Skip to content

Great turnout for the info session on the new Cognitive Neuroscience B.A. & B.S. majors! For more information, contact Drs. Kravitz (for the B.A. in Cognitive Neuroscience) or Dr. O’Halloran (for the B.S. in Neuroscience).

NEW  Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience (62-64 credit hours). This new major will be headquartered in the Department of Psychology (Director, Dr. Dwight Kravitz). It is an interdisciplinary major integrating the fundamental theories, methods, and findings of neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, and the study of complex behavior. Courses are primarily offerings in psychology and biology supplemented with courses from speech and hearing, anthropology, philosophy, and other fields. The major emphasizes convergences between subfields of cognitive neuroscience. Students with sufficient interest and skill will be assisted in participating in undergraduate research experiences and external internships.  Analytic skills and skills in written and oral scientific communication are emphasized. See https://psychology.columbian.gwu.edu/ba-cognitive-neuroscience

NEW Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (71-73 credit hours). This new major will be headquartered in Biological Sciences (Director, Dr. Damien O’Halloran). It focuses on theories, methods, and concepts in neurobiology and includes all of the math and science courses that are part of the premed curriculum. It has more emphasis on biochemistry and neuroscience at the molecular and cellular levels than the BA in Cognitive Neuroscience. The goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of neural circuitry, processing, and behavioral outputs. Analytic skills and skills in written and oral scientific communication are emphasized. See https://biology.columbian.gwu.edu/bs-neuroscience

 WANT LESS NEUROSCIENCE? YOU STILL HAVE THESE OPTIONS: 

Psychology Major with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience (39 credit hours). This concentration is for those who want to be psychology majors and obtain the breadth of training that psychology offers but are most interested in cognitive neuroscience. Students must complete four cognitive neuroscience courses (from a menu of undergraduate and graduate courses), attain a 3.3 GPA in Psychology at graduation, complete an independent study (PSYC 4591) with a member of the faculty of the cognitive neuroscience area, attend meetings of the Cognitive Neuroscience Journal Club and Colloquium series, and complete two career counseling sessions with members of the faculty of the cognitive neuroscience area. (You can of course be a major and take our cognitive neuroscience courses without concentrating in it.)  See

https://psychology.columbian.gwu.edu/concentrations-psychology-major

Minor in Mind-Brain Studies (18 credit hours). This interdisciplinary minor provides a broader mix of neuroscience-related courses from multiple disciplines. It consists of two required courses (Phil 3153, Mind, Brain, and Artificial Intelligence; Psyc 3122 Cognitive Neuroscience) and four elective courses from a menu.  See https://philosophy.columbian.gwu.edu/undergraduate-minor-mind-brain-studies

3rd Annual Department of Psychology Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience

Dates:  10-week session: May 21-July 28, 2018

What is consciousness and how does it arise in the brain? The Department of Psychology's summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience will offer students an opportunity to answer these questions. We will explore the role of brain rhythms in states of awareness, drugs as windows into the mind, and the foundations of the self in memory and ethical behavior in theory of mind. Our curriculum will include classroom-based courses, a research practicum, field trips to imaging and brain stimulation labs, and guest lecturers from cutting edge workers in the field. The curriculum will satisfy all of the departmental requirements in cognitive neuroscience in a synergistic supportive manner. In addition, the curriculum can be tailored to meet the needs of students interested in graduate study in cognitive neuroscience, medicine, or clinical psychology. Students with a particular interest in cognitive neuroscience research will learn to program their own experiments. The curriculum will satisfy 2/3 of the requirements for special honors in psychology and ¾ of the requirements for a concentration in cognitive neuroscience. All courses will count toward the psychology major and CCAS requirements.

Institute Directors:   Stephen Dopkins and Carol Sigelman

Course titles

1)         Psyc 3122 Cognitive Neuroscience, 3 credits

2)         Psyc 3199 Current Topics: Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness, 3 credits

3)         Psyc 4106W Laboratory in Sensation and Perception, 4 credits

4)         Psyc 4591 Independent Research (with Department of Psychology faculty members, by arrangement with the institute director), 3 credits

Students are encouraged to take all four courses in the institute. Students are required to take Psyc 3199, 4591, and either 3122 or 4106W.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost to students for three or all four courses in the institute will reflect a 35% discount on the 2018 posted tuition rate. Financial aid may be available through certain non-federal student loans. This discounted program may be especially beneficial for students who wish to reduce overall tuition costs, graduate a semester early, and/or take a semester abroad.

Inquiries

Inquiries for application materials should be directed to Stephen Dopkins via e-mail (dopkins@gwu.edu).