Which Courses Best Support a Neuroscience Major Focused on Research?

[abstrakt!]

I have selected Neuroscience is the major that I will be pursuing (for personal and intellectual reasons). I work forty hours a week and take classes at night and online through my community college. I currently have a transfer contract with William and Mary, upon completion of the required courses.

The requirements for the major are here: http://www.wm.edu/offices/registrar/documents/catalog/catalogbydept/Neuroscience.pdf .

I was only able to afford one course last semester (I will be able to afford four this semester), so I took Precalculus as I am 23 and my highest maths was standard Algebra in high school.

I will be taking Calculus I this semester. I want to take University Physics I-II, Bio I-II, Chem I-II, Organic Chem I-II, Calculus II and III, Differential Equations, Vector Calculus, and Linear Algebra (in addition to subjects such as philosophy, psychology and the general requirements). However, I am not entirely sure if all of these will be absolutely necessary. Since I work full-time, it is difficult to take too many of these courses at one time, but I think I will be able to understand them as long as I have time to study. Which additional courses should I take this semester?

I am primarily interested in a career in academia as a teacher and conduct research on topics such as sensation and perception, consciousness, suicide and depression, etc.,.

What is a standard neuroscience course study consist of? I appreciate your time and assistance.

 

[atyy]

I will be taking Calculus I this semester. I want to take University Physics I-II, Bio I-II, Chem I-II, Organic Chem I-II, Calculus II and III, Differential Equations, Vector Calculus, and Linear Algebra (in addition to subjects such as philosophy, psychology and the general requirements).

These are all useful for neuroscience. If you study sensation and perception you need a basic knowledge of all of these, so you can forget most of it after your exams, but it's good to master them at some stage. Suicide and depression are more clinical topics.
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=core_concepts
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainbriefings_main

 

[abstrakt!]

These are all useful for neuroscience. If you study sensation and perception you need a basic knowledge of all of these, so you can forget most of it after your exams, but it's good to master them at some stage. Suicide and depression are more clinical topics.
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=core_concepts
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainbriefings_main

The reason that I want to study suicide and depression is because December 21, 2008, I broke into my 19 year old brother's apartment, bedroom and then bathroom in an effort to save his life but I found him hanging on his bathroom door with a broken neck after I broke my way in. I took him off of the door and tried to save him but the paramedics and I failed. It has affected me deeply as he was my best friend. I am not interested in counseling those with suicide and depression but I am interested in researching some of the biochemical and electrical variables involved (and whatever else we can learn about it). Three months after my brother committed suicide, my fiance's mother killed herself by purposely overdosing on Morphine.

I know there is a psychological component involved but I am sure there are plenty of things we can understand by studying the brain itself.

However, I am more interested in consciousness, sensation and perception.

I appreciate your response. I will definitely continue pursuing those courses since they do seem valuable in studying Neuroscience.

Is there a particular path that I should pursue so that I can hopefully have an opportunity to conduct research in those areas? There are several different types of major courses that I can select but some of them do not seem like they will help as much.