Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree which enables each student to develop his or her own interests in a science subject (science major) and related subjects. Students have the flexibility to combine their major subject with other science subjects, as well as subjects from other disciplines across the University.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary subject which covers the brain or 'neural' component of disciplines such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Neurology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Psychology and Zoology. It is currently one of the fastest growing areas in Biology.

Because the Otago degree programme is truly interdisciplinary, it is constructed from papers offered by a large number of different departments.

Programme Requirements

100-level

CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology

HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1

PSYC 111 Brain and Behaviour

Two of:

BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry

BIOL 112 Animal Biology, or HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2

CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health

PHSI 191 Biological Physics

Note: CELS 191, HUBS 191, and CHEM 191 and/or PHSI 191 should be taken in the first year of study to ensure unimpeded progress through the major subject requirements.

200-level

ANAT 242 Neurobiology

PHSL 231 Neurophysiology

PSYC 211 Brain and Cognition

One of:

BIOC 221 Molecular Biology

BIOC 223 Cellular Biochemistry and Metabolism

GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics

GENE 222 Genes, Chromosomes and Populations

PHAL 211 Introductory Pharmacology

ZOOL 223 Animal Physiology

300-level

Four of:

ANAT 335 Neurobiology

ANAT 336 Selected Topics in Neurobiology

NEUR 302 Special Topic: Neuroendocrinology (taken in 2017)

PHAL 303 Neuropharmacology

PHSL 341 Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurophysiology (I)

PHSL 342 Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurophysiology (II)

PSYC 313 Cognition and Neuropsychology

PSYC 317 Biopsychology

PSYC 319 Comparative Cognition (taken in 2017)

PSYC 323 Sensation and Perception

ZOOL 314 Neurobiology

Note: No more than three 300-level PSYC papers may count towards the major subject requirements.

Plus

126 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

Total 360

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) is also available.

A specific aim of the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is to develop advanced theoretical and research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.

Entry criteria

The minimum requirement for students is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year's study at an approved tertiary institution or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme.

We also accept the following International qualifications: International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points; GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 80 (writing 20); Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5); CIE Cambridge International Examinations Grade E or better in AS English; Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); GCE 'A' Level or 'AS' Level English Language or English Literature - grade C or higher; GCE 'AS' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher; APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3 or higher; IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.