What is a Neuroscience Major?

Have you ever found yourself curious about the brain and its science? If you answered yes, you might consider earning a degree in neuroscience. A multidisciplinary field, neuroscience explores various disciplines, from psychology and philosophy to chemistry and biology. Keep reading to learn more about neuroscience, what majoring in it looks like, and the different career paths available. If you’re curious about the differences in neurology vs. neuroscience, you can rely on our resource center to help familiarize yourself with the differences between the two.

What is a Neuroscience Major?

Neuroscience is the science of the brain and the nervous system, specifically its structure, how it develops, and what it does. Students majoring in neuroscience will learn about neurological connections between the brain and behavior, including thoughts, emotions, and actions. When majoring in neuroscience, there are specific tracks students can choose from based on their interests and strengths. 

At North Central College, students in the neuroscience program have the unique opportunity to choose between studying behavioral or molecular neuroscience. "The behavioral neuroscience major is designed for students more interested in explaining how our brain impacts behavior broadly," stated Michael Stefanik, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at North Central College. "The molecular neuroscience major is a great option for students interested in explaining how the brain works on a cellular or molecular level." After selecting one of the tracks, students can tailor their education when taking upper-level neuroscience and elective courses.

What does a Neuroscience Major do?

Students majoring in neuroscience learn core concepts and build critical thinking and problem-solving skills through a diverse course curriculum. In an exceptional neuroscience program, students also have the chance to gain hands-on experience to set them up for success in their careers. For instance, students in North Central College's neuroscience program receive an edge in their education with the help of the program's unique coursework structure and lab integration, as well as having the opportunity to complete either an internship or conduct undergraduate laboratory research. Students are also encouraged to network with expert faculty and fellow neuroscience peers by joining the College's Neuroscience Club.

North Central College's neuroscience program stands out among others by allowing students to receive intensive, hands-on experience by completing an actual experiment in their upper-level courses. Through this experiment, students have the chance to utilize their knowledge and skills by conducting an in-depth literature search, developing hypotheses, and then testing them. "Students in these labs use class foundational neuroscience paradigms/techniques and industry-standard equipment to complete their studies," stated Stefanik. "This allows them to get a taste of what neuroscience research is like, hone their data collection skills, and think critically and deeply. It also gives them the necessary skills to work with equipment and tools that are used to answer the current questions in the field, and thus are directly transferable to a lab position or graduate school."

Additionally, neuroscience majors at North Central College have the opportunity to complete an internship or conduct undergraduate research throughout their time on campus. Due to students learning from and working alongside expert faculty, it is easy to find and participate in each faculty's highly active research programs within the department. From this experience, students not only have the chance to gain professional connections but receive the experience of presenting their research. During North Central College's Summer Undergraduate Research Program, students present their findings at local, regional, and national conferences. Students can also pursue research interests worldwide by applying for a Richter Grant, which provides up to $5,000 for individual student research. Overall, these growth opportunities play a crucial role in helping students stand out when applying for graduate school or jobs. 

What Subjects do you need for Neuroscience?

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience, students pursuing a neuroscience degree will study a wide variety of subjects, such as cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, psychology, and philosophy. Whether students choose to follow a behavioral or molecular major, the core courses help them build a strong foundation. These courses may include:

• Introduction to Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Statistics
• Research Design and Experimentation
• Careers in Psychology and Neuroscience
• General Chemistry I
• General Chemistry II

To dive deeper, students take more specialized courses that fall either on the behavioral or molecular track:

• Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
• Neuroethics in Behavioral Neuroscience
• Allied Health Microbiology
• Advanced Molecular Neuroscience
• Neuroethics in Molecular Neuroscience
• Cells and Systems

Students can also choose from a wide range of elective courses that reflect their interests:

• Drugs and Behavior
• Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience
• Genes and Genomics
• Animal Behavior
• Introduction to Computer Programming
• Cognitive Psychology
• Seminar

The core, track, and elective courses ensure that neuroscience students have the knowledge and skills to succeed.