The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience underscores how research in neuroscience has become a computational field of study. The combined major is designed for students who are interested in applying mathematical and computational methodologies toward understanding human behavior, artificial intelligence, and the human-machine interface. Courses across multiple science disciplines—including biology, chemistry, and computer science—lay a strong foundation necessary to explore brain mechanisms and how they give rise to behavioral functions and pathological states using computational approaches. Students will have an opportunity to develop skills in software development as they apply algorithms and data structures to brain research and neurotechnology.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
Universitywide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Computer Science Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Overview | ||
CS 1200 | First Year Seminar 1 | 1 |
CS 1210 | Professional Development for Khoury Co-op 2 | 1 |
Computer Science Foundations | ||
CS 1800 and CS 1802 | Discrete Structures and Seminar for CS 1800 | 5 |
CS 2500 and CS 2501 | Fundamentals of Computer Science 1 and Lab for CS 2500 | 5 |
CS 2510 and CS 2511 | Fundamentals of Computer Science 2 and Lab for CS 2510 | 5 |
Computer Science Required Courses | ||
CS 3000 | Algorithms and Data | 4 |
CS 3200 | Database Design | 4 |
CS 3500 and CS 3501 | Object-Oriented Design and Lab for CS 3500 | 5 |
CS 4100 | Artificial Intelligence | 4 |
CS 4500 | Software Development | 4 |
or CS 4530 | Fundamentals of Software Engineering | |
Statistics Foundation | ||
Complete one of the following. Students who receive transfer credit for the Advanced Placement Statistics exam may complete the 1 SH PSYC 2315 course (requires department permission). | 4-5 | |
Biostatistics and Lab for ENVR 2500 | ||
Statistics in Psychological Research |
- 1
Students entering through the behavioral neuroscience program may take Behavioral Neuroscience at Northeastern (BNSC 1000).
- 2
Students entering through the behavioral neuroscience program may take Professional Development for Co-op (EESC 2000).
Writing Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
College Writing | ||
ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
or ENGW 1102 | First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers | |
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines | ||
Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions | ||
Advanced Writing in the Sciences | ||
Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines |
Behavioral Neuroscience Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
COS Foundations | ||
BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108 | Foundations of Biology and Lab for BIOL 1107 | 5 |
BIOL 2299 | Inquiries in Biological Sciences | 4 |
BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2302 | Genetics and Molecular Biology and Lab for BIOL 2301 | 5 |
CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | General Chemistry for Science Majors and Lab for CHEM 1161 and Recitation for CHEM 1161 | 5 |
CHEM 2311 and CHEM 2312 | Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab for CHEM 2311 | 5 |
PSYC 1101 | Foundations of Psychology | 4 |
Mathematics Foundation | ||
MATH 1341 | Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
or MATH 1251 | Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1 | |
Behavioral Neuroscience Foundations | ||
BIOL 3405 | Neurobiology | 4 |
or BIOL 5587 | Comparative Neurobiology | |
PT 5410 and PT 5411 | Functional Human Neuroanatomy and Lab for PT 5410 | 4-5 |
or PSYC 3200 | Clinical Neuroanatomy | |
Psychology Elective | ||
Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
Developmental Psychology | ||
Clinical Psychology and Mental Health | ||
Learning and Motivation | ||
Learning Principles and Behavior Analysis | ||
Sensation and Perception | ||
Psychology of Language | ||
Cognition | ||
Cognitive Development | ||
Behavioral Neuroscience Core Courses | ||
Complete two of the following: | 8 | |
Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
Neural Systems and Behavior | ||
Developmental Neurobiology | ||
Neurobiology of Cognitive Decline | ||
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | ||
Cell and Molecular Neuroscience | ||
Multidisciplinary Approaches in Motor Control | ||
Neuropsychology of Fear | ||
Behavioral Endocrinology | ||
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity | ||
Psychopharmacology | ||
Neuropsychology | ||
Clinical Neuroscience | ||
Behavioral Genetics |
Integrative Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Integrative Courses | ||
IS 4300 | Human Computer Interaction | 4 |
or CS 4120 | Natural Language Processing | |
or CS 4180 | Reinforcement Learning | |
PSYC 4540 | Quantitative Topics in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
or BINF 6308 | Bioinformatics Computational Methods 1 | |
Upper-Division Elective | ||
Complete four credits from the following list, not taken to fulfill previous requirements: | 4 | |
CY 2000 or higher, except CY 4930 | ||
DS 2500 or higher, except DS 4900 | ||
IS 2000 or higher, except IS 4900 | ||
BNSC 4970 or higher | ||
BIOL 3400 or higher | ||
Bioinformatics Computational Methods 2 | ||
PSYC 3200 or higher |
Supporting Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Computing and Social Issues | ||
Complete one of the following: | 4 | |
Issues in Race, Science, and Technology | ||
The Law, Ethics, and Policy of Data and Digital Technologies | ||
Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights | ||
Literature and Digital Diversity | ||
History of Technology | ||
Bostonography: The City through Data, Texts, Maps, and Networks | ||
Technology and Human Values | ||
The Twenty-First-Century Workplace | ||
Environment, Technology, and Society | ||
Computers and Society |
Required General Electives
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Complete 16 credits of general electives. | 16 |
Khoury College GPA Requirement
Minimum 2.000 GPA required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses
Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience Major Credit Requirement
102 SH required in the major
NUpath Requirements Satisfied
- Engaging with the Natural and Designed World
- Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
- Understanding Societies and Institutions
- Analyzing and Using Data
- Writing in the First Year
- Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
- Writing-Intensive in the Major
- Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone
Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience is satisfied through co-op.
Program Requirement
133 total semester hours required
Sample Patterns:
Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108 | 5 | BIOL 2299 | 4 | CS 3500 and CS 3501 | 5 | Vacation | |
CS 1200 | 1 | CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | 5 | PSYC 1101 | 4 | ||
CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | CS 2510 and CS 2511 | 5 | ||||
CS 2500 and CS 2501 | 5 | MATH 1341 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||||
20 | 18 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2302 | 5 | Co-op | Co-op | PSYC Elective | 4 | ||
BIOL 3405 or 5587 | 4 | General Elective | 4 | ||||
CS 1210 | 1 | ||||||
CS 3000 | 4 | ||||||
CS 3200 | 4 | ||||||
18 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
CHEM 2311 and CHEM 2312 | 5 | Co-op | Co-op | General elective | 4 | ||
PSYC 3200 or PT 5410 and PT 5411 | 4 | ENGW 3302, 3307, or 3315 | 4 | General elective | 4 | ||
Statistics course | 4 | ||||||
General elective | 4 | ||||||
17 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
CS 4500 or 4530 | 4 | BINF 6308 or PSYC 4540 | 4 | ||||
IS 4300, CS 4120, or CS 4180 | 4 | CS 4100 | 4 | ||||
BNS core | 4 | Computing and social issues | 4 | ||||
BNS core | 4 | General elective | 4 | ||||
16 | 16 | ||||||
Total Hours: 134 |
Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall
Year 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1108 | 5 | BIOL 2299 | 4 | CS 3500 and CS 3501 | 5 | Vacation | |
CS 1200 | 1 | CHEM 1161 and CHEM 1162 and CHEM 1163 | 5 | PSYC 1101 | 4 | ||
CS 1800 and CS 1802 | 5 | CS 2510 and CS 2511 | 5 | ||||
CS 2500 and CS 2501 | 5 | MATH 1341 | 4 | ||||
ENGW 1111 | 4 | ||||||
20 | 18 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Year 2 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2302 | 5 | CHEM 2311 and CHEM 2312 | 5 | PSYC elective | 4 | Co-op | |
BIOL 3405 or 5587 | 4 | CS 1210 | 1 | General elective | 4 | ||
CS 3000 | 4 | PSYC 3200 or PT 5410 and PT 5411 | 4 | ||||
CS 3200 | 4 | Statistics course | 4 | ||||
General elective | 4 | ||||||
17 | 18 | 8 | 0 | ||||
Year 3 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
Co-op | CS 4530 | 4 | Upper-division elective | 4 | Co-op | ||
Computing and Social Issues | 4 | General elective | 4 | ENGW 3302, 3307, or 3315 (online) | 4 | ||
BNS core | 4 | ||||||
BNS core | 4 | ||||||
0 | 16 | 8 | 4 | ||||
Year 4 | |||||||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
Co-op | BINF 6308 or PSYC 4540 | 4 | |||||
CS 4100 | 4 | ||||||
IS 4300, CS 4120, or CS 4180 | 4 | ||||||
General elective | 4 | ||||||
0 | 16 | ||||||
Total Hours: 134 |