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Title
Brown University
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general
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fa46d8e7f1ec477da0055c9f515f8666
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https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/cneu/
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https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/
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2026-03-16T05:00:17+00:00
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Brown University

Source: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/cneu/ Parent: https://bulletin.brown.edu/the-college/concentrations/

This multidisciplinary concentration spans many fields, including computer science, neuroscience, cognitive science, applied math, and data science. Students studying Computational Neuroscience will learn to use computational models of the brain and nervous system to study complex biological processes and overcome the limitations of human experimentation. They will also learn to use the brain and nervous system as a model to improve the power and efficiency of artificial systems. Concentrators will think critically about the impact of their work on society and understand how biases can negatively influence computational models.

Standard program for the Sc.B. Degree

Background Courses (must take one of each):
Calculus
MATH 0100 Single Variable Calculus, Part II
Differential Equations
APMA 0350 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
Linear Algebra
MATH 0520 Linear Algebra
or MATH 0540 Linear Algebra With Theory
Statistics
APMA 1650 Introduction to Probability and Statistics with Calculus
or APMA 1655 Introduction to Probability and Statistics with Theory
or CPSY 0900 Statistical Methods
or BIOL 0495 Statistical Analysis of Biological Data
or CSCI 1450 Advanced Introduction to Probability for Computing and Data Science
Core Concentration Courses:
NEUR 0010 The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience 1
NEUR 1020 Principles of Neurobiology 1
or NEUR 1030 Neural Systems
CSCI 0111 Computing Foundations: Data 1
or CSCI 0112 Computing Foundations: Program Organization
or CSCI 0150 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science
or CSCI 0170 Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction
or CSCI 0190 Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
CSCI 0200 Program Design with Data Structures and Algorithms 1
or CSCI 0190 Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science
NEUR 0680 Introduction to Computational Neuroscience 1
Two Computational Neuroscience Electives From The Below List: 2
CPSY 1492 Computational Cognitive Neuroscience
NEUR 1440 Mechanisms and Meaning of Neural Dynamics
NEUR 1660 Neural Computation in Learning and Decision-Making
CPSY 1291 Computational Methods for Mind, Brain and Behavior
CSCI 1810 Computational Molecular Biology
NEUR 1940B Deep Learning in Neuroethology
NEUR 1630 Big Data Neuroscience Ideas Lab
CPSY 1950 Deep Learning in Brains, Minds and Machines
CPSY 1850 Language Processing in Humans and Machines
HIST 1956S History of Artificial Intelligence
NEUR 2110 Statistical Neuroscience
One Course in Artificial Intelligence: 1
CSCI 1410 Artificial Intelligence
CSCI 1420 Machine Learning
CSCI 1430 Computer Vision
CSCI 1460 Computational Linguistics
CSCI 1470 Deep Learning
DATA 2060 Machine Learning: from Theory to Algorithms
Two Upper-Level Neuroscience Electives 2
Two courses that will enhance your understanding of the field of neuroscience. While electives need not be from the neuroscience department, the following list are common courses taught by Neuroscience and other departments that are often used as electives. We encourage students to explore the broader course catalog and consult with their concentration advisor to explore the full range of electives, rather than limiting themselves to this list. These electives must be of 1000-level or above.
CPSY 1400 The Neural Bases of Cognition
ENGL 1900Z Neuroaesthetics and Reading
ENGN 1220 Neuroengineering
NEUR 1540 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
NEUR 1650 Structure of the Nervous System
NEUR 1740 The Diseased Brain: Mechanisms of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
One Elective in Ethics: 1
CSCI 1805 Computers, Freedom and Privacy
CSCI 1951Z Fairness in Automated Decision Making
DATA 0080 Data, Ethics and Society
ENGN 1800 Social Impact of Emerging Technologies: The Role of Scientists and Engineers
PHIL 0401 Ethics of Digital Technology
PHIL 0403 Ethics and Politics of Data
APMA 1910 Race and Gender in the Scientific Community
STS 1700T Race, Gender, and Technology in Everyday Life
Two Additional Electives: 2
Two courses that will enhance your understanding of the field of computational neuroscience. These electives are not limited to a specific department, and are able to be any of the courses already listed for this concentration (though, you cannot cross-count an elective with a named requirement). The following list are courses that we recommend be used as electives, however, we encourage students to explore the broader course catalog and consult with their concentration advisor to explore the full range of electives, rather than limiting themselves to this list. Students can substitute TWO semesters of independent study (NEUR1970 or equivalent course from another department) for one elective course
APMA 0160 Introduction to Scientific Computing
APMA 0200 Introduction to Modeling
APMA 0360 Applied Partial Differential Equations I
APMA 1070 Quantitative Models of Biological Systems
APMA 1170 Introduction to Computational Linear Algebra
APMA 1360 Applied Dynamical Systems
APMA 1660 Statistical Inference II
APMA 1690 Computational Probability and Statistics
APMA 1710 Information Theory
APMA 1740 Recent Applications of Probability and Statistics
APMA 1860 Graphs and Networks
APMA 1941D Pattern Theory
BIOL 1435 Computational Methods for Studying Demographic History with Molecular Data
BIOL 1555 Methods in Informatics and Data Science for Health
CPSY 0450 Brain Damage and the Mind
CPSY 0800 Language and the Mind
CSCI 0535 Linear Algebra for Machine Learning
CSCI 1010 Theory of Computation
CSCI 1570 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CSCI 1951A Data Science
ENGN 2912P Topics in Optimization
MATH 1210 Probability
PHYS 1610 Biological Physics
NEUR 1900 Capstone 1
Total Credits 14