Here are a few commonly asked questions and their answers:
Which courses should I take during my freshman and sophomore years?
If you did not get into a course that you were hoping to take during your first or second semester, there is no need to worry. The Neuroscience Major is flexible enough that you should be able to complete it provided you take the recommended courses during your first two years. It is a good idea to talk to a member of the Neuroscience faculty or the Neuroscience Resource Team before registration.
What courses are accepted as electives for the Neuroscience major?
A list of the courses accepted as Neuroscience electives can be found here.
Who can I talk to if I have questions about course choices other than my advisor?
The best resource for obtaining information about which courses to take is the Neuroscience faculty. Also, the Neuroscience Resource Team, composed of junior and senior neuroscience majors can provide useful information and guidance. Visit their website for more information. They will be happy to hear from you.
How do I get involved in research?
The best way to get involved in research is to talk to a faculty member whose research you find interesting. A research course may be counted as a Neuroscience elective only once, but subsequent research courses still count as course credits. In order to count as a Neuroscience elective, the research does not have to be conducted in a Neuroscience laboratory as long as it has a clear neuroscientific component. If you are unsure about this last point, reach out to the chair of the Neuroscience program. Further information can be found here.
Should I do an Honors Thesis?
An Honors Thesis takes two semesters to complete and is typically conducted in the senior year. Ideally, a student who is interested in doing an Honors Thesis would have conducted research previously as Independent Study and/or Advanced Research, as experience is important when taking up a research project. If you’d like to find out more, take a look at the requirements and schedule for honors thesis in neuroscience.
How do I obtain funding for a research project or a research conference?
The College provides some economic support for student research projects and funding for conference attendance. Information can be found here. The Neuroscience program will cover meals and registration to a conference, provided that the student has secured funding for lodging and travel from the Academic Research Committee (ARC). The student should make sure to submit all necessary materials to ARC by the relevant deadlines.
I am interested in the Health Professions, where can I find resources?
Lafayette has a Health Professions Program that is designed to help students learn more about health care issues and health professions careers. Visit their webpage to find out more.
How do I transfer course credit from a summer course to Lafayette?
Lafayette allows transfer credit from other institutions. However, there are a number of requirements that must be met in order to a transfer to be approved. Make sure to read this page in its entirety in order to understand what courses are acceptable for transfer credit.
Can I take a course at another LVAIC college?
Sometimes, neuroscience majors will take a course in a different Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges Consortium (LVAIC) institution. This applies when a course is not offered at Lafayette but is required by a professional school the student is interested in attending after graduation. You can find more information on the LVAIC program here. And you can cross-register here.
I would like to study abroad. How do I find out more about it?
Many neuroscience majors spend the spring semester of their junior year abroad. Please note that study abroad is only permitted through approved programs. Similarly, it is important to recognize that not all study abroad programs offer courses that will readily transfer to Lafayette as Neuroscience electives. In order for the Neuroscience Program to accept a course as an elective, the student must obtain the course syllabus and share it with the program chair with ample time for the proper evaluation of the course. Make sure to get in touch with your academic advisor or the Neuroscience Program chair if you have any questions.
Should I do a minor? How do I choose which one?
A minor is not required to graduate from Lafayette and is rarely taken into account by post-graduate programs for admission. However, working on a minor will provide a more in-depth experience in a field other than your major. As a rule, only 3 courses of a minor can overlap with your major (preventing Neuroscience majors from minoring in Biology or Psychology). Our former students have obtained minors in many of the academic programs at the College, including Art, Biotechnology, English, Government and Law, Math, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies.