NeuroStudies: A Model of an Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Studies Minor

With nationwide demand for neuroscience programs increasing, faculty and administrators at a public institution with a liberal artscurriculum sought to develop a distinctive program building on existing strengths that would best fit our primarily undergraduate population. The creation of an interdisciplinary Neuroscience Studies minor was the result of collaborations with university stakeholders. Students taking Longwood University’s Neuroscience Studies minor are trained to incorporate neuroscience into their areas of interest. Students take three core courses in neuroscience, including an introductory course, laboratory course, and interdisciplinary capstone experience. Additionally, students select three neuroscience-related courses from their major discipline. To gain broad support, the program was intentionally designed to support the university’s mission, academic strategic plan, and several key university initiatives. Importantly for our smaller institution, the minorwas implemented using existing university faculty, university resources, and a single hire. Since starting in 2015, the minor has quickly become the third largest on campus with increasing popularity amon