MCB Certificate in Neuroscience
The Certificate in Neuroscience option allows any UIUC undergraduate major to obtain recognition for completing coursework providing a foundational understanding of brain function at multiple levels of organization. Students completing the certificate will be presented with an official certificate document and will be free to use this credential on a CV/resume or application for advanced study. The certificate does not provide transcript recognition.
To declare the certificate, students must meet with an MCB advisor and complete the online declaration form by the 10th day of their final semester. In order to receive the printed certificate and for SMCB students to be recognized at the SMCB Convocation ceremony, students will be expected to complete this checklist by the last day of classes in their final semester.
Twelve hours of coursework in Neuroscience is required for completion of the certificate. Courses must be chosen from the Approved List of Courses below. MCB 461 and 462 are specifically required, but the remaining 6 hours can come from any courses on the Neuroscience Approved List. Up to 3 hours may come from MCB 290 undergraduate research conducted in the laboratory of an approved Neuroscience Program (NSP) faculty member.
Note that courses marked with an asterisk (*) will also count toward the 15 hours of required approved advanced coursework for the MCB major. Courses not marked with an asterisk will count toward the certificate but will not count toward the 15 required advanced hours in the MCB major.
Certificate in Neuroscience Approved List of Courses:
| MCB | 290 | Undergraduate Research in approved NSP lab | up to 3 hours | |
| * | MCB | 401 | Cellular Physiology | 3 hours, Fall |
| * | MCB/NEUR | 314 | Introduction to Neurobiology | 3 hours, Fall |
| NEUR/PSYC | 403 | Memory and Amnesia | 3 hours, Fall | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 405/404 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 hours, Spring | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 413 | Psychopharmacology *Note, this course only counts for students who took it prior to spring 2022. | 3 hours, Spring | |
| * | NEUR/PSYC | 414 | Brain, Learning and Memory | 3 hours, Spring |
| NEUR/PSYC | 417 | Neuroscience of Eating and Drinking | 3 hours, Fall | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 421 | Principles of Psychophysiology | 3 hours, Fall | |
| NEUR/IB | 432 | Genes and Behavior | 3 hours, Spring | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 433 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | 3 hours, Fall | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 450 | Cognitive Psychophysiology | 3 hours, Fall | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 451 | Neurobiology of Aging | (currently not offered) | |
| NEUR/PSYC | 453 | Cog Neuroscience of Vision | 3 hours, Fall | |
| *† | MCB/NEUR | 461 | Cell & Molecular Neuroscience | 3 hours, Fall |
| *† | MCB/NEUR | 462 | Integrative Neuroscience | 3 hours, Spring |
| * | MCB | 466 | Neuro & Molecular Pharmacology | 3 hours, Spring |
| * | MCB | 493 NOS | Neurobiology of Senses | 3 hours, Spring |
| † | required for the Certificate | |||
| * | counts toward the required 15 hours of approved advanced courses in the MCB major | |||
Notes:
Students are not guaranteed a seat in a course required by the certificate but are welcome to enroll in courses where seats remain available after any restriction, which may have been placed, has been removed.
NEUR/PSYC 413 only counts as an approved advanced MCB course for students who took it prior to spring 2022. Students who take the course spring 2022 or later cannot count it towards the certificate or towards their 15 required advanced MCB hours.
Courses may not be used to satisfy the requirements of more than one MCB Certificate.
Contact advising@mcb.illinois.edu or call 217-333-6774 for more information.