Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor
A new neuroscience minor is being offered for students at Western, with the college joining universities such as Portland State University and Linfield University which both have impressive neuroscience programs available.
A meeting of Western’s board of trustees was held Aug. 9, 2024, where the request for a neuroscience minor was discussed. According to the meeting docket, “The study of neuroscience provides students the opportunity to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in order to have a better understanding of the behavior of both human and non-human animals.”
The learning objectives are to, firstly, “understand the fundamental disciplinary content and concepts in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropsychology,” secondly, “Connect the structure and function of the nervous system to topics such as human behavior, non-human animal behavior, neuropharmacology, sensory and perception processes and neurological disorders” and, thirdly, “apply the appropriate experimental and analytical methods to current issues in neuroscience.”
The program would require students to take 25–28 credits in select biology and psychology courses. Depending on their major, students will be required to take two foundational courses in either biology or psychology. If students who are not biology or psychology majors choose to minor in neuroscience, they may have to take all four foundational courses since they are prerequisites for many required classes. Students will also choose eight credits worth of core electives and 9–12 credits of additional electives.
The neuroscience minor is hoped to be advantageous for Western and its students by appealing to more potential students who are interested in the program and by giving existing students more variety to their academic experience. There is a growing field of mental health professionals, and studying neuroscience could help students who plan to make a career in mental health.
For biology majors who will possibly go into healthcare, the minor will “provide these students the opportunity to combine their elective courses into a coherent curricular structure that will further their understanding of human health and behavioral issues and could make them more competitive when applying to post-baccalaureate programs,” according to the meeting docket.
Psychology majors will also have the option of amalgamating their electives into a well-organized minor that could “help further (students’) understanding of the biological basis of their primary field of study.”
The board of trustees’ decision was unanimous, and in summer 2024 the minor was added to Western’s catalog and Degree Tracks.
Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu
