Integrative Neuroscience

Binghamton University

Apr 03, 2025

2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide

Neuroscience - the study of the nervous system - provides incredible opportunities to work across disciplines as it focuses on the brain and how it works. From the biology to the psychology of behavior, there is much to study. Neuroscientists routinely draw on the fields of psychology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and computer science in their work, and that’s one reason integrative neuroscience is such an interesting and challenging field of study.

Honors Program in Integrative Neuroscience

Outstanding students in integrative neuroscience are encouraged to participate in the honors program. Participation requires the preparation of an honors thesis that consists of a proposal, data collection, written analysis and an oral defense of the final thesis. Successful completion of the honors program results in graduation with distinguished independent work in integrative neuroscience.

Prerequisites and Requirements

To gain acceptance to the honors program in integrative neuroscience, a student must:

Have declared integrative neuroscience as a major
Have achieved at least junior II standing
Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.3 in those courses taken toward the major and
Be accepted by a supervising faculty member whose research is in the field of integrative neuroscience

Appeals

Any student who fails to meet one or more of the requirements listed above may petition the director of the integrative neuroscience program for a waiver of a particular requirement. No waiver will be granted without the written support of the supervising faculty member. Such appeals must be requested before the thesis project is begun.

Formation of Honors Committee

Prior to the end of the seventh semester, a student must form an honors committee, consisting of two faculty members: the student’s supervising faculty member (who acts as chair) and at lease one other faculty member, chosen in consultation with the supervising faculty member. When appropriate, a faculty member from another university may be appointed.

Written Research Proposal

During the semester prior to the semester in which the honors project is to be completed, the student must submit a written research proposal to the members of the honors committee at least two weeks before a scheduled meeting. At this meeting, the honors committee must assess the practicality of the proposal and the candidate’s ability to do the work. Approval of the proposal by the honors committee is required before acceptance into the honors program and before initiation of the honors research (preliminary work only may be completed prior to the submission of the proposal). A copy of the approved proposal, email approval by all members of the committee, an unofficial transcript and a completed Honors Program Application must be submitted online no later than the end of the semester prior to receiving honors.

Academic Credit for Honors Work

Students doing honors thesis work should register for two credits of PSYC 498 the semester they are preparing to submit their thesis proposal and two credits of PSYC 397. The semester of the defense, which should also be the semester the degree award is expected, students should register for four credits of PSYC 499. A student who drops out of the honors program, or who fails to meet the thesis deadlines, still receives a grade for his or her research activities, but would receive a Pass/Fail grade for PSYC 397 rather than a letter grade for PSYC 499.

Honors Thesis

A well-edited draft of the honors thesis must be given to the members of the honors committee at least two weeks before the defense, which must take place before the examination period of the semester in which the student wishes to receive honors. An honors thesis should follow the format of a scientific paper. The thesis should include background information and the rationale for the proposed work, a detailed description of the methods and results and a discussion of the results in the context of the relevant scientific literature.

Defense of the Thesis

A defense of the honors thesis is conducted in the presence of the committee and any other interested parties. The student is responsible for notifying the director of the time and place of the defense. The defense consists of a brief (20- to 30-minute) presentation of the research, followed by questions from the committee.

Procedures for Final Certification

Determination of the student’s receipt of the distinguished independent work in integrative neuroscience designation resides solely with the student’s honors committee, assuming the student has met all the requirements described above. Such certification must be conveyed to the advising office by the supervising faculty member so that timely notification of the designation may be transmitted to the dean’s office and the registrar’s office. A copy of the final honors thesis, and email approval by all members of the honors committee, must be submitted to the advising office to certify completion of the honors program.