Major Requirements

The lower division prerequisites are generally taken in years 1-2.

Required courses (8 courses)

• Chem 1A + 1AL: General Chemistry and Lab, 3 + 2 units, offered Fa, Sp, Su
• Bio 1A + 1AL: General Biology and Lab, 3 + 2 units, offered Fa, Sp, Su 
• Physics 8A and 8B: Introductory Physics, 4 + 4 units, offered Fa, Sp, Su
• Math 10A and 10B: Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics, 4 units each, 10A only offered in Fall, 10B only offered in spring or Math 1A and 1B: Calculus, 4 units each, offered Fa, Sp, Su
  • See NEU Math Options for more approved sequences.

Recommended course

• Data C8, Stat 2, Stat 20, CS 10 or related. 
  A data science, statistics, or programming class, will provide data and computational literacy that is useful in understanding the scientific process and the computational principles of brain function.

Test Scores:

The following AP, IB, or A-level test scores can fulfill lower division requirements:

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams:

• AP Chemistry with a score of 5 satisfies Chem 1A/1AL
• AP Biology with a score of 5 satisfies Bio 1A/1AL
• AP Calculus, see the NEU Math Options

International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams:

• HL Chemistry with a score of 7 satisfies Chem 1A/1AL
• HL Math Analysis & Approaches, see the NEU Math Options

A-Level Courses:

• Chemistry with an A satisfies Chem 1A/1AL
• Biology with an A satisfies Bio 1A/1AL

This two-semester core course sequence, Neuro 100A-100B, will span molecular, cellular, circuit-systems, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscience. Students who know their interest early can take 100A-100B in Year 2, following partial completion of the lower division prerequisites. It's generally recommended to have completed Bio 1A/1AL and Physics 8A before taking NEU 100A.

NEU 100A: Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, 4 units, fall only
NEU 100B: Systems & Cognitive Neuroscience, 4 units, spring only

NEU 110: Scientific Communication, 2 units, Fall and Spring, first offered Spring 2025

This course will use active learning to teach skills for organizing and presenting scientific ideas and evidence, both verbally and in writing. This course is generally taken during year 3.

Students will choose one lab course that matches their interests. The lab course is generally taken during year 3 or year 4.

NEU 171L - Neurobiology Lab, 4 units, Fall only
NEU 172L - Cognitive and Computational Lab, 4 units (first offered Fall 25)
NEU 173L - Neuroanatomy Lab, 4 units, Spring only

Students may petition to substitute the NEU lab course with research units. See the Lab Substitution Policy for more details.

Students will choose 3 courses that match their interests. These courses are generally taken during year 3 or year 4.

NEU C121: Human Neuroanatomy, 3 units, planned for Spring 2025 (odd years)
NEU C124: Interface Between Neuroethology & Neural Engineering, 3 units, planned for Spring 2026 (even years)
NEU C125: Neuroethology CAPSTONE, 4 units, planned for Spring 2025 (odd years)
NEU C126: Hormones & Behavior, 3 units, planned for Spring 2025 (odd years)
NEU 128: Cognitive Neuro, 3 units, planned for Fall 2025 (odd years)
NEU 151: Computational Neuroscience, planned for Fall 2025
NEU 152: Neuro Technology, 3 units, planned for Spring 2025
NEU 162: Learning and Memory, planned for Spring 2025
NEU 163: Brain Behavior & Environment CAPSTONE, planned for Fall 2025 (odd years)
NEU 164: Neurodevelopment, 3 units, Fall only
NEU 165: Neurobiology of Disease, 3 units, Spring only
COG SCI/PSYCH C127: Cognitive Neuroscience, 3 units, Fall only

We want students to integrate perspectives from other fields into their neuroscience curriculum. Thus, we will require one upper division class with at least 3-units in any other STEM or neuroscience-related field (MCB, IB, psychology, data science, chem, etc.). This course can be taken in any year.

The approved Outside Perspectives courses are on this list.

Students can optionally choose to undertake a capstone experience. The capstone is a semester-long course in a small, interactive class setting. Some Tier 3 Elective courses are designated as capstone courses. In the capstone, students will intensively study one topic in neuroscience under faculty mentorship, and produce a substantial research paper on this topic. 

Capstone courses will be focused on a specific topic in neuroscience, but will be designed with multiple reading, discussion, and writing assignments that create an intensive, course-long learning experience including close interaction with faculty instructors. Capstone courses will culminate in a substantial research paper on a topic related to the course subject matter, and tie in other areas of student interest. Capstone courses will be 4-unit courses, and will have substantially more out-of-class work, including reading and writing assignments, than Tier 3 courses. Capstone classes will be limited to 50 students for effective small-group teaching.

Students are encouraged to do research in faculty laboratories for credit, both at the lower division level and upper division level. We will offer an Honors Research Course for students who want to pursue independent research and write an honors thesis. We will also offer Independent Research courses for students to earn credit for non-honors research.

Transfer students should complete lower division prerequisites before arriving at Berkeley so they canstart the Tier 2 core sequence at their arrival in Year 3. They can complete any missing lower division prerequisites in Year 3, while taking the core sequence. (This plan assumes lower division prereqs are finished)