Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a dynamic and growing field that unites discoveries from biology, psychology, human physiology, and many other disciplines to probe the edges of human understanding. The UO has an established reputation for excellence in neuroscience research, and our program is the first of its kind at a public university in Oregon. Students who major in neuroscience have the opportunity to work in a field that could represent some of the 21st century’s most astonishing and transformative breakthroughs.

What you can do with a degree in Neuroscience

Upon completion of the neuroscience major, students will be well-prepared for careers in scientific research, medicine, and other health professions, as well as science-related government, nonprofit, and industry jobs. Neuroscience graduates can find employment in:

  • Healthcare clinics and hospitals
  • Government agencies that focus on neurological diseases
  • Public health and global health organizations
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Biotechnology companies
  • Management consulting firms specializing in healthcare companies
  • Colleges and universities
  • Research institutes and laboratories
  • Scientific writing and publishing
77
STUDENTS ENROLLED AS NEUROSCIENCE MAJORS IN FIRST TERM OF OUR PROGRAM
100%
OF TENURED INSTITUTE OF NEUROSCIENCE FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE PUBLISHED A PAPER WITH A UO COLLEAGUE
40+

SCIENTISTS TRAINED BY THE CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE IN ITS FIRST FIVE YEARS

Picture of brain

Neuroscience Is Blowing Minds

Have you ever watched in fascination as zebrafish neurons make connections in real time? Or helped develop a potential brain implant? These are just some of the mind-blowing research experiences students are discovering in our growing Neuroscience Program.

Read about the Neuroscience Program

Neuroscience major Minh Ahn Nguyen

Unlocking the Secrets of the Brain

“The first time I held a human brain in my hand was such a magical moment. I felt so thankful I got to be part of the cadaver lab, and that was the moment I knew that neuroscience was for me. Neuroscience is emerging out of its infancy, and there’s so little that we know about the brain, even though it’s such a central part of our lives.”

Minh Anh Nguyen, neuroscience major, '21

Our Degree Programs

Neuroscience majors gain a strong foundation in the natural sciences while exploring three main areas of neuroscience: molecular/cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. Undergraduate students can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in neuroscience.

people chatting

Learn from Experts in the Field

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major that brings together award-winning faculty from the departments of Biology, Human Physiology, and Psychology. Many of the program’s faculty are affiliated with the Institute of Neuroscience, a group of UO researchers who have pooled their expertise to tackle fundamental questions in neuroscience.

neuro_minh-ahn_nguyen_microscope

Get Real-world Experience

Beginning as early as their first year, neuroscience majors are encouraged to engage in hands-on research, working side-by-side with faculty in cutting-edge research labs across the university. Students can take their investigations in many different directions, from molecular, cellular, behavioral, anatomical, and computational to more explorative types of research.

Scholarships and Funding

Students can seek funding through the College of Arts and Sciences, which awards various scholarships to both incoming students and those who are already attending the UO.

Undergraduate Scholarships

 

Academic Support

Students are strongly encouraged to maintain contact with their academic advisors to discuss their course of study and plan for their careers. Neuroscience majors can seek advising through Tykeson Hall.

Undergraduate Advising

Neuroscience News and Events

March 6, 2024
NEUROSCIENCE - The UO’s interdisciplinary program is the first of its kind at an Oregon public university—and it's already becoming a draw for students who are interested in studying the nervous system. Since its launch in 2020, the neuroscience major has grown from 19 students in its first term to 314 declared majors in the fall of 2023. “I knew I wanted to do research, and the University of Oregon is one of the only schools on the West Coast that has a neuroscience major," says second-year neuroscience major Tanner Rozendal.
November 16, 2023
NEUROSCIENCE - Mindfulness is a theme of one of the most popular elective courses at the UO, taught by David McCormick, director of the Institute of Neuroscience. Discover how a mindfulness routine can help you—and how you can get started—in the November/December issue of the CAS Connection newsletter.
November 14, 2023
BIOCHEMISTRY AND CHEMISTRY, NEUROSCIENCE - University of Oregon senior Nayantara Arora has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Oxford, making her the first Duck to earn the prized award in more than 15 years. Arora is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in global health and chemistry. At Oxford, Arora plans to pursue two master’s degrees, one in modeling for global health and the other in international health and tropical medicine.

All news »


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