Neuropsychology Minor

Degree Type
Minor
School
School of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology

Neuroscience is the study of the structure and function of the nervous system. Neuropsychology, which is a sub-field of neuroscience, is the study of the brain and its relationship to affect, behavior, and cognition. Neuropsychology is one of the most rapidly growing fields of study, and with a background in neuropsychology, students have access to a wide variety of careers such as:

  • Rehabilitative Science (e.g., traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke, etc.)
  • Developmental Disabilities (e.g., Autism, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, etc.)
  • Education and Special Education
  • Sports Health/Medicine
  • Gerontology and Neurorehabilitation
  • Psychiatric Nursing
  • Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy
  • Public Health, Law and Ethics
  • Basic and Applied Clinical Research
  • Psychometric Testing
  • Diagnostic Technology
  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Health Counseling (MHC)
  • Pharmacology/Industry
  • Research and Development of Industrial Applications for Assistive Technologies

The Psychology Department is confident that students minoring in this rapidly expanding field will make our students significantly more competitive, both for employment and in their pursuit of advanced graduate/professional training in related academic and professional settings.

The program is designed as a sequence of interdisciplinary courses, rooted in a unique neuroscience and a social justice framework, offering a broad range of topics to best prepare students with a competitive edge in the global job market. This minor is intended for a broad range of students interested in careers within, but not limited to, the following fields: psychology, forensic/criminal sciences, nursing, developmental disabilities, special education, gerontology/rehabilitative science, mental health counseling, pharmacology, psychiatry, neurology, neurobiology, public health, law and ethics, basic and clinical research, psychometric testing and diagnostic technology, and other related industries.

The minor is offered by the Psychology Department, and has been designed so that it is particularly accessible to Psychology, as well as, other majors. The minor has been constructed so that students from any overlapping discipline will be able to complete the major with four courses in addition to their major requirements 

Curriculum

Requirements 

Five courses, totaling twenty credits. Only ONE of the courses required for the minor can be counted toward a Departmental major. Students who take classes outside of the neuropsychology minor that qualify for credit within the minor will be determined through DegreeWorks (i.e., BS2300, BS2310, BS2400, BS, 2401, BS4500, SY4520, PH3600, PH4670, PH4680, PH4800, etc.).

1. Research Methods: One from the group below (4 cr.)

  • PY3010 Research Design & Analysis I
  • SY4520 Research Methods I
  • PH4670 Biostatistics

2. Foundational Courses: One from the group below (4 cr.)

  • PY3410 Cognitive Psychology
  • PY3420 Learning & Motivation
  • PY3610 Brain & Behavior
  • PY3620 Drugs & Behavior
  • BS2300-BS2310 Anatomy & Physiology (and Lab)
  • BS2400-BS2401 Basic Biology I (and Lab)
  • PY3600 Social Determinants of Health
  • PH4680 Environmental Health
  • PY4230 Psychobiology of Aging

3. Special Topics: Two from the group below (8 cr.)

  • PY4401 Developmental Neuropathology

  • PY4402 Neuropsychopharmacology

  • PY4403 Cognitive Neuroscience

  • PY4410 Psychology of Teaching and Learning

  • PY4610    Clinical Neuropsychology

  • BS4500 Cell and Molecular Neurobiology

  • PH4680 Environmental Health

  • PH4800 Epidemiology

4. Capstone: One from the group below (4 cr.)

  • PY5404 Environmental Neuroplasticity

  • PY5610 Research Perspectives in Neuropsychology