Neuroscience

Based in psychology, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s flexible major in neuroscience also includes courses in biology and philosophy, plus additional courses that could include chemistry and/or religion. Your choices depend on your interests.

And because you are curious about the biology behind thoughts, perceptions, emotions, motivations, decisions and actions ¡ª basically, neuroscience ¡ª the connections you¡¯ll make throughout your liberal arts education will give you even more perspective.

The neuroscience professors are experts in the areas of learning and memory, pain and drug-seeking behavior, communication, cognitive and affective neuropsychology, and sensation and perception. You¡¯ll also learn from faculty in many other fields, whose highest priority is your success at integrating what you learn toward your own goals.

Whatever your academic path, your major and your mentors will prepare you for admission to a variety of graduate programs in neuroscience and other fields related to the brain sciences. A major in neuroscience is an excellent starting point for a career in a medical field, psychology, research science and more.

Distinctions

• Each year, neuroscience majors are among the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students invited to participate in the prestigious Texas Medical Center Summer Student Research Program in Houston. At the top-ranked MD Anderson Cancer Center and other institutions in the Texas Medical Center, they work with professional mentors and peers from top schools around the country. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students also have participated in the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø at Denver internship program, working at the University of Colorado and Craig Hospital, which specializes in rehabilitation from brain and spinal cord injuries.
• Faculty in neuroscience and philosophy have offered a study away program that includes coursework in social neuroscience and philosophy of mind while on campus. In the first three offerings of this program, the groups have then traveled for two weeks in June to Germany to visit a variety of neuroscience and philosophy research programs. An upcoming offering of the program will shift to Austria, allowing the group to work with researchers at the University of Vienna.
• Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students and faculty participate in several undergraduate, graduate and professional research conferences each year, and many students present their research as part of their professional development. Examples include Midbrains: The Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference of the Upper Midwest, the Chicago chapter and national Society for Neuroscience meetings, and the Midwest Psychological Association Conference.
• Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is an institutional partner of IINSPIRE LSAMP, an alliance committed to broadening the participation of underrepresented students in STEM education in the Midwest. Funding is available to support underrepresented students who attend and present their research at the IINSPIRE LSAMP Annual Conference. Augie Choice $2,000 also supports every student¡¯s research with a professor, internship or study abroad.
• Students who major in neuroscience, biology and/or psychology can enroll in a 3+2 Master of Science in Occupational Therapy or 3+3 Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy coordinated degree program with Washington University, St. Louis.

Recent grads

Lucas Fahnoe '24 is teaching English in Japan, and then applying to grad schools to study cognitive science.

Megan Markiewicz '24 is a research assistant in the Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research in Baltimore, Md.

Mary Clare Koebel '23 is the research coordinator at the Institute of Psychiatry at the Medical Unversity at South Carolina.

Linh Nguyen '23 is pursuing a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Penn State Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø of Medicine.

Isaiah Valentine '23 is a clinical research coordinator at Baylor Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø of Medicine in Houston.

Urvaksh Avanthsa '21 is attending Kansas Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø of Osteopathic Medicine, pursuing a Ph.D. in osteopathic medicine.

Peyton Couch ¡¯21 is pursuing a Ph.D. in osteopathic medicine at Kansas City University.

Joseph (Joey) Kreis '21 is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology at the Medical Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø of Wisconsin.

Ruth Nwatu ¡¯20 is pursuing an M.P.H. in health policy and management at UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

Natalie Hardy '20 earned her Ph.D. in health care ethics from Saint Louis University and is an ethics and disability rights strategist for Advocate Health.

Brittany Hatlestad '20 is an occupational therapist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Juliana Pinheiro ¡¯20 is a research coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.