Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Track Basic Requirements: 12 half-courses

Requirements for Honors Eligibility 14 half-courses

Social and Cognitive Neuroscience is a specialized track within the Psychology concentration and part of the Life Sciences cluster of concentration options. As such, it is one of the major paths toward bridging the social and life sciences at Harvard. The track reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of learning and research in psychology, emphasizing integration across the sub-disciplines within psychology (social psychology, cognitive psychology, development, psychopathology) as well as connections between psychology and the other life sciences. Students in this track have the opportunity to study the interplay between traditional interests in psychology such as vision, memory, language, emotion, intergroup relations, and psychological disorders, and recent developments in neuroscience and evolutionary science.

To support this learning, the track will provide a strong foundation of basic knowledge in psychology and the life sciences, as well as analytical, quantitative, and laboratory research skills scientists in these areas employ. Students will also take more advanced courses in social and cognitive neuroscience and conduct research in a faculty laboratory. A thesis option is available for students with strong interests in the research component of the program.

1. Required courses:
1. Introductory/Tier 1: Psychology 1, half-course, first or sophomore year. Letter-graded.
2. Sophomore Tutorial: Psychology 975, half-course, sophomore year. Letter-graded. See item 2a.
3. Basic Methods: Psychology 1900, half-course, sophomore year. Letter-graded; must pass with a grade of C or higher.
4. Tier 2: MCB 80 (formerly Biological Sciences 80), half-course, sophomore year, and other half-course from Psychology 13, 15, 16, and 18, recommended by end of sophomore year. Letter-graded.
5. Advanced Methods: Psychology 1901, half-course, sophomore or junior year. Letter-graded.
6. Laboratory Methods: half-course, sophomore or junior year. Letter-graded. Select from a list on the concentration website.
7. Life Sciences Courses: Life Sciences 1a or Life Sciences 1b (both may count, but only one is required); and one or two additional basic-level courses in life sciences and related areas selected from a list on the concentration website to total three half-courses.
8. Psychology Electives: Two half-courses, both letter-graded. Only one may be non-departmental. (All students see Basic Requirements, item 5a. Non-honors students also see Basic Requirements, item 5b; honors-eligible students also see Requirements for Honors Eligibility, item 5c.)
9. For Honors Eligibility: Senior Tutorial: Psychology 993, full course, senior year. Graded SAT/UNS. See item 2c.
2. Tutorials:
1. Sophomore Tutorial (Psychology 975): Examines issues and phenomena addressed in contemporary psychological and life science research from a variety of perspectives. A sophomore essay is required.
2. Junior Tutorial: Preparation for the Honors Thesis (Psychology 985): Optional but recommended half-course tutorial consisting of individual reading and research leading to a thesis prospectus, supplemented by occasional required group meetings. Course particularly recommended for students working outside of department or planning summer research. Graded SAT/UNS. Prospectus or paper required. Application must be made to the Psychology Undergraduate Office prior to filing study cards.
3. Senior Tutorial: The Honors Thesis (Psychology 993): Full-year individual tutorial consisting of research leading to submission of the thesis, supplemented by required spring poster session and occasional optional but highly recommended group meetings. Graded SAT/UNS.
4. Supervised Research (Psychology 910r): Application required; optional one-term individual tutorial consisting of empirical research conducted under the supervision of a departmental faculty member. A research report is required. Applications must be approved by the Undergraduate Office prior to filing study cards. May be used to meet the lab methods requirement, but will not meet concentration elective requirements for honors-eligible students (see Psychology Requirements for Honors Eligibility item 5c).
3. Thesis: Required for honors eligibility. A College GPA of 3.5 or greater is required to apply for the thesis. An adviser-approved thesis application is normally due in April of the junior year. A thesis prospectus meeting giving thesis committee approval of the prospectus is normally required by late October of the senior year. The completed thesis is due the Wednesday before spring recess of the senior year. Required poster session spring of senior year.
4. General Examination: None.