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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS

Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
      • Computer Science
      • Cybersecurity
      • Data Science
      • Khoury Combined Majors
        • Chemical Engineering and Computer Science, BSChE
        • Civil Engineering and Computer Science, BSCE
        • Computer Engineering and Computer Science, BSCmpE
        • Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Computer Science and Biology, BS
        • Computer Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology, BS
        • Computer Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Computer Science and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Computer Science and Design, BS
        • Computer Science and Economics, BS
        • Computer Science and English, BS
        • Computer Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Computer Science and Game Development, BS
        • Computer Science and History, BS
        • Computer Science and Journalism, BS
        • Computer Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Computer Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Computer Science and Media Arts, BS
        • Computer Science and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Computer Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Computer Science and Physics, BS
        • Computer Science and Political Science, BS
        • Computer Science and Sociology, BS
        • Computer Science and Theatre, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Business Administration, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Biochemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Data Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Data Science and Chemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Data Science and Health Science, BS
        • Data Science and Journalism, BS
        • Data Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Data Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Data Science and Physics, BS
        • Data Science and Psychology, BS
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The data science and behavioral neuroscience major combines the disciplines of biology, psychology, computer science, and data science into an integrated curriculum. The human brain is a complex information processing system requiring scientists to analyze, integrate, and share large data sets garnered from multiple techniques that image and record the activity of the brain at work. Students investigate the anatomy and physiology of neural circuits that underlie brain mechanisms and pathological states that give rise to behavioral functions. Students have an opportunity to develop skills in large-scale data manipulation and storage, machine learning, data mining, and information visualization necessary to execute big brain-mapping initiatives including human neuroconnectivity maps.

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.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Data Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Computer Science Overview
CS 1200First Year Seminar 11
CS 1210Professional Development for Khoury Co-op 21
Programming Sequence Pathways
Choose one of the two options.12
Computer Science Option
CS 2500
and CS 2501
Fundamentals of Computer Science 1
and Lab for CS 2500
CS 2510
and CS 2511
Fundamentals of Computer Science 2
and Lab for CS 2510
CS 3500
and CS 3501
Object-Oriented Design
and Lab for CS 3500
Data Science Option
DS 2000
and DS 2001
Programming with Data
and Data Science Programming Practicum
DS 2500
and DS 2501
Intermediate Programming with Data
and Lab for DS 2500
DS 3500
Advanced Programming with Data
Computer Science Required Courses
CS 1800
and CS 1802
Discrete Structures
and Seminar for CS 1800
5
CS 3200Database Design4
Data Science Foundations
DS 3000Foundations of Data Science4
DS 4200Information Presentation and Visualization4
DS 4300Large-Scale Information Storage and Retrieval4
DS 4400Machine Learning and Data Mining 14
Statistics Foundation
Complete one of the following:4-5
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500
PSYC 2320
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

Course List
Code Title Hours
College Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
Complete one of the following:4
ENGW 3302
Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions
ENGW 3307
Advanced Writing in the Sciences
ENGW 3315
Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Behavioral Neuroscience Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
COS Foundations
PSYC 1101Foundations of Psychology4
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
Foundations of Biology
and Lab for BIOL 1107
5
BIOL 2299Inquiries in Biological Sciences4
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
Mathematics Foundation
MATH 1341Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering4
or MATH 1251 Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1
Behavioral Neuroscience Foundations
BIOL 3405Neurobiology4
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
PSYC 3404
Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3406
Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 3450
Learning and Motivation
PSYC 3451
Learning Principles and Behavior Analysis
PSYC 3452
Sensation and Perception
PSYC 3358
Behavior Therapies
PSYC 3464
Psychology of Language
PSYC 3466
Cognition
PSYC 4520
Language and the Brain
PSYC 4524
Cognitive Development
Behavioral Neuroscience Core Courses
Complete two of the following:8
BIOL 3403
Animal Behavior
BIOL 3415
Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience
BIOL 3601
Neural Systems and Behavior
BIOL 3605
Developmental Neurobiology
BIOL 4705
Neurobiology of Cognitive Decline
BIOL 4709
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
BIOL 5595
Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
BIOL 5601
Multidisciplinary Approaches in Motor Control
PSYC 3506
Neuropsychology of Fear
PSYC 3508
Behavioral Endocrinology
PSYC 3510
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
PSYC 4510
Psychopharmacology
PSYC 4512
Neuropsychology
PSYC 4514
Clinical Neuroscience
PSYC 4570
Behavioral Genetics

Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Integrative Courses
PSYC 4540Quantitative Topics in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience4
or BINF 6308 Bioinformatics Computational Methods 1
CS 4100Artificial Intelligence4
Upper-Division Elective
Complete four credits from the following list, not taken to fulfill previous requirements:4
CS 2500 or higher, except CS 5010
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
BINF 6309
Bioinformatics Computational Methods 2
PSYC 3200 or higher

Required General Electives

Course List
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

Program Requirement

130 total semester hours required

Sample Patterns:

Five Years, Three Co-ops 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 12001CS 2510
and CS 2511
5VacationVacation
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5BIOL 22994  
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5  
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5MATH 13414  
ENGW 11114   
 20 18 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 3500
and CS 3501
5DS 30004VacationCo-op
BIOL 3405 or 55874CS 32004  
PSYC 11014CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5  
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5CS 12101  
 PSYC 23204  
 18 18 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opDS 42004General elective4Co-op
 BNS foundation4PSYC elective4 
 General elective4  
 PSYC 32004  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opDS 43004VacationCo-op
 BNS integrative course4 ENGW 3315 (online)4
 BNS foundation4  
 General elective4  
 0 16 0 4
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-opDS 44004  
 CS 41004  
 Integrative advanced elective4  
 General elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 134

Four Years, Two Co-ops 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 12001CS 2510
and CS 2511
5CS 3500
and CS 3501
5Vacation
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5MATH 13414PSYC 11014 
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5BIOL 22994  
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
5CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5  
ENGW 11114   
 20 18 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 32004CS 12101PSYC elective4Co-op
DS 30004DS 42004General elective4 
BIOL 3405 or 55874CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5  
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5BNS foundation4  
 PSYC 23204  
 17 18 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-opDS 43004General elective4Co-op
 BNS foundation4Integrative advanced elective4ENGW 3315 (online)4
 PSYC 32004  
 General elective4  
 0 16 8 4
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-opDS 44004  
 CS 41004  
 BNS integrative course4  
 General elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 134
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