Neuroscience BA

About this programme

Neuroscience is the study of the biological mechanisms that underlie behavior and cognition. In this major, students learn how the brain works at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels; how it processes information; and how it generates sensation, action, emotion, and high-level cognition. Students learn about the nature of neural computation in the brain, the causes of neurological and neuropsychiatric disease, and how emerging neurotechnologies are uniting brain science and engineering. The major combines biology, psychology, behavior, and computation, providing a broad education that spans the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. An optional capstone experience allows seniors to apply their knowledge to an in-depth research question. Neuroscience students who elect to participate in independent research may choose from sponsoring research laboratories within the department, or in laboratories outside the department (e.g., at Berkeley, LBNL, CHORI, UCSF). The neuroscience major prepares students for many careers and post-baccalaureate training programs, including health-related professional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy), PhD training programs, biotechnology and pharma industries, teaching, science communication, data science, and scientific research.