How to Declare a Concentration in BCS
A student who is ready to declare a Brain and Cognitive Sciences major should visit the BCS Program Office in Meliora Hall room 102. All the materials necessary will be found there, such as:
- Concentration Proposal form
- Semester-by-semester planning worksheet
- BCS Faculty Advisor assignment
The next step is to contact your BCS Advisor. Together, you can plan out the courses you will need to take and discuss options for independent research should you be so inclined. After the Advisor signs your Proposal form, return it, the worksheet, and a blue concentration form from Academic Support to the Program Coordinator in Meliora 102. Our Program Director will review the Proposal. Once approved, submit the completed blue concentration form to The College Center for Academic Support in Lattimore Hall 312.
When you declare your BCS major at Academic Support, The College will require you to declare how the Social Science and Humanities components of your undergraduate program will be satisfied. Under the College's "Rochester Curriculum", BCS is considered a Natural Science.
As a BCS major, you will be expected to maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the concentration and to meet with your advisor at least once a year. Should it become necessary to make a change in the program of study, you should consult your faculty advisor to be sure that the changes are appropriate and that they are noted in your advising record. Of course, all of the faculty, not merely your assigned advisor, are available for consultation with students on academic and career matters.
Course Overlap Policies
For double majors, no more than two courses with a BCS listing may be used to fulfill requirements for both concentrations. Students completing the BS degree in BCS may overlap a maximum of two additional courses if they fulfill preparatory or allied field requirements for both concentrations.
For students declaring a major in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a minor in another subject, no more than one course may be used to satisfy both major and minor requirements.