Online Programs

What we'll do

We’ll learn the basics of neuroanatomy (the brain and spinal cord), and various disorders associated with different anatomical structures, and the cellular and molecular functions of various neurotransmitters. We’ll also analyze and interpret neurological case studies. We will form and assess self-made hypotheses, support arguments with concrete evidence, and thoughtfully evaluate/challenge our peers’ alternative hypotheses.

What we’ll learn

• Support claims using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence
• Craft, compare and contrast, and organize claims effectively
• Anticipate an audience's knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases
• Use thoughtful language to transition in a text, create cohesion, and balance claim(s), reasons, evidence, and counterclaims
• Identify significant facts, definitions, details, quotations, and examples to grow your audience's knowledge of a topic
• Write narratives using precise details and structure
• Conduct research while narrowing or broadening your inquiry and synthesizing multiple sources

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Write and review scientific reports, journal articles, and case studies
• Describe and identify common neurological disorders based on a variety of evidence
• Form and evaluate hypothesis around disease causes and treatment methods

How we'll measure learning

• Students will keep a journal to practice reading and writing scientific reports supported with scientific references
• Students will participate in regular asynchronous, virtual discussions, responding to prompts and responding to their classmates to demonstrate their ability to critically think and evaluate scientific ideas
• Students will participate in three independent, asynchronous case study analyses to demonstrate their ability to independently analyze and interpret behavioral symptoms and diagnostic results and make predictions about neurological disorders
• As a capstone project, students will research a neurological disorder and complete an independent research paper (about 10 pages long) in which they briefly describe the disorder and traditional and experimental treatments. They will give a brief presentation to the class summarizing their research