The career concentration in neuroscience and persons is designed to introduce students to the fascinating study of the nervous system and its relationship to our personhood. The 21st century has been referred to as the "Century of the Brain," a time during which tremendous effort and career opportunities will occur as we try to understand the nervous system and treat its numerous health-related disorders. The NAPs program prepares students for graduate school, medical school or other professional training in neuroscience or its many contributing and cognate areas such as biology, psychology and health-related fields generally. This interdisciplinary program will prepare students for careers in basic and applied research and teaching (e.g., in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic settings), as well as careers in traditional health-care fields (e.g., medicine, nursing, psychology, counseling and all areas of mental health). There are two options: the standard program provides a basic background for fields related to neuroscience and persons generally, whereas the neuroscience concentration provides a more intensive science background preparing the student for entrance to graduate or post-graduate professional programs in neuroscience and medically related fields.
| Recommended courses |
| Special topics courses in religion and sociology |
| CSC 430 - Special Topics: Artificial Intelligence |
| PHI 342 - Philosophy of Natural Science |
| PHY 213 - Electronics and Instrumentation |
| PSY 215 - Research Design and Introductory Statistics |
| PSY 216 - Research Design and Advanced Statistics |
| PSY 418 - Christ and Psychology |
An introductory course in organic and biological chemistry. The content is especially suited to meet the needs of students whose programs require only one year of chemistry.Prerequisite: CHE101.(4 credits)
An introduction to the main metaphysical and epistemological questions of philosophy. Issues addressed include the existence of God, the problem of evil, the mind-body problem, knowledge and skepticism, and personal identity and resurrection.(4 credits)
This course introduces some of the main problems of philosophy by exploring questions that arise from computer technology. Topics examined include what it is to be a person, humans as the Image of God, the human mind as a computer, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and transhumanism.(4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
This course will help one understand the natural sciences by examining a number of issues as they arise in the history of science. Issues discussed include: e.g., a) what distinguishes science from non-science? b) how are scientific theories justified? c) what is the role of values in scientific inquiry? d) what is required in ascientific explanation? e) do science and religion conflict? f) what is involved in a comprehensive scientific worldview? Representative thinkers include, e.g., Isaac Newton, Pierre Duhem, Ernst Mach, Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn.Prerequisite: at least one philosophy course. PHI202 is helpful, but not required.(4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
For students seeking a minor in physics. Topics will include analog and digital electronics components, basic analog and digital theory of circuit operation, and interfacing recording instruments to experimental apparatus.Prerequisite: PHY212 or permission of department chair.(3 credits, alternate years, consult department)
This course is an overview of the field of psychology and includes topics such as biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, human development, personality, intelligence, abnormal behavior and therapy. The course emphasizes methodologies including observation, correlational and experimental as they are used in the study of psychology. A major purpose is to have the student struggle with the question, "What is psychology?" Finally, this course provides students with the necessary background in psychology to move on to other more advanced topics in the field.(4 credits)
This course acquaints the student with basic empirical research techniques in the behavioral sciences including political science, psychology, social work and sociology. The course aims to enable the student to function as a conductor and a consumer of behavioral science research. Techniques include: observation, questionnaire and survey, interview, single-subject designs, qualitative research, and experimental and quasi-experimental methodologies. Topics include: descriptive and basic inferential statistics, sampling methods and research ethics. Prerequisites: PSY111, SOC101, PSC101, or PSC105, and fulfillment of the general education math requirement. (4 credits)
Skills in statistical analysis and interpretation of psychological research are developed in this course with emphasis on correlation, regression and analysis of variance. Basic skills learned in Research Methods I are extended through practice in conducting, analyzing and reporting research using statistical software such as SPSS. Prerequisite: PSY215. (4 credits)
An introduction to the topics of learning, memory and cognition within the field of experimental psychology. An emphasis will be placed on approaching problems as an "experimental psychologist." Advantages and limitations of the experimental approach and applications of the knowledge base of experimental psychology will be highlighted.Prerequisites: PSY111 and 215.(4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
A study of the disordered personality including theories of causation, diagnosis and characteristics of disorders. The system found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV of the American Psychiatric Association will be followed. Prerequisite: 4 credits of psychology courses. (4 credits)
As a culminating experience, senior students conduct a semester-long empirical research project and produce an APA-formatted report. This is substantive project that allows the student to individually explore a self-selected research topic in depth and to experience the research process from initial idea to finished publication-ready manuscript. It challenges the student to think creatively, to integrate knowledge and skills obtained throughout the psychology curriculum, and to produce a worthwhile contribution to the field.Prerequisites: 20 credits of psychology courses including PSY215 and 216.(4 credits)
This course is one of the senior capstones to the psychology major. The course challenges thoughtful Christians to be critical but genuinely appreciative of the increasing role psychology is playing in modern life. A sizeable literature has developed which focuses on the relationship between orthodox evangelical Christianity and the formal discipline of psychology. The course examines some of this literature and asks: How can a scientific psychology be compatible with a person-oriented Christianity? How can Christians integrate their faith with psychological theory and methods? Prerequisite: 12 credits of psychology courses and at least junior status. (4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
A calculus course for non-majors that emphasizes applications and techniques that are of significance in business, biology, health and social sciences. Applications involving both differential and integral calculus are included. Prerequisite: C- or higher in MAT109, or an ACT math score of at least 22 (SAT 520 or above), or permission of mathematics department chair. (3 credits)
Topics in probability and statistics with an emphasis on problems in the sciences: discrete and continuous distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing, p-values, correlation, simple linear regression. Prerequisite: C- or better in MAT090 or an ACT math score of 20 or above (SAT 480 or above). (3 credits)
An introductory course in inorganic chemistry. The treatment of topics is predominantly descriptive and the content is especially suited to meet the needs of students whose programs require only one year of chemistry.(4 credits)
An introductory course in chemistry that emphasizes physical and inorganic concepts, problems and calculations. Topics include chemical reactions, stoichiometry, properties of gases, thermochemistry, theories of atomic structure, and chemical bonding. The general chemistry sequence (Chemistry 111 and Chemistry 112) is recommended for students with good math / science preparations who intend to proceed to advanced courses in chemistry, the biological sciences or engineering.Prerequisites: high school chemistry and ACT math and natural science scores above the 74th percentile.(4 credits)
A continuation of Chemistry 111. Topics covered include kinetics, thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, acid-base chemistry and nuclear chemistry.Prerequisite: CHE111 or consent of the instructor.(4 credits)
The study of carbon compounds and their functional groups, including nomenclature, synthesis, reactions, structures, mechanisms and spectroscopic analysis.Prerequisites: CHE102 or 112 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)
A continuation of the study of carbon compounds and their functional groups, including nomenclature, synthesis, reactions, structures, mechanisms and spectroscopic analysis.Prerequisite: CHE321.(4 credits)
An introduction to the structure and function of the human body.(4 credits)
An introduction to the principles of heredity and their practical application.Prerequisites: BIO115 or 116.(4 credits)
A study of the gross structure of the systems of the human body.Prerequisite: BIO102, 115 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)
A study of the mechanisms by which the human body functions. Emphasis will be given to nerve and muscle function, and thereafter to hormonal control and the integrated systems that allow for respiratory, digestive, excretory and reproductive activities.Prerequisites: BIO102 or 115 and CHE101, 102 or CHE111, 112 or permission of instructor.(4 credits)
A study of the microscopic structure of cells, tissues and organs in vertebrate animals with special emphasis on human tissues. An effort is made to correlate structure and function and highlight important pathologies. Prerequisites: BIO115 and 116. (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
A study of the structure and function of cells and of their subcellular organelles. Structural detail will be described to the level of macromolecular assemblages. Wherever possible, function will be described in terms of the molecular mechanisms that underlie biological processes. Prerequisites: BIO115, 116, and CHE101, 102, or CHE111, 112 (4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
A survey of the pharmacologic basis of therapeutics beginning with an introduction to the principles of pharmacology. This is followed by a survey of the more important drugs used in medicine with emphasis on mechanism of action, clinical use, and adverse effects. Prerequisites: BIO222 and CHE101, 102 or CHE111, 112. (4 credits)
A fundamental course surveying biomolecules, catabolism, bioenergetics and biosynthesis. Prerequisites: CHE321 and 322. (4 credits)
This course focuses on the structure and function of nucleic acids. Topics include replication, transcription and translation of genetic information, and control of gene expression.Prerequisites: CHE321 and 322.(4 credits)
Introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system, emphasizing neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology and aspects of neuropathology. Multiple levels will be explored from the molecular and cellular levels through brain and spinal cord networks that contribute to complex behavioral and cognitive function.Prerequisites: BIO102 or 221 or permission of instructor.(4 credits; alternate years, consult department)
Interdisciplinary lectures, discussions and presentations related to the reading and critiquing of literature on selected topics in the area of neuroscience and persons. Student-led discussions and presentations (oral and written) will be emphasized. Possible topics include: artificial/machine intelligence, clinical neuroscience and neuropathology, cognitive neuroscience, neuroscience and Christianity, neuroscience of emotion, neuroethics, neuromodeling, neuroscience of mental illness, neurophilosophy, neurotheology and social neuroscience; consideration of NAPs-related student research may also be included.Prerequisite: BIO340 or permission of instructor.(2 credits; alternate years, consult department)
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