | |
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology | |
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
| S1 | SCOM1101 | Communicating Science |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB2217 | Human Neurobiology | |
| S2 | PHYL2002 | Physiology of Cells |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | PSYC2217 | Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| S2 | PSYC2218 | Perception and Sensory Neuropsychology |
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANIM3320 | Comparative Neurobiology |
|
| S2 | NEUR3301 | Advanced Neuroscience 1 | |
| S2 | NEUR3302 | Advanced Neuroscience 2 | |
| S1 | NEUR3310 | Neuroscience |
Choosing your degree-specific major
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Neuroscience degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. or Bachelor of Science course, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Neuroscience degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
- Example 1:
- Course Study Plan: CSP004-NEURS-Generic
- Example 2:
- Course Study Plan: CSP006-NEURS-Generic
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Neuroscience can also be taken as a second major.
Second major
Neuroscience can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:
- BP001 Bachelor of Arts
- BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- BP002 Bachelor of Commerce
- BP003 Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students.
- BP004 Bachelor of Science
- BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
The Neuroscience second major is a single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
- three Level 1 additional units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | PSYC1101 | Psychology: Mind and Brain | |
| S2 | PSYC1102 | Psychology: Behaviour in Context |
Take additional units to the value of 12 points, either (BIOL1130 and SCIE1106) or (ANHB1101 and SCIE1106) or (ANHB1101 and ANHB1102).
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | |
| S2 | ANHB1102 | Human Biology II: Being Human | |
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology | |
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB2217 | Human Neurobiology | |
| S2 | PHYL2002 | Physiology of Cells |
|
Level 3
Choosing a second major
The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how Neuroscience can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Neuroscience can also be taken as a degree-specific major.