Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a major at F&M. Using a blend of knowledge and tools taken from the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and psychology, you’ll develop a rich understanding of both the physical and behavioral functions of the brain. You will study the nervous system, learning about the basics of a normal, functioning brain, as well as what happens when a brain is damaged or diseased and how we are able to fix it. Our neuroscience program focuses on the smaller scale aspects that drive behavior; if you are interested in the larger-scale ramifications of behavior, explore our animal behavior program.

Hands-on learning is a critical focus of the neuroscience curriculum. Many of our students work directly in the laboratory on challenging research projects designed by students and funded by federal research grants. Along with your professors, you will have the opportunity to work on original research projects that may be presented at conferences or in journals. 

By the time you graduate, you will be able to demonstrate: 

• A knowledge of the biological foundation of the brain and nervous system.
• A complex understanding of how the biological and psychological facets of the brain are interrelated.
• The ability to understand, perform, and report on the results of experiments and research.
• An eye for identifying areas of research that would benefit from additional support or data, and follow through with collecting that data.
• Critical and analytical thinking and the ability to communicate observations and discoveries through the printed and spoken word.
• The ability to collaborate effectively in a manner that translates to the professional arena.
  

Wondering what neuroscience courses are like? Explore our course catalog to see what classes are available to you.

It’s important to expand your educational horizons, especially when you’re studying complex scientific processes. With our many research and study-abroad opportunities, you’ll have plenty of chances to step outside the classroom and embark on your own explorations in neuroscience.

Research Opportunities

Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led research. Our neuroscience faculty are engaged, accomplished scholars who conduct groundbreaking work and weave their ongoing research into their courses. You’ll uncover myriad opportunities to conduct research — including in our on-campus vivarium — on the neural mechanisms that create behavior.
Explore research at F&M

Honors in Neuroscience

Completing research or an independent study could also lead you to earn honors in neuroscience. To be considered for honors, you must first complete an advanced research project and be sponsored by a professor. You will then present your research findings to faculty and students.

Off-Campus Study

The William M. Hackman Physical Sciences Laboratories

The Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building (LSP) gives you access to state-of-the-art resources for studying neuroscience, including access to the teaching and research laboratories in neuroscience, cell and molecular biology, and physiology. LSP houses multiple advanced microscope systems (including a recently-acquired laser confocal microscope) and an advanced neurochemistry lab. 

Vivarium

F&M’s Vivarium, housed in LSP, is a research facility that houses a variety of rodents, reptiles, birds, fish, invertebrates, and nonhuman primates that supports student-focused learning and scientific research in neuroscience. Students from a wide diversity of backgrounds work with BFB faculty and Vivarium staff to gain hands-on experience with numerous areas of neurological and behavioral research. The Vivarium houses components of several of our BFB-faculty’s laboratories, including those focused on evolution, pharmacology, genetics.

Once you have completed your degree, you might wonder what’s next. F&M students graduate with all the skills they need to succeed after college, whether your next step is graduate school, medical school, or a career. The intellectual and analytical activities that make up the work of neuroscience — including experimental research, data gathering, collaborating with others, and critical thought — help you develop useful and productive skills valuable for any post-college plan.

Graduate School

Many neuroscience graduates go onto medical school or to pursue advanced degrees in related fields such as neuroscience, biomedical science, neurobiology, and behavior. They’ve attended institutions such as:

• Columbia University 
• Drexel University College of Medicine
• Georgetown University 
• Harvard Medical School
• Johns Hopkins University
• Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
• Rutgers University
• Yale University School of Medicine

Career Paths

Healthcare and scientific research and development are popular career paths for neuroscience graduates. They hold positions such as: 

• Cognitive Therapist
• Clinical Research Associate
• Market Researcher
• Naturopathic Physician
• Neurosurgeon
• Pediatrician
• Physician
• Research Scientist
• Surgeon
• Veterinarian
• Veterinarian Surgical Assistant