NEWPORT NEWS Students interested in neuroscience will soon have a formal option to study the discipline at Christopher Newport University.

A bachelor of science degree in neuroscience was given approval to be added to the university's undergraduate catalog by CNU's Board of Visitors at its meeting Friday afternoon. The degree will include courses in neuroscience, chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology.

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, how its develops and its functions.

CNU currently offers majors in chemistry, biochemistry and cellular, molecular and physiological biology within its molecular biology and chemistry department. Students can also major in chemistry or biology.

Since 2011, students have been able to major in neuroscience as an interdisciplinary program, an individualized program of study. Provost David C. Doughty Jr. said the program has about 30 students interested each year.

The recognition as a formal degree will enhance students' abilities to receive scholarships that are designated for studies in STEM science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"It's an important step for us," Doughty said. "It won't dramatically change our lives of our students. Our students are hugely successful. That's sort of been the brunt of our pitch to (the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia). We've had a successful program. Students go on to medical school, to graduate school in neuroscience, they go out to have great careers. None of that's really going to change. It's just a status question in some sense in making sure that they are recognized as being the STEM students that they are."

The next step in officially offering the degree is approval of the program by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which Doughty said should occur soon.

The board also approved next year's compensation plan for instructional faculty. The plan is the same as the current academic year's except for one change professors and distinguished professors can now make a maximum of $178,000, a $5,000 increase from the current plan's maximum.

Hammond can be reached by phone at 757-247-4951.

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CNU Board of Visitors approves new neuroscience degree, faculty salary change - Daily Press