Cell Biology and Neuroscience Courses

• Human Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of the tissues and organs that make up the human body, emphasizing the relationship between structure and function. The lectures will examine the structure and function  of the four basic tissues (epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, and nerve) and organ systems (integumentary, digestive, respiratory, urinary, male and female reproductive, endocrine, and sensory systems). In the lab, students will examine the same structures and learn to identify tissues and organs.
• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 4 (including lab)
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites 

01:146:270 or 01:146:295 or by special permission.

Course Syllabus

Will be posted soon.

Course Satisfies Learning Goals 

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.

2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.

3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy 

The final grade will be based heavily on 3 sets of exams, each including a lecture (hour) exam, lab practical exam; there will also be one take-home exam;  the final lecture and practical exams will be given during the final exam period but will not be cumulative . There will also be quizzes in lecture and laboratory, exercises to be completed in lab, short homework assignments, and short written responses in lecture. 

Course Materials 

Required Text: Junqueira’s Basic Histology, 15th edition, by A. L. Mescher (ISBN 978-1-260-02617-7). An electronic version of this text is available free through the Rutgers Libraries.

Optional Text: Wheater’s Functional Histology, Young, O’Dowd & Woodford, 6th edition  (ISBN: 978-0-7020-4746-6). An electronic version of this text is available free through the Rutgers Libraries.

Course Closed? 

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. We ask that if you are provided an spn for a course and choose not to use it, to please notify our offices at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we may provide it to the next student

Faculty 

TBA

• Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 3-6
• Course URL: http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Prerequisites

Open only to students majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience who:

• have a CBN GPA of 3.4 or above (based on Degree Navigator) at the end of their junior year.

• have completed an equivalent of 3 credits of research in Junior year before Honors research application.

• are accepted into a Rutgers or RWJMS laboratory for Honors research.

Course Description

These two courses are intended for students wishing to pursue Honors research within the disciplines of cell biology and neuroscience.

To receive CBN Honors research credits, students must:

1. Engage in “wet lab” or molecular modeling research approved by the CBN department. Hospital volunteering and clinical internships are not accepted. Students cannot receive both ARESTY and CBN research credits for the same research.

2. Carry out 4-5 hours of research/week for each research credit. For example:

   1 credit = 4-5 hours research/week

   2 credits = 8-10 hours research/week

   3 credits = 12-15 hours research/week

3. Submit a 10-page written progress report on a designated date listed on the research course Canvas website before the end of the Fall semester, and a minimum 30-page written Honors thesis in March of the Spring semester.

4. Defend the Honors thesis in front of three faculty members. One faculty member must be a CBN faculty member.

Course Syllabus 

Fall 2025 Syllabus

Spring 2025 Syllabus

Course Satisfies Learning Goals

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.

Course URL

http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Each student’s Honors research grade is determined by an Honors thesis committee of three faculty members.  One of the three faculty members must be a CBN faculty.

Course Materials

None. Resources to help students write research progress report are available at the course Canvas site.

Course Closed?

The deadline for registering for these two courses is the end of first month of each semester.

Registration procedures for these two courses can be found at http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Faculty

Professor Shu C. Hsu
Coordinator of Research, D410 Nelson
Busch Campus
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 1-3,1-3
• Course URL: http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Prerequisites

CBN GPA of 2.8 or better

Permission of the Department and a Rutgers/RWJMS faculty willing to sponsor the student.

Course Description

These two courses are intended for students wishing to pursue some aspect of research within the disciplines of cell biology and neuroscience.

To receive CBN research credits, students must

1. Engage in “wet lab” or molecular modeling research approved by the CBN department. Hospital volunteering studies and clinical internships are not accepted. Students cannot receive both ARESTY and CBN research credits for the same research.
2. Carry out 4-5 hours of research/week for each research credit. For example:

1 credit = 4-5 hours research/week
2 credits = 8-10 hours research/week
3 credits = 12-15 hours research/week

3. Submit a 10-page written progress report to both the faculty research mentor and the Coordinator of Research on the last class day of each semester.

Course Syllabus 

Fall 2025 Syllabus

Spring 2025 Syllabus

Course Learning Goals:

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a
   solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
   -Familiar with scientific methodology to acquire research data.
   -Understand how to implement experiments correctly from laboratory protocols.
   -Understand how to troubleshoot and modify experimental procedures.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
   -Know how to keep organized and update records of all experimental activities and observations.
   -Know how to summarize, integrate and compare literature information relevant to the research project.
   -Know how to organize data and literature information to write comprehensible and accurate
   science reports.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to
   improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health
   and to our society.
   -Know how to formulate a workable hypothesis based on proposed research project.
   -Know how to analyze research and literature data in unbiased and quantitative manner.
   -Know how to draw supported conclusions from available research and literature data to prove or disprove research hypothesis and plan future directions.

Departmental Learning Goals:
https://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/learning-goals

1. Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2. Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.

Course URL

http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Each student registered in 406/407 is required to submit a 10-page report of his or her work to the research mentor and the Coordinator of Research on the last class day of each semester.  The final grade in each course is determined by the sponsoring faculty member.

Course Materials

None. Resources to help students writing research progress report are available at the course Canvas site.

Course Closed?

The deadline for registering for these two courses is the end of first month of each semester.  Registration procedures for these two courses can be found at http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Faculty

Professor Shu C. Hsu
Coordinator of Research, D410 Nelson
Busch Campus
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• These two courses are intended for students wishing to pursue some aspect of research within the disciplines of cell biology and neuroscience.
• Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 1-3

Prerequisites

CBN GPA of 2.8 or better

Permission of the Department and a Rutgers/RWJMS faculty willing to sponsor the student. 

Course URL: http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Course Description

These two courses are intended for students wishing to pursue some aspect of research within the disciplines of cell biology and neuroscience.

To receive CBN research credits, students must

1. Engage in “wet lab” or molecular modeling research approved by the CBN department. Hospital volunteering studies and clinical internships are not accepted. Students cannot receive both ARESTY and CBN research credits for the same research.
2. Carry out 4-5 hours of research/week for each research credit. For example:

1 credit = 4-5 hours research/week
2 credits = 8-10 hours research/week
3 credits = 12-15 hours research/week

3. Submit a 7-page written progress report on a designated date listed on the research course Canvas website before the end of the semester. 

Course Syllabus

2025 Fall Syllabus

2025 Spring Syllabus

Course Satisfies Learning Goals

https://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/learning-goals

1.  Master factual and conceptual knowledge in cell biology and neuroscience that will provide a solid foundation for success in advanced training and professional careers.
2.  Develop an ability to summarize, integrate and organize information.
3. Use scientific reasoning to evaluate the potential for current research and new discoveries to improve our understanding of cell biology and neuroscience and its relevance to human health and to our society.

Course URL

http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Each student registered in 201/202 is required to submit a 7-page research progress report to the research mentor and the Coordinator of Research on a designated date listed on the research course Canvas website before the end of the semester. The final grade in each course is determined by the sponsoring faculty member.

Course Materials

None. Resources to help students write research progress report are available at the course Canvas site.

Course Closed?

The deadline for registering for these two courses is the end of first month of each semester. Registration procedures for these two courses can be found at http://cbn.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate/research-for-credit.

Faculty

Professor Shu C. Hsu
Coordinator of Research, D410 Nelson
Busch Campus
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.