Undergraduate Neuroscience Certificate

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary approach that provides explanations of behavior in terms of the activities of the brain. Neuroscientists explain how millions of neurons operate to allow us to think & use information, interact with others, and experience the world.

Neuroscience coursework at Mizzou explores many topics.

Human memory and cogntion
Medical physiology
Biolelectricity and neural signaling
Pharmacology

Students can explore this exciting field through coursework in psychology, biology, physiology & pharmacology, and engineering. Then, these courses can be brought together to earn the Neurscience Certificate. This transcripted certificate allows students to demonstrate their training at Mizzou to employers and graduate & medical programs.

What are the requirements for the Neuroscience Certificate?

To receive a Certificate in Neuroscience, an undergraduate student must complete 12 credit hours of approved coursework.

All certificate coursework must be completed at the University of Missouri – Columbia.
At least 6 of the 12 credit hours must be 3000-level or above.
A maximum of 6 credit hours from any department may be applied to the 12 credit hour requirement.
Certificate course grades must be C or better, no C- or below will be accepted.
A maximum of 3 pre-approved credit hours may be in Special Problems/Research, Readings or Internship coursework. Students must demonstrate the experiential learning is related to neuroscience.

I'm not earning my degree in Psychology, can I still earn the Certificate?

Yes! Any undergraduate student is eligible to receive a certificate in Neuroscience.

What are the approved courses for the Certificate?

Updated 11/1/2021

Biological Engineering 4070	Bioelectricity
Biological Engineering 4075	Brain Signals & Brain Machine Interfaces
Biological Sciences 3700	Animal Physiology
Biological Sciences 4500	Neurobiology
Biological Sciences 4590/Electrical & Computer Engineering 4590	Computational Neuroscience
Biological Sciences 4640	Behavioral Biology
Electrical & Computer Engineering/Computer Science/Biological Engineering/Biological Sciences/Psychology 2001	World of Neuroscience
Electrical & Computer Engineering 4590/Biological Sciences 4590	Computational Neuroscience
Medical Pharmacology & Physiology 3202	Elements of Physiology
Medical Pharmacology & Physiology 4202	Medical Physiology
Medical Pharmacology & Physiology 4204	Medical Pharmacology
Psychology 2110	Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Psychology 2210	Mind, Brain, and Behavior
Psychology 2220	Drugs and Behavior
Psychology 3003	Topics: Emotion Regulation & The Brain
Psychology 3140	Cognitive Psychology
Psychology 3150	Human Memory
Psychology 3160	Perception and Thought
Psychology 4110	Perception
Psychology 4210	Physiological Psychology
Psychology 4003	Topics - Pain and the Brain
Psychology 4240	Cognitive Neuroscience
Psychology 4570	Pediatric Neurospychology
Psychology 4974	Psychology of Art Capstone

I graduated already, can I get the Certificate?

A certificate must be completed and awarded at the same time as the MU undergraduate degree – certificates cannot be claimed after graduation.

I completed the coursework. How do I claim my Certificate?

To officially declare your Certificate go to this link: https://advising.missouri.edu/majors-minors/minors-certificates/

You will receive confirmation after you complete the online form. Once you have received confirmation, you can check your progress toward the certificate by running a degree audit at this link: https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-programs-catalogs

Can I do research in neuroscience and apply it to my Certificate?

Yes. A maximum of three credit hours may be in Special Problems/Research, Readings or Internship coursework. Students must demonstrate the experiential learning is related to neuroscience.

What are career opportunities in neuroscience?

Neuroscientists work in many fields including medicine & healthcare, research, pharmacy, and counseling. The British Neuroscience Association recently published a guide Neuroscience: A Career Guide for Students with great information.

Where can I learn more about neuroscience?

The Society for Neuroscience is the world’s largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and the nervous system..

Who should I contact with questions about the Certificate?

Please direct questions to Ms. Jill Edwards and Dr. Dennis Miller in Psychological Sciences.

Diffusion MRI from a study on cognition after brain injury (Courtesy of Dr. Shawn Christ)

Drug injection tracks in the rat brain from a study examining opioid effects on feeding and addiction. (Courtesy of Dr. Matthew Will)

Undergraduate students conduct psychophysiology experiments in Dr. Steve Hackley's laboratory.