McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
Bulletin Year: 2026-2027

Print this page

Semester One (17-18 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
!	ENGL 101	Critical Reading and Composition (CC-CMW)	3	C
	MATH 122 or MATH 141	Calc. for Bus. Admin. & Soc. Sci. or Calculus 13 (CC-ARP)	3-4			C or better in MATH 111/111I/115 (MATH 122); C or better in MATH 112/115/116 (MATH 141); or through placement exam
	BIOL 101 & Lab	Biological Principles 101 (CC-SCI)	4	C
	CHEM 111 & Lab	General Chemistry I4 (PR)	4	C		C or higher in MATH 111 or higher (or by placement into MATH 115 or higher)
	PSYC 101	Intro. to Psychology (CC-GSS)	3	C

Semester Two (17-18 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
!	ENGL 102	Rhetoric and Composition (CC-CMW/CC-INF)	3	C		C or better in ENGL 101
	MATH 142 or MATH 170 or MATH 172 or MATH 174	Calculus II or Finite Mathematics or Math. Modeling for the Life Sci. or Discrete Math. for Computer Science (CC-ARP)	3-4			See Bulletin Listing.
	BIOL 102 & Lab	Biological Principles II (CC-SCI)	4	C
	CHEM 112 & Lab	General Chemistry II4 (PR)	4	C		C or higher in MATH 111 or higher MATH (or by placement score into MATH 115 or higher); C or higher in CHEM 111L or CHEM 141L
		Foreign language5 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL)	3

Semester Three (16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
	NSCI 300	Introduction to Neuroscience (MR)	3	C		C or better in PSYC 101
	CHEM 333 & 331 Lab	Organic Chemistry I4 (PR)	4	C		C or higher in CHEM 112 or in CHEM 142; C or better in CHEM 112L or CHEM 142L
		Social Science (SOCY 101 Introductory Sociology recommended for Pre-Med) (CR)	3
		Carolina Core VSR Requirement6 (PHIL 321 Medical Ethics recommended for Pre-Med) (CC-VSR)	3
		Foreign language5 or Carolina Core Req.6 (CR/CC)	3

Semester Four (16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
	BIOL 302 & Lab	Cell & Molecular Biology4 (PR)	4	C		C or better in BIOL 101, & BIOL 102 or MSCI 311 & in CHEM 112 or 142
	PSYC 405	Cognitive Psychology4 (PR)	3	C
	STAT 205 or STAT 509 or STAT 515	Elem. Stat. for the Biol. & Life Sci. or Statistics for Engineers or Statistical Methods I7 (CR)	3			See Bulletin Listing.
		History8 (CR)	3
		Foreign language5 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL)	3

Semester Five (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
	BIOL 405	Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (MR)	3	C		BIOL 302
	PSYC 507	Cognitive Neuroscience (MR)	3	C		C or better in PSYC 405
	CSCE 102	Web Design & Development using AI Tools or higher (CR)	3
		Concentration Course9 (MR)	3-4	C
		Carolina Core Req.6 or Elective10 (CC/PR)	3

Semester Six (12-14 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Neuroscience Research11 (MR)	3	C
		Concentration Course9 (MR)	3-4	C
		Neuroscience Major Elective12 (MR)	3-4	C
		Humanities or Fine Arts (CLAS 230 Medical & Sci. Terminology recommended for Pre-Med) (CR)	3

Semester Seven (12-14 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Concentration Course9 (MR)	3-4	C
		Neuroscience Major Elective12 (MR)	3-4	C
		Carolina Core Req.6 or Elective10 (CC/PR)	3
		Carolina Core Req.6 or Elective10 (CHEM 334 & 332L recommended for Pre-Med) (CC/PR)	3

Semester Eight (12-17 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Concentration Course9 (only if needed) (MR)	0-3	C
		Neuroscience Major Elective12 (MR)	3-4	C
		Neuroscience Major Elective12 (MR)	3-4	C
		Elective10 (PHYS 201 & Lab recommended for Pre-Med) (PR)	3
		Elective10 (PHYS 202 & Lab recommended for Pre-Med) (PR)	3

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Total Hours	Minimum Major Requirements Hours	Minimum College & Program Requirements Hours	Carolina Core Hours	Minimum Institutional GPA
120	36	40-52	32-44	2.000

1. Regardless of individual course grades, students must achieve a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA for Upper Division status. Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for graduation.
2. Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
3. Students not placing into MATH 122 or 141 are required to successfully complete the corresponding prerequisites before taking MATH 122 or 141.
4. Supporting courses are prerequisites for Major Requirements. Eight hours may be used to fulfill requirements for a minor, cognate, or second major.
5. Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
6. The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
7. Students intending to take any other 500-level STAT courses should take STAT 515. Students who have previously completed PSYC 220 or PSYC 227 and STAT 201 with a grade of C or better before declaring the Neuroscience major may use STAT 201 to fulfill this requirement.
8. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
9. Students must choose one of the following three concentrations. Concentrations consist of a minimum of 12 hours of core courses in a targeted area of study. Core courses should be selected in conjunction with the neuroscience advisor to target each student’s interests and career goals.
   1. Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
      1. Choose 12 hours from the following: BIOL 303, 530, 541*, 541L, 553, 612, 614, 620, 634, 635, 665, 667; BMEN 321; ELCT 391.
   2. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience (12 hours) Choose 3 hours from List A and 3 hours from List B, with additional courses selected from either list to meet the minimum of 12 hours.
      1. List A (minimum 3 hours): BIOL 460, 534, 543; EXSC 351, 562, 610, 641.
      2. List B (minimum 3 hours): PSYC 400, 450, 503, 550, 571, 572.
   3. Neurodevelopment and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (12 hours)
      1. Required: BIOL 505; PSYC 420
      2. 6 hours selected from: BIOL 505, 614, 633; PSYC 510, 520, 521, 528.
10. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
11. Training in the methods of scientific inquiry and the dissemination of research in neuroscience. Can be fulfilled with independent research undertaken with a faculty mentor or lab-based coursework. Must be approved by the Neuroscience program director.
    1. Individual Research: Independent research can be done under any major independent research codes as long as the research is in the field of neuroscience and is approved by the Neuroscience Program Director. Examples include NSCI 498, BIOL 399, PSYC 498, PSYC 598, PSYC 599, SCHC 399, and BMEN 499.
    2. Lab Courses: NSCI 570 or other lab-based courses may be approved by the Neuroscience Program Director if they have a significant neuroscience component.
12. Major Electives: BIOL 303, 460, 461, 505, 530, 534, 541*, 541L, 543, 553, 612, 614, 620, 633, 634, 635, 665, 667; BMEN 321; CSCE 556; EXSC 303, 351, 562, 610, 641; NSCI 560, 570+; PHIL 351; PSYC 370, 400, 450, 503, 550, 571, 572, Individual Research^. Depending on the topic, special topics courses/seminars and internships may be applied as core courses towards concentrations or as major electives with permission of the Neuroscience program director: BIOL 599; NSCI 560; PSYC 589; COLA 390 or 391.
    *Students intending to take BIOL 541 as part of their major requirements should also take CHEM 334/332L as part of their program requirements, either as an elective or as part of their cognate/minor.
    +Students who complete Individual Research to complete the Required Neuroscience Research may take NSCI 570 as an elective
    ^A maximum of 6 hours of Independent Study / Individual Research can be applied as major credit. Students admitted to the B.S. with Distinction in Neuroscience may apply an additional 3 hours of independent research toward their major requirements, up to a maximum of 9 hours.

Program Notes

• ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed in the student’s first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• The B.S. with Distinction in Neuroscience is available to students majoring in Neuroscience who wish to participate in significant research activities in their major field under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
  • Prerequisite: A minimum GPA of 3.50 in the major, and 3.50 cumulative, is required to apply for a BS with Distinction in Neuroscience.
  • Requirements: 1) Students must submit a written application for the BS with Distinction in Neuroscience at least eight months before completion of the degree. 2) Written sponsorship agreement from a faculty mentor affiliated with the Neuroscience program. 3) An established thesis committee consisting of a tenure-track faculty member affiliated with the Neuroscience Program and at least one other tenure-track or research faculty member at the University of South Carolina. 4) A written thesis demonstrating significant original work and approved by the thesis committee. The student may use their senior thesis to simultaneously fulfill other requirements as well (e.g., Honors College Thesis), at the discretion of the thesis advisor. 5) A public presentation of the Senior Thesis research. 6) Successful fulfillment of all requirements below with a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the major and 3.50 cumulative. 7) Completion of all major requirements, plus 9 additional credit hours including: a minimum of three credit hours of independent research (in addition to any hours taken as part of the major requirements), a minimum of three upper-level credits from the list of approved neuroscience electives (can include additional credits of independent research), and NSCI 499 - Senior Thesis (3 hours) or SCHC 499 (3 hours)

Code Definitions

University Requirements: Bachelor’s degree-seeking students must meet Carolina Core (general education) requirements.

Code	Definition
CC	Carolina Core
CC-AIU	Carolina Core – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding
CC-ARP	Carolina Core – Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
CC-CMS	Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component
CC-CMW	Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written Component
CC-GFL	Carolina Core – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language
CC-GHS	Carolina Core – Historical Thinking
CC-GSS	Carolina Core – Social Sciences
CC-INF	Carolina Core – Information Literacy
CC-INT	Carolina Core – Integrative Course
CC-SCI	Carolina Core – Scientific Literacy
CC-VSR	Carolina Core – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
CR	College Requirement
MR	Major Requirement
PR	Program Requirement