Neuroscience

As a neuroscience major you should take the following placement tests:

Directed Self Placement (DSP) Course (to determine which rhetoric and composition course to take)

Foreign Language Placement Test (if you want to place into a higher class level, or place out of your language requirement)

SOME neuroscience majors may want to take placement tests in math and/or computer science:

USF Math Diagnostic Test

USF Computer Science Placement Test 

Neuroscience Major Requirements and 4 year Degree Planner »

As a first-year student, you should register for:

NEUR 100 Preparing for Neuroscience (1 unit)
NEUR 101 & 101L Intro to Neuroscience and Lab (4 units)

In total, these three courses are 5 units, so you have a lot of choice in how to build the rest of your schedule (for a total of 16-18 units). 

It's a good idea to take your Core A1 and Core A2 courses in your first year, and you may want to complete your foreign language requirement early if you have already begun learning a language and want to build upon your progress. You can also select other courses that count towards the core, as this will help you explore new interests. 

Within the neuroscience major, you may want to complete your Biology course requirement (BIOL 105 & 105L, General Biology I and Lab, or BIOL 115 & 116, Human Physiology and Lab) early on. You might also consider taking one of these foundational major course options early on, especially since some of them are pre-requisites for more advanced courses you may want to take later:

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (4 units)
CHEM 111 & 112 & 186 General Chemistry I and Lab, and SpTp: CHEM111 Quantitative App (5 units total)
MATH 109 Calculus & Analytic Geometry I (4 units)
PHIL 248 Ethics of Technology (4 units)
PHIL 251 Mind, Freedom & Knowledge (4 units)
PHYS 100 & PHYS 100L Introductory Physics I Lab (4 units)
PHYS 110 & PHYS 110L General Physics I & Lab (4 units)

Please see the Neuroscience Major Requirements and 4-year Degree Planner » for examples of courses that students on the Research, Technology, or Ethics & Policy tracks might take.

• A foreign language is a graduation requirement for all Arts and Sciences majors with the exception of transfer students entering USF Fall 2025 or later, who have junior status (i.e. 60+ units). Neuroscience Majors (Bachelor of Science) must demonstrate 2nd semester language proficiency in a foreign language (unless you meet the transfer student exception noted).
• If you are a native speaker of a foreign language, or have extensive experience with a language other than English language, you may apply for a waiver by completing the Waiver Request Form once you complete a foreign language placement exam in a language we teach (Chinese, Filipino, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish).  Please contact the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at llc@usfca.edu to request the Waiver Request Form or to inquire about getting tested in a language that we do not teach.
• You do not have to take a language placement test if you are beginning a new foreign language.
• If you want to take a placement test to determine your level of proficiency, here are the online tests we offer:

For Chinese, Filipino and Japanese: TAKE THE ONLINE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TEST  

For French, German, Italian, Spanish, Spanish Heritage: TAKE THE ONLINE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TEST   

Please make sure to Log In with your organization credential (usfca).

Please take these tests prior to registering for your classes. Plan ahead! The results from the French, German, Italian, Spanish, Spanish Heritage placement tests take 2 weeks to record on your account.

To access your Degree Evaluation:

• Login myusf.usfca.edu/dashboard
• Click Banner Self-Service (Student)
• On the USF Student landing page for Banner Self-Service, select Degree Evaluation
• Your degree evaluation will be displayed

Prior To USF Transfer Credit Request

Please use this link to request updates or changes to your transfer credit from institutions attended prior to enrolling at the University of San Francisco. Once submitted a member of the Office of the University Registrar team will review your request and respond to you within 5-10 business days. Please be advised that in some circumstances, you may be asked to provide additional documentation such as a course syllabus.

Make sure that you've sent your most updated transcripts to USF. USF can only transfer classes that show a final grade for each class. Classes with grades of "In Progress" cannot be transferred. Please send transcripts to appservices@usfca.edu.

The Office of the University Registrar only evaluates Core curriculum and elective transfer credit. They cannot award credit for your major. It is important for you to review your major transfer credit with an academic advisor to avoid repeating courses for which you have received credit. Please note, the Community Engaged Learning (CEL) requirement must be completed at USF.

Do Not Use this form for AP, IB, major, minor transfer credit:
For AP questions, email appservices@usfca.edu
For IB questions, email international@usfca.edu

For Transfer Credit questions, email transfercredit@usfca.edu

Please note: USF does not award credit for IB Higher Level English B or any Standard Level subjects.

Transfer Credit Request Form »

To graduate with a BA or BS degree from the College of Arts and Sciences you must successfully complete:

• a minimum of 120 credits.
• the core requirement.
• a major requirement.
• a language requirement.

You also must achieve:

• a minimum C cumulative grade point average.
• a minimum C average in all courses required in your major and minor (if applicable).
• you must complete at least 44 credits at USF.
• your last 30 credits of coursework must be completed at USF.
• a minimum of 16 upper division credits in your major must be completed at USF.
• and, if you are completing a minor, at least half of those credits have to be completed at USF.

All students must complete the core curriculum over the course of their academic career. The core curriculum is comprised of the following areas:

Core A1: Public Speaking

Core A2: Rhetoric and Composition

Core B1: Math

Core B2: Science

Core C1: Literature

Core C2: History

Core D1: Philosophy

Core D2: Theology and Religious Studies

Core D3: Ethics

Core E: Social Sciences

Core F: Visual and Performing Arts

Core CEL: Community Engaged Learning

Core CD: Cultural Diversity