Course Descriptions

ASNB 502: Fundamentals of Neuroscience

  • 3 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 502
  • Offered to advanced undergraduates and non-ASNB graduate students
  • Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
  • Lecture, lab, and independent study.
  • Topics covered include: anatomy of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is taught through a combination of self study, lectures and laboratories. Topics also include electrical potentials in the nervous system, synaptic transmission, somatosensory pathways, special senses (vision, hearing, balance, taste, smell), eye movements, motor systems, higher functions (language, sleep and wakefulness, learning and memory).
  • Offered Fall semester

Course Director:
Dr. Robert Lundy

ASNB 530: Origin of Mammalian Sensory Systems and Comparative Neurobiology

  • 3 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 530
  • Prerequisite: PSYC 305 Brain and Behavior or consent of instructor.
  • This course examines the phylogenetic and developmental history of the mammalian senses with a focus on the integration of anatomy, neurobiology, and fossil evidence. We will study how our understanding of non-human vertebrates (both model and non-model organisms) can provide important insights into the structure and function of the modern mammalian senses and their brain correlates.
  • Offered Fall semester in alternating years

Course Director:

ASNB 601: Medical Gross Anatomy

  • 6.5 credit hours
  • Fall semester
  • Course number ASNB 601
  • Prerequisite: Consent of course director at least two weeks before the beginning of the course
  • Primarily a laboratory-dissection course.
  • Major emphasis is upon cadaver dissection, but lectures, group discussions, informal laboratory conferences, demonstrations, and X-ray presentations are frequent. Correlation of function with structure is stressed in all areas.
  • Offered Fall semester

Course Director:
Dr. Erin Davis

ASNB 602: Fundamentals of Neuroscience

  • 4 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 602
  • Offered to advanced undergraduates and non-ASNB graduate students as ASNB 502 (3 credit hours)
  • Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
  • Lecture, lab, article discussions and independent study.
  • Topics covered include: anatomy of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is taught through a combination of self study, lectures and laboratories. Topics also include electrical potentials in the nervous system, synaptic transmission, somatosensory pathways, special senses (vision, hearing, balance, taste, smell), eye movements, motor systems, higher functions (language, sleep and wakefulness, learning and memory).
  • Offered Fall semester

Course Director:
Dr. Robert Lundy

ASNB 605: Human Embryology

  • 3 credit hours
  • Course number: ASNB 605
  • Prerequisite: Consent from course director at least two weeks before beginning of course.
  • Lectures and self instructional demonstrations
  • This lecture and self-instructional demonstration course teaches the entire span of human development from fertilization to birth. The sequence of development of all tissues and organ systems, placentation, congenital malformations and their causes, critical periods of development, and human embryology provides a basis for understanding gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy and neurosciences. As one progresses through medical studies embryology is increasingly appreciated as a correlator of disciplines such as anatomy, pathology, physical diagnosis, surgery, pediatrics, genetics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
  • Offered Fall semester

ASNB 606: Anatomy Seminar

  • 1 credit hour
  • Course number ASNB 606
  • Prerequisite: graduate student status
  • Presentations and discussions
  • Presentations and discussions of individual research or topics of current anatomical interest throughout the year.
  • Offered Fall and Spring semesters

Course Director:

ASNB 610: Neuroscience Methods

  • 2 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 610
  • Prerequisite: Graduate student status
  • An introduction to the methods used to study the biomedical sciences through a combination of didactic sessions, demonstrations and hands-on experiences.
  • Offered Fall semester

Course Director:

ASNB 614: Molecular Neuroscience

  • 4 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 614
  • Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Neuroscience or consent of instructor
  • Structure and function of the nervous system from a molecular perspective. Includes description of membrane proteins, channels and receptors in neurons and glia. Discussion of the role of such molecular structures in the nervous system.
  • Offered fall semester in alternating years
Course Director:

ASNB 616: Special Projects in Anatomy

  • 1 to 15 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 616
  • Prerequisite: Consent of instructor at least two weeks before beginning of course. Limited enrollment. Consent of mentor.
  • Laboratory, self-instructional.
  • This course, to be arranged to fit individual needs, is intended primarily to accommodate students whose special background exempts them from all or part of the ASNB 601, 603, 605, 615. It may also be offered for others who have special needs for advanced training.
  • Offered Fall, Spring and Summer semesters

Course Director:
Dr. Robin Krimm

ASNB 617: Seminar on Developmental Neurobiology

  • 3 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 617
  • Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Neurosciences or consent of instructor.
  • Seminar.
  • Covers neural development from neurulation through development of integrated systems. Emphasis will be on the cellular level.
  • Offered spring semester in alternating years

Course Director:
Dr. Aaron McGee

ASNB 618: Laboratory Rotation

  • 1-3 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 618
  • Prerequisite: ASNB graduate student status and consent of mentor
  • Laboratory.
  • Lab research and survey of literature.
  • Offered Fall, Spring and Summer semesters

Course Director:
Dr. Robin Krimm

ASNB 619: Original Investigation

  • 1-15 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 619
  • Prerequisite: Graduate student status, most coursework completed. Consent of mentor.
  • Laboratory.
  • Individual research.
  • Offered Fall, Spring and Summer semesters

Course Director:
Dr. Robin Krimm

ASNB 621: MATLAB 101 - Introduction to Scientific Computing

  • 2 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 621
  • Prerequisite: none
  • Lecture and independent study
  • Coding assignments  be presented and critiqued
  • Pass/fail only
  • Offered Summer semester in alternating years (even)

Course Director:
Dr. Bart Borghuis

ASNB 630: Origin of Mammalian Sensory Systems and Comparative Neurobiology

  • 3 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 630
  • Prerequisite: ASNB 502 Fundamentals of Neuroscience or consent of instructor.
  • This course examines the phylogenetic and developmental history of the mammalian senses with a focus on the integration of anatomy, neurobiology, and fossil evidence. We will study how our understanding of non-human vertebrates (both model and non-model organisms) can provide important insights into the structure and function of the modern mammalian senses and their brain correlates.
  • Offered Fall semester in alternating years

Course Director:

ASNB 666: Synaptic Organization of the CNS

  • 3.0 Credit Hours
  • Course Number ASNB 666
  • Fundamentals of Neuroscience or consent of instructor.
  • The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the synaptic organization of the brain.
  • Offered Spring semester in alternating years (odd)

Course Director:
Dr. Bart Borghuis

ASNB 671: General and Oral Histology

  • 5 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 671
  • Prerequisite: Oral Biology major or related field.
  • Lecture and laboratory
  • Provides knowledge of histological structure including ultrastructure of tissues and organs. Oral structures presented in detail.
  • Offered Fall semester

Course Director:

ASNB 672: Survey of Dental Gross and Neuroanatomy

  • 7 credit hours
  • Course number ASNB 672
  • Prerequisite: Oral biology major or related field or consent of course director.
  • A survey of major anatomical structures of thorax and abdomen with limited study of upper limbs and introduction to neuroanatomy. Majority of the course is centered on dissection of the human body.
  • Offered Spring semester

Course Director:
Dr. Nicole Herring

ASNB 675: Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy

  • 2 credit hours
  • Course number: ASNB 675
  • Prerequisite: Oral biology major or related field and ASNB 672, or consent of course director.
  • A detailed study of head and neck anatomy including dissection of the head and neck region with special emphasis on cranial nerve neuroanatomy and the oral – facial region related to clinical correlations for dentistry.
  • Offered Spring semester

Course Director:
Dr. Brian Davis