Formation of a Claremont Colleges Intercollegiate Program in Neuroscience

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The Claremont Colleges propose to develop a six college intercollegiate, interdisciplinary neuroscience program. At the core of this program, a new interdisciplinary, introductory neuroscience course will be developed that focuses more on the fundamental neuroscientific issues from a philosophical, historical, and methodological point of view than is typically the case. We argue that this approach will be mutually beneficial to the general education student, the potential major in neuroscience, and individuals who have been underrepresented in science. Students will emerge from this course with a better understanding of how science progresses and will be better prepared for a general understanding of future scientific developments, if they do not major in neuroscience, or for advanced coursework in neuroscience, if they decide to major in neuroscience. In addition to the introductory course, new upper division courses will be developed within two tracks, representing the principal division in neuroscience today: cellular-molecular and cognitive neuroscience. Students selecting to major in neuroscience will elect to specialize in one of the two tracks, which will include several courses in common. We will also develop a senior capstone course that will include seniors from both tracks. This course will bring faculty and students together to reconsider fundamental issues raised in the introductory course, but from a more sophisticated vantage-point. A significant part of the proposed program will involve opportunities for students and faculty to work with pre-college students and teachers to develop science education in elementary and secondary schools, which we expect will also encourage college students to consider careers in education.