Neuroscience (Bi-Co)

Department Website:
https://www.haverford.edu/neuroscience

The desire to understand human and animal behavior in terms of nervous system structure and function is longstanding. Historically, researchers and scholars have approached this task from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, biology, psychology, philosophy, and physiology. The field of neuroscience emerged as an interdisciplinary approach, combining techniques and perspectives from these disciplines, as well as emerging fields such as computation and cognitive science, to yield new insights into the workings of the nervous system and behavior.

The Major and Minor in Neuroscience advance two overlapping but distinct sets of learning goals, which are explained in turn below.

Learning Goals

Neuroscience Major

The major in Neuroscience allows students to pursue an in-depth study of the nervous system and behavior across disciplines. Students should consult with the Neuroscience Director or any member of the faculty advisory committee in order to declare the major.

The goals of the major include enabling students to gain:

  • Training in cognate disciplines that are fundamental to the study of neuroscience
  • An in-depth understanding of the organization of the nervous system and its relation to categories of behavior such as motor control, sensation and perception, motivational states, and higher cognition.
  • fluency with the many levels at which the nervous system can be studied, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience levels.
  • an ability to closely examine and critically evaluate primary research on specialized, advanced neuroscience topics.
  • an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and the allied disciplines that inform the study of mind, brain, and behavior.
  • Experience with neuroscience laboratory skills and the design and analysis of neuroscience experiments.

Neuroscience Minor

The minor in Neuroscience allows students with any major to pursue interests in behavior and the nervous system across disciplines. Students should consult with the Neuroscience Director or any member of the faculty advisory committee in order to declare the minor.

The goals of the minor include enabling students to gain:

  • a basic understanding of the organization of the nervous system and its relation to categories of behavior such as motor control, sensation and perception, motivational states, and higher cognition.
  • an appreciation of and fluency with the many levels at which the nervous system can be studied, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience levels.
  • an appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and the allied disciplines that inform the study of mind, brain, and behavior.
  • an ability to closely examine and critically evaluate primary research on specialized, advanced neuroscience topics.

Haverford’s Institutional Learning Goals are available on the President’s website, at http://hav.to/learninggoals.

Major Requirements (for students who matriculate in the 26-27 academic year and forward)

  • Introduction to Neuroscience (1 credit) NEUR H100 or NEUR B100
  • Foundational Science Courses (4 credits)
  • Upper-level Neuroscience Courses with Breadth Requirement (4 credits)
    • Students must take 4 credits of upper-level neuroscience courses
    • Upper-level Neuroscience courses are divided into three categories: Cellular/Molecular, Behavioral/Systems, and Cognitive. Students must take courses from at least two of the three categories to fulfill the breadth requirement. At least one of the four upper-level credits must be at the 300-level or above.
    • A list of approved courses and their categories is linked from the Neuroscience website.
  • Laboratory Coursework in Neuroscience (1 credit)
    • ​In order to gain hands-on experience with some of the tools, methods, and paradigms of Neuroscience, majors are required to take 1 credit of neuroscience laboratory coursework. This can be accomplished in several ways (e.g., 2 half-credit psych labs, 1 full-credit psych lab, 1 full-credit neuroscience SuperLab).
    • A list of approved laboratory courses is linked from the Neuroscience website.
  • Thesis or Capstone in Neuroscience (1 credit)
    • To culminate their experience as a Neuroscience major, students are required to complete one course of thesis or capstone work. This may take the form of a 2-semester laboratory thesis project or a 1-semester capstone course.

Major Requirements (for students who matriculated prior to the 26-27 academic year)

  • Introduction to Neuroscience (1 credit) NEUR H100 or NEUR B100
  • Foundational Science Courses (4 credits)
  • Upper-level Neuroscience Courses with Breadth Requirement (4 credits)
    • Students must take 4 credits of upper-level neuroscience courses
    • Upper-level Neuroscience courses are divided into three categories: Cellular/Molecular, Behavioral/Systems, and Cognitive. Students must take courses from at least two of the three categories to fulfill the breadth requirement. At least one of the four upper-level credits must be at the 300-level or above.
    • A list of approved courses and their categories is linked from the Neuroscience website.
  • Laboratory Coursework in Neuroscience (1 credit)
    • ​In order to gain hands-on experience with some of the tools, methods, and paradigms of Neuroscience, majors are required to take 1 credit of neuroscience laboratory coursework. This can be accomplished in several ways (e.g., 2 half-credit psych labs, 1 full-credit psych lab, 1 full-credit neuroscience SuperLab).
    • A list of approved laboratory courses is linked from the Neuroscience website.
  • Thesis or Capstone in Neuroscience (1 credit)
    • To culminate their experience as a Neuroscience major, students are required to complete one course of thesis or capstone work. This may take the form of a 2-semester laboratory thesis project or a 1-semester capstone course.

Minor Requirements

  • One “gateway” course from the following list:
  • Five additional credits, beyond the gateway course, with these constraints:
    • ​​Three of the five credits must come from the list of approved upper-level neuroscience courses.
    • Two of the five credits must come from the list of approved allied courses.
    • At least one of the credits must be at the 300-level or higher.
    • One of the five credits may come from supervised senior research in neuroscience.
    • No more than two of the six minor credits may come from institutions outside of the Bi-Co.
    • No more than two of the six minor credits may be double-counted towards a major.

Faculty at Haverford

Laura Been
Associate Professor of Psychology

Rebecca Compton
Professor of Psychology

Robert Fairman
Professor of Biology

Roshan Jain
Associate Professor of Biology

Courtney Marshall
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

Patrese Robinson-Drummer
The Prockop Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

Faculty at Bryn Mawr

Cora E. Mukerji
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Hannah M. Shoenhard
Assistant Professor of Biology

Yeon Soon Shin
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Anjali Thapar
Professor of Psychology and Acting Director of Data Science and Chair of Neuroscience

Alison I. Weber
Assistant Professor of Biology

NEUR B100  INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the structure and functions of the nervous system. This course includes topics on the broad history of behavioral neuroscience, parts of the nervous system, and a cursory overview of imaging/recording/histology. We also cover basic neurophysiology/chemistry of action potentials and neurotransmission (with some neurobiology of drug effects). Lastly, we explore sensorimotor processing (i.e. reflex arcs), basic sensory transduction and neuroanatomy of perception (sensory pathways from periphery to primary sensory cortex). Prerequisite(s): This course is not open to students who have previously taken HC Psych 217, HC Psych 260, or BMC Psych 218

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

NEUR B201  SENSATION AND PERCEPTION  (1.0 Credit)

John Paulus

Why do we see colors that aren't really there? How do we recognize a voice across a noisy room? Why does food taste different when we can't smell it? Sensation and Perception takes up these questions and many others, offering a rigorous scientific account of how the brain makes sense of the world. A central feature of this course is that students encounter perceptual phenomena firsthand before we work out the underlying neuroscience together. Through in-class demonstrations and interactive exercises, including visual and auditory illusions and hands-on experiments, students will experience the limits of their own perceptual systems in real time. Drawing on psychophysics and cognitive neuroscience, the course surveys perception across all the major sensory modalities. Students will come away with a deeper understanding of how experience arises from neural activity, and why the gap between the physical world and our perception of it is wider, and more fascinating, than it seems.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

NEUR B202  MAPPING BRAIN FUNCTION: AN FMRI LAB  (0.5 Credit)

John Paulus

This course introduces students to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), one of the most powerful tools available for studying human brain function. Students learn to evaluate the strengths and limitations of fMRI relative to other neuroimaging methods, and gain hands-on experience working with real fMRI datasets. Using FSL, a widely used neuroimaging software package, students move through the full scientific process: reviewing existing literature, formulating a testable hypothesis, analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing up findings in standard APA format. No prior experience with neuroimaging is required. This is a .5 unit writing-intensive class that meets half of the writing requirement in the major.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

NEUR B398  SENIOR THESIS IN NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Anjali Thapar, Cora Mukerji, Hannah Shoenhard, Yeon Soon Shin

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

NEUR B399  NEUROSCIENCE SENIOR CAPSTONE  (1.0 Credit)

Anjali Thapar

This course will survey empirical studies from several subdisciplines within the field of neuroscience (eg behavioral, cognitive, computational, molecular, etc) that advance our understanding of the brain. Through exposure to a diversity of approaches, it is hoped that students will be reminded that the boundaries that define the disciplines of neuroscience are blurred, and that it is the language of all these subdisciplines, that continue the advance of modern neuroscience. Each section of the course (defined by a given subdiscipline and relevant empirical articles) will culminate with a visit from a current researcher in that subdiscipline whose studies continue to advance our understanding of the brain. The visiting researcher will lead an in-class discussion about their research, as well as the path they took to get to their current position.

(Offered: Spring 2027)

NEUR B403  SUPERVISED RESEARCH  (0.5 Credit)

Anjali Thapar, Yeon Soon Shin

Laboratory or field research on a wide variety of topics. Students should consult with faculty members to determine their topic and faculty supervisor, early in the semester prior to when they will begin.

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

NEUR H100  INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Patrese Robinson

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the structure and functions of the nervous system. This course includes topics on the broad history of behavioral neuroscience, parts of the nervous system, and a cursory overview of imaging/recording/histology. We also cover basic neurophysiology/chemistry of action potentials and neurotransmission (with some neurobiology of drug effects). Lastly, we explore sensorimotor processing (i.e. reflex arcs), basic sensory transduction and neuroanatomy of perception (sensory pathways from periphery to primary sensory cortex). Prerequisite(s): This course is not open to students who have previously taken HC Psych 217, HC Psych 260, or BMC Psych 218

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

NEUR H200  CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Courtney Marshall

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Our brains rely on precise cellular and molecular mechanisms to function. But how does the brain maintain such stability and what happens when these mechanisms fail? This course explores how neuronal proteins, cellular homeostasis, and synaptic physiology sustain neural circuits. Students examine how functional impairment emerges from molecular and cellular disruptions. Through exploration of protein folding, gene regulation, neuroinflammation, and synaptic signaling, students develop mechanistic reasoning skills essential for upper-level study of neurodegenerative diseases. Pre-requisite(s): NEUR H100 or NEUR B100 and BIOL H100 or BIOL B110 Lottery Preference: Neuroscience major seniors, Neuroscience Major Juniors, sophomores

(Offered: Fall 2026)

NEUR H305  NEUROBIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

This seminar will use peer-reviewed literature to explore how different experimental approaches are used to model and measure substance use disorders on a behavioral and neurobiological level. In addition to understanding the neurobiological effects of substances such as opiates, stimulants, and alcohol, we will also be examining societal and political implications of substance use disorders. Pre-requisite(s): Prior Completion of NEUR 100 or PSYC H217/ PSYC B218 is required. Completion or concurrent enrollment in Psyc 200 is recommended. Lottery Preference: Priority to senior neuroscience majors, followed by junior neuroscience majors, followed by psychology or biology majors and neuroscience minors.

NEUR H310  LABORATORY IN NEUROHISTOLOGY  (1.0 Credit)

Laura Been, Staff

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Students will conduct novel research using different neurohistolgy techniques including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blots, and pcr. This will serve the dual purpose of training students on these powerful techniques, while also allowing them to to collect and interpret data, and critically analyze the strengths and limitations of these methods. In addition to class time, students will be responsible for self-scheduling times outside of class to complete experiments. Pre-requisite(s): NEUR 100; at least one semester of Biology (BIOL H100 or BIOL H200 or BIOL B201 or BIOL B110 or BIOL B111); at least one semester of statistics (PSYCH200 or PSYCB205 or MATH H103 or MATH H203 or MATH B104) Lottery Preference: Neuroscience Major Seniors, followed by Neuroscience Major Juniors; followed by seniors; followed by juniors

NEUR H354  LABORATORY IN BEHAVIORAL & NEURAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES  (0.5 Credit)

Patrese Robinson

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes

Behavioral Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary branch of psychology that broadly seeks to understand how the structure and function of the nervous system give rise to animal behavior. Researchers use an array of techniques to collect, code, and analyze behavioral and neural output measures. Developing skills in both traditional and modern (e.g. AI-assisted) coding methods to analyze and correlate brain-behavior associations is critical for understanding the characteristics of this relationship. Crosslisted: PSYC. Pre-requisite(s): Past or concurrent enrollment in PSYC H217/PSYC B218 (Behavioral Neuroscience) is required. Completion of Stats/Methods (PSYC H200 or PSYC B205) is required; however, concurrent enrollment with Stats/Methods may be permissible with consent. Lottery Preference: Priority to senior neuroscience or psychology majors, followed by junior neuroscience or psychology majors, followed by neuroscience or psychology minors.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

NEUR H398  SR THESIS NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Courtney Marshall, Laura Been, Patrese Robinson, Rebecca Compton, Robert Fairman, Roshan Jain

Sr Thesis Neuroscience

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

NEUR H399  NEUROSCIENCE SENIOR CAPSTONE  (1.0 Credit)

Rebecca Compton

This course is a seminar that fulfills the capstone requirement for the neuroscience major. Topics vary from year to year and focus on an integrative perspective, either by examining one issue from multiple levels of analysis within neuroscience (i.e., cellular/molecular, systems/behavioral, cognitive) or by examining applications of neuroscience approaches to broader societal questions and domains. The capstone centers on student-led discussion and outside speakers to enhance appreciation for neuroscience research and applications outside the bi-co. Students will be expected to complete an in-depth paper analyzing a select topic of interest.

NEUR H480I  INDEPENDENT STUDY  (0.5 Credit)

Laura Been, Patrese Robinson

(Offered: Spring 2027)

CHEM H111  CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND BONDING  (1.0 Credit)

Casey Londergan, Diana McDonough

Division: Natural Science; Quantitative
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Structure and bonding in molecules starting from nuclear and electronic structure of atoms. This course introduces the theories of chemical bonding that rationalize and predict the structures and bulk properties of molecules and materials. It also introduces modern instrumental and computational methods used to study chemical structure and bonding. CHEM111 and CHEM113 are designed to cover the same material while catering to different student learning styles. CHEM111 involves 3 lecture hours per week while CHEM113 is an intensive course that involves 5 lecture hours per week. Three lectures and one lab period per week required via co-enrollment in CHEM H111L.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

CHEM H113  INTENSIVE: CHEMICAL STRUCTURE AND BONDING  (1.0 Credit)

Alexander Norquist, Casey Londergan

Division: Natural Science; Quantitative
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Structure and bonding in molecules starting from nuclear and electronic structure of atoms. This course introduces the theories of chemical bonding that rationalize and predict the structures and bulk properties of molecules and materials. It also introduces modern instrumental and computational methods used to study chemical structure and bonding. CHEM111 and CHEM113 are designed to cover the same material while catering to different student learning styles. CHEM113 is an intensive course that involves 5 lecture hours per week while CHEM111 involves 3 lecture hours per week. Five lectures and one lab period per week required via co-enrollment in CHEM H113L. Prerequisite(s): Self-Placement following Chemistry Department guidelines. Intended for first-year students.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

BIOL H200  EVOLUTION, GENETICS & GENOMICS  (1.0 Credit)

Amy Campbell, Foen Peng, Rachel Hoang

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Three hours of lecture and one 3-hour laboratory period per week. BIOL H200A discusses the gene as a storehouse of biological information, the flow and transmission of genetic information, and genomics in the context of evolution, as well as the cellular context in which these processes occur. The inquiry-based laboratory introduces the student to a variety of basic lab skills designed to reinforce understanding of genetics and genomics. Must also be registered for BIOL H200L. Students not registered for the laboratory will be dropped from the class. Prerequisite(s): BIOL H100

(Offered: Fall 2026)

BIOL H201  BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL PHYSIOLOGY  (1.0 Credit)

Amy Cooke, Staff

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Three hours of lecture and one laboratory period per week. An introduction to biochemistry and cell biology. Topics include the major macromolecules of the cell, their synthesis and breakdown, and a discussion of cellular structures and physiology. The laboratory introduces the student to cell and molecular biology and biochemistry. Enrollment per lecture section is limited to 35. Enrollment per lab section is limited to 24. Preference for a specific lab section will be given to students preregistering for that lab section; students who do not preregister will be assigned on a space available basis. Students who do not register for BIOL H201L will be dropped from the course. Prerequisite(s): BIOL H200 with a grade of 2.0 or higher, or instructor consent

(Offered: Spring 2027)

BIOL B202  NEUROBIOLOGY  (1.0 Credit)

Hannah Shoenhard

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

BIOL B202 Neurobiology (1 Unit) This course provides a cellular and molecular lens on foundational topics in neuroscience, such as electrophysiology, synaptic transmission, plasticity, and neural circuit development and function. Students will develop skills necessary to read primary literature in neuroscience. Lecture and activities three hours per week. Prerequisites: One semester of BIOL B110 or B111, Neuroscience 100, or permission of instructor. Enrollment cap 30 with 3 post-baccalaureate spaces. If the course exceeds the enrollment cap the following criteria will be used for the lottery: Junior Biology & Neuroscience majors; then Sophomore Biology & Neuroscience majors; then Senior Biology & Neuroscience majors; then Biology & Neuroscience minors; then other majors and minors by class (seniors then juniors, etc).

(Offered: Fall 2026)

MATH H103  INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS  (1.0 Credit)

Weiwen Miao

Division: Natural Science; Quantitative
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

Basic concepts and methods of elementary probability and quantitative reasoning, with practical applications. Topics include: sample average and standard deviation, normal curves, regression, expected value and standard error, confidence intervals and hypothesis tests. Crosslisted: Mathematics, Statistics Prerequisite(s): Not open to students who have (a) placed into 120 or higher, (b) taken 118 or higher, (c) taken any other introductory statistics class at Haverford or Bryn Mawr, (d) received a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam

(Offered: Fall 2026)

MATH H203  STATISTICAL METHODS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS  (1.0 Credit)

Lynne Butler

Division: Natural Science; Quantitative
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

An introduction to statistical methods used to analyze data in the natural and social sciences. It covers descriptive statistics, the binomial and normal distributions, expected value and variance, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, comparison of two samples, regression, and analysis of variance. Crosslisted: Mathematics, Statistics Prerequisite(s): MATH 110 or higher, placement into MATH 120 or 121 or higher, or instructor consent. Students who have taken another introductory statistics course at Haverford or Bryn Mawr may only enroll in STAT 203 with instructor consent.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

ECON H203  STATISTICAL METHODS IN ECONOMICS  (1.0 Credit)

Daniel Banko-Ferran

Division: Quantitative; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Foundations of statistical inference and data analysis. Three class hours and two lab hours. Prerequisite(s): ECON 104, 105, or 106; Completion of Math 105 or Math 118 at Haverford College (or a comparable course in calculus at another college), or placement into Math 121 or higher.

(Offered: Fall 2026)

PSYC H100  FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY  (1.0 Credit)

Jennifer Lilgendahl, Jennifer Mezzapelle, Jonathan Schacherer

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes

An introduction to the study of mind and behavior. Topics include biological, cognitive, personality, abnormal, and social psychology, as well as a general consideration of the empirical approach to the study of behavior. This course is a prerequisite for most other 200 and 300 level psychology courses. However, in most cases, this prerequisite may be met with an AP Psychology score of 4 or 5 or IB Psychology credit. Prerequisite(s): Students with AP Psychology credit from high school (and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam) have the option to waive the Foundations course and enroll in upper-level courses; this should be done only after consultation with a faculty member in the Psychology Department. Students are welcome to take PSYCH 100 even if they have AP Psychology credit from high school (and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam).

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

PSYC H200  RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS  (1.0 Credit)

Jennifer Mezzapelle, Mikayla Carson, Ryan Lei

Division: Quantitative; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

A general overview of the research methods used in psychological science along with training in the statistical methods used in the field. Activities focus on designing research studies, collecting data, data analysis, and presenting results through written assignments. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent Enrollment Limit: 35 Lottery preference(s): (1) Psychology majors, (2) Neuroscience majors, sophomores, (3) seniors, (4) juniors, (5) first-year students,A general overview of the experimental method and its use in the psychological study of behavior, coupled with in-depth treatment of statistics as applied to psychology research. Lab exercises focus on designing experiments, collecting data, applying statistical methods (using a data analysis software package), and presenting data through written assignments. 90 minutes of lab per week required in addition to lecture. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or PSYC B105 or Psychology AP Score of 4 or instructor consent.

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

PSYC B205  RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Quantitative; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An introduction to research design, general research methodology, and the analysis and interpretation of data. Emphasis will be placed on issues involved with conducting psychological research. Topics include descriptive and inferential statistics, research design and validity, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression. Each statistical method will also be executed using computers. Lecture three hours, laboratory 90 minutes a week.

(Offered: Fall 2026, Spring 2027)

PSYC H217  BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Natural Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World; C: Physical and Natural Processes

Interrelations between brain, behavior, and subjective experience. The course introduces students to physiological psychology through consideration of current knowledge about the mechanisms of mind and behavior. Crosslisted: Psychology, Biology Prerequisite(s): Any one of the following: PSYC H100, PSYC B105, NEUR H100, NEUR B100, BIOL H100, BIOL H200, BIOL B110, Psychology AP Score 4/5 Enrollment Limit: 35 Lottery Preference(s): 1) Psych majors, neuroscience majors, and neuroscience minors, 2) sophomores, 3) other juniors and seniors,Interrelations between brain, behavior, and subjective experience. The course introduces students to physiological psychology through consideration of current knowledge about the mechanisms of mind and behavior. Crosslisted: Psychology, Biology Prerequisite(s): Any one of the following: PSYC H100, PSYC B105, NEUR H100, NEUR B100, BIOL H100, BIOL H200, BIOL B110, Psychology AP Score 4/5

(Offered: Spring 2027)