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Neuroscience Major & Minor Information Session

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Student Handbook

The student handbook is an important document for all Neuroscience students. Please scan the QR code for access. The handbook contains information on the following:

    • Program Contacts
    • Campus Resources
    • Sample Course Plans
    • Neuroscience Student Organizations
    • Study Abroad
    • Research Opportunities
    • Departmental Honors

Undergraduate Neuroscience IDP

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Fast Facts About Neuroscience at UCLA

  • The major and minor are comprised of approximately 800 students
  • Interdepartmental program ~ faculty volunteer to teach in our program; students can take upper division electives from different departments
  • Challenging, interdisciplinary curriculum
  • Various options to engage in research
  • Strong community with multiple leadership and outreach opportunities
  • Good preparation for pre-health graduate programs
  • No “pre-major” standing ~ students admitted to UCLA as a Neuroscience major do not need to declare anything further
  • Introductory courses offered for students who want earlier exposure to neuroscience (NEUROSC 10 & 20)
  • It is possible to study abroad ~ typically recommended to go abroad during any summer or fall of 4th year

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Preparation Coursework for the Major and Minor

Neuroscience Major

Neuroscience Minor

Important Notes for Preparation Coursework:

  • Each course must be passed with a C- or higher
  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade
  • Students must complete the preparation coursework with an overall 2.0 GPA or higher
  • Students who repeat more than two preparation classes or any preparation class more than once are subject to dismissal from the major or minor
  • Our program only accepts AP Credit for Calculus
  • Recommended to complete bolded prep courses by fall of 3rd year

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Upper Division �Major �Requirements

  • 10 upper division courses (43 units)
  • Must complete all coursework with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • No more than 8 courses may be from any one department (IDP rule) ~ recommended to take at least 1 elective from another department

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Flipped Schedule

  • In the case that students are not able to complete the prerequisites to NEUROSC M101A by fall of the 3rd year, they will need to complete a flipped schedule. 
  • The flipped schedule allows students to remain eligible for the Neuroscience major and graduate on time. 
  • Students will focus on completing major prep requirements, major electives, CHEM 153A, etc. in their 3rd year, and complete the Neuroscience core series and capstone requirement in their 4th year.

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Sample Major Course Plans

Sample Course Plan #1

Sample Course Plan #2 – Flipped Schedule

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Upper Division �Minor�Requirements

  • 7 upper division courses (31 units)
  • Must complete all coursework with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Can only overlap up to two courses with major or another minor

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Capstone �Options�for the Major

  • Two-quarter commitment related to research
  • Must be completed after NEUROSC M101A
  • Most students complete this requirement in their senior year

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Project Brainstorm & DOPA-Team

To be eligible to apply to these capstone options, students must be declared Neuroscience majors in their 3rd or 4th year and must have completed NEUROSC M101A (or be in the process of taking it during Fall 2025) . Students can apply to be considered for one or both of these capstone options, but will only be accepted to one. Decisions are released prior to winter quarter enrollment.

�The application typically opens during Week 1 of the fall quarter and closes at the end of Week 2 of the fall quarter (deadline is Sunday, October 12th at 11:59PM PST).

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Departmental Honors for the Major

Eligibility Requirements

  • 3.0 GPA in major prep coursework
  • 3.2 overall GPA at UCLA

Graduation Requirements

  • For departmental honors
    • 3.2 overall GPA
    • 3.4 GPA in major (excluding prep)
    • Ratings of “honors” on thesis by 2 readers
  • For departmental highest honors
    • 3.5 overall GPA
    • 3.7 GPA in the major (excluding prep)
    • Ratings of “highest honors” on thesis by 2 readers

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Switching into the Major

Eligibility (for freshman admits):

Eligibility (for transfer admits):

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  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Must have completed and earned a letter grade of a C- or better in all required (bolded) major preparation courses (with a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher)
  • Must be able to satisfy major requirements by Degree Expected Term
  • Must have completed a quarter at UCLA prior to switching
  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Must have completed all required (bolded) major preparation courses (any remaining major preparation courses taken at UCLA must be completed with a letter grade of a C- or better with a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher)
  • Must be able to satisfy major requirements by Degree Expected Term

*Please note: Per the UCLA Life Sciences Division policy, transfer students are only eligible to switch into the Neuroscience major if admitted to UCLA as another life science major. Transfer students admitted to UCLA as a non-life science major are not eligible to switch into a life science major after admission to UCLA.

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Timeline to Declare the Neuroscience Major

FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING QUARTERS

WEEK 0 (FALL ONLY) – WEEK 3 BY FRIDAY, 3:00PM PST

OR

WEEK 9 – FINALS WEEK BY FRIDAY, 3:00PM PST

The first deadline for Fall 2025 will be Friday, October 17th at 3PM PST.

Students planning to switch into the Neuroscience major must submit the major declaration form

listed on our website during the following time frames (no exceptions). Students who miss

the deadline must wait until the next declaration period.

Please note: Students admitted to UCLA as a Neuroscience major do not have to declare anything further. Students interested in pursuing a double major in Neuroscience should consult the College Double Major Process - please do not submit the major declaration form as we cannot declare a secondary major.

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Declaring the Minor

Eligibility:

  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Must have completed and earned a letter grade of a C- or better in all minor preparation courses (with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA or higher and a 2.5 GPA or higher in the prerequisite courses to NEUROSC M101A)
  • Must be able to satisfy minor requirements by Degree Expected Term

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Timeline to Declare the Neuroscience Minor

FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING QUARTERS

WEEK 0 (FALL ONLY) – WEEK 3 BY FRIDAY, 3:00PM PST

OR

WEEK 9 – FINALS WEEK BY FRIDAY, 3:00PM PST

The first deadline for Fall 2025 will be Friday, October 17th at 3PM PST.

Students planning to declare the Neuroscience minor must submit the minor declaration form

listed on our website during the following time frames (no exceptions). Students who miss

the deadline must wait until the next declaration period.

Please note: Students currently in a Professional School (e.g. Luskin, Samueli, etc.) should consult their School advising unit regarding declaring a minor in the College - please do not submit the minor declaration form as we will not be able to declare you into the minor.

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Important Considerations

  • Students who are unable to graduate on time and are needing to exceed normative Time to Degree (spring or summer of 4th year for freshman admits; fall of 3rd year for transfer admits) must file a petition with their assigned College Counseling Unit
  • Students can overlap up to a maximum of 20 upper division units between two majors (typically 4-5 courses)
  • Students can overlap up to two courses between a minor and their major/another minor, but must ensure at least 20 unique units are earned toward their minor
  • Students who are not in the College (e.g. Engineering, Public Health, Public Affairs, etc.) that are interested in switching into the Neuroscience major or declaring the Neuroscience minor should consult their School advisor regarding a Program Change petition

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uNSIDP Academic Advising

Academic Advisor: Louis Perez

Location: Gonda 1321

  • 30 minute advising appointments are available Monday – Friday either in-person or via Zoom.
  • Virtual drop-in hours are offered Monday – Friday.
  • The best way to contact the Neuroscience Advising Office is by email. Please email us at neurosci@ucla.edu.
  • To schedule an advising appointment or join virtual drop-in hours, please scan the QR code.

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Resources for Neuroscience Majors and Minors

Undergraduate Neuroscience IDP

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Thank You

Undergraduate Neuroscience IDP