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LIFE SCIENCES TRACK in Social and Cognitive Neuroscience
The Social and Cognitive Neuroscience track in Psychology is one of the options available in the Life Sciences Cluster of concentrations, which were formed to encourage interdisciplinary research and study in cutting-edge life science areas. In psychology, this could take many forms, including studying the effects of stress hormones on health and behavior, examining the parts of the brain that may be linked to our understanding of others or of moral judgments, or examining a rat model of an autism-spectrum disorder to better understand what may be going on in children with this disorder.
This track allows students to combine coursework in psychology with a substantial number of courses and/or research experiences in other areas of biology (usually Human Evolutionary Biology, Neurobiology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; see list of approved related life science courses). This track differs from MBB in that its interdisciplinary focus is on the other life science areas, but as a result counts more science courses toward concentration credits than does MBB, which combines psychology with some basic neuroscience and other interdisciplinary interests such as linguistics, philosophy, computer science or history of science. In addition, MBB is a thesis-only track, whereas the Social and Cognitive Neuroscience track offers both regular and honors (thesis and non-thesis) options.
Course Sequence Recommendations
For Students Considering the Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Track
Complete requirements can be found in the requirements chart. Below is a chart of recommended courses for the first two years. Students should consult with our Pre-Concentration Adviser or a Concentration Adviser for more guidance beyond the second year or for more detailed advising.
Students who are strongly considering this track should plan on enrolling in the following during their first two years:
First Semester |
Second Semester |
Third Semester |
Fourth Semester |
Psychology 1 (fall or spring) |
Psychology 975 (fall or spring) |
Life Sciences 1a or LPS A * |
Life Sciences 1b |
Basic Methods (fall or spring)
-choose from Stat 101 or Psy 1900- |
At least one of the following Tier 2 courses during first two years:
Psychology 13, Psychology 15, Psychology 16, Psychology 18, or MCB 80 |
*If taken Fall 2008 or later. LPS A will not count if taken after LS 1A.
- Freshmen should enroll in one of: Life Sciences 1a or Life and Physical Sciences A (fall, depending on placement) or Life Sciences 1b in spring. Students in S&CN are required to take one of these courses, but may count more than one toward concentration requirements.
- Freshmen should take Psy 1, Introduction to Psychology, which is offered in fall and spring.
- Ideally, freshmen will take one Tier 2 course by the end of their freshman year, and should complete at least one Tier 2 course no later than the end of the sophomore year. Students may choose from the following Tier 2 courses: Psy 16, Developmental Psychology; Psy 18, Abnormal Psychology; Psy 13, Cognition; Psy 15, Social Psychology; or MCB 80, Neurobiology of Behavior. MCB 80 and one other Tier 2 course are required courses.
- In the third or fourth semester, students ordinarily enroll in Psy 975: Contemporary Issues in Psychology (Sophomore Tutorial) and the required Basic Methods course (either Psy 1900: Intro to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences or Stat 101: Intro to Quantitative Methods).
- Students are encouraged to get involved in research as early as possible, and may want to complete their lab methods requirement before the end of their sophomore year.
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