Neuroscience, B.S.

A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience provides students with an incredibly broad range of career options. It is, first and foremost, an ideal course of study for students who wish to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience itself, as well as those who wish to enter medical school - especially with an eye towards psychiatric care. Similarly, it provides a firm grounding for students who wish to move into counseling, therapy, addiction work or social work. Even without further study, students with this degree are well suited to take on roles as laboratory technicians, law enforcement professionals, health educators, and technical writers.

This degree has the option to allow students to pursue an integrated Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience. While any major at the University can prepare you to enter the pharmacy program, the curriculum in this degree can be modified to include all Pharm.D. prerequisites in the first three years. This integrated degree consists of three years of undergraduate work followed by a four-year professional program. Coursework for the first professional year overlaps with coursework required in the senior year of the undergraduate program so that students may earn a bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the first year of the Pharm.D. program.

Student Learning Outcomes

While the general education courses establish a foundation for knowledge acquisition, the Undergraduate Program’s outcomes expand beyond content and focus on skills that are scaffolded throughout the undergraduate curriculum. Students in the Neuroscience program are expected to develop and demonstrate the following skills in accordance with the Undergraduate Program’s outcomes.

• Problem-Solving: Apply principles of foundational courses to solve problems using higher-level thinking.
• Laboratory Skills: Demonstrate the ability to perform foundational laboratory skills and techniques correctly.
• Scientific method: Apply the scientific process through hypothesis testing, experimental design, observation, explanation, and presentation of results.
• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of nervous system anatomy and physiology, as well as the cellular/molecular foundations underlying nervous system function.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the branches, major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and trends in neuroscience including its links to other disciplines.  
• Accurately interpret research data and critically evaluate scientific literature, identifying strengths and limitations of a given scientific study.