Of the one trillion cells in a human brain, there are almost 100 billion neurons. If we lined up our neurons, the cells would wrap around the earth four times. Neurons, or nerve cells, are essential to everything we do. They send messages throughout our bodies, allowing us to coordinate muscles on conscious and unconscious levels to breathe, talk, walk, eat and think.
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system – how it’s structured, how it functions, and how it develops and degenerates under health and under diseased conditions – and it is a rapidly growing field of study and is greatly influencing numerous industries.
Boise State is launching the first undergraduate degree in neuroscience in Idaho. Boise State’s Board of Trustees just approved the program.
Students who earn a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience are highly sought after in many fields including, medicine, rehabilitation, biomedical research, technology, human resources, marketing, sales, education, and more. Students majoring in neuroscience can choose from one of two emphasis areas: the Cellular and Molecular Emphasis or the Cognitive/Behavioral Emphasis. A neuroscience minor will also be available to students of all majors.
Interdisciplinary collaboration for teaching and research
“Our uniquely poised program integrates numerous faculty members in a variety of research backgrounds, ranging from nervous system and muscle development, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to bioengineering and therapeutic applications,” Bob Wood, director of the School of Allied Health Sciences and associate dean of research for the College of Health Sciences, said. “Each student will participate in at least one year of formal research through Vertically Integrated Projects, independent study, and capstone research projects.”
Wood was one of eight faculty members from biology, psychology, kinesiology and special education who developed the curriculum for the new neuroscience program. They also consulted with Boise State faculty in computer science, language, and linguistics and with the leaders of University of Montana’s undergraduate neuroscience program.
The Boise State neuroscience program is shared by the Colleges of Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Education, but will be housed in the School of Allied Health Sciences in the College of Health Sciences.
This collaboration allows the program to utilize existing faculty, courses, labs and classrooms for the majority of its curriculum. Only six new courses will be created and only two will include lab work.
New program director to bring it all together
To oversee and grow the program while maintaining consistent quality, the School of Allied Health Sciences has hired Hwan Kim as professor and program director.
“Dr. Kim is a talented researcher and we are excited for him to join the Boise State faculty,” Wood said. “ He developed a similar program at Delaware State and brings with him tremendous leadership experience in successfully managing training programs and guiding students through hands-on research experiences in neuroscience.”
At Delaware State, Kim has served as principal investigator for several National Institutes of Health sponsored projects and programs that focus on investigating how Parkinson’s Disease may form and new treatments for the devastating neurodegenerative disease. Kim received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of California Los Angeles and completed postdoctoral training experiences at Johns Hopkins University and at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, Calif.
“I am excited to come to Boise State and work with passionate faculty from so many areas to train the next generation of neuroscientists, “ Kim said. “There are so many serious issues neuroscience can help tackle, from the growing mental health crisis and the prevalence of addictive behavior to the dramatic increase in the number of older adults in our society who are at higher risk for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
“At the other end of the age spectrum, neuroscience is crucial to our ability to support children with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders. As these young people move towards working age, businesses are seeking to better understand how to accommodate neurodiverse populations in the workforce. Advances in neuroscience also contribute to the development of neurotechnologies like brain-computer interfaces that can improve the lives of people with disabilities, offering them greater independence and opportunities for participation in society.
“This is just scratching the surface of the areas where the study of neuroscience provides knowledge that is essential to solving societal issues. We need more neuroscientists to help study and solve these problems.”
To learn more about the program, visit its website or contact Bob Wood at bobwood@boisestate.edu.