Bachelor of Science
Neuroscience
The field of neuroscience explores knowledge at the intersection of biology, psychology and computational science.
Is This Program for Me?
Neuroscience is a modern version of the ancient human quest to understand ourselves. Unlike the ancients, we know that there is a dynamic, reciprocal relationship between the brain, thoughts, and behavior. This broad, interdisciplinary effort connects molecules to minds and reaches to the soul. Molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, and physics improve our understanding of how neurons create signals, while psychology, psychiatry, and neurology link neural processes and systems to the mind and behavior. Neuroscience depends upon a strong foundation in the behavioral and basic sciences, mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Samford's undergraduate neuroscience major provides a rigorous but flexible course of study that encompasses this broad field.
What Will I Learn?
The field of neuroscience explores knowledge at the intersection of biology, psychology and computational science. This rapidly-growing field encompasses normal brain function, language and cognition, artificial intelligence, and the causes and treatments of neuropathological conditions.
“I am now a first year osteopathic medical student. I absolutely loved my time at Samford as a Biology major / Neuroscience minor. ”
“Getting oriented to a cadaver lab is a whole step you have to get through before you can learn and I already had that and more under my belt because of Samford! We worked on cranial nerves this week and my neuroscience minor had me prepared. Instead of trying to learn all the funny names of the nerves, I could focus on where they were exiting in the skull. My professors and mentors were the best advocates to myself that even when it doesn’t seem like it, I can do it!”
—Sarah Thomas, Class of ‘21
What Makes Us Different?
The neuroscience major is centered on small, discussion-based classes that focus on ethical and academic content. The major emphasizes hands-on exploration through faculty-mentored student research and guided internships in both psychology and biology, the two departments that co-host this major. Unlike other schools where the major is housed in only one department, sharing this major in both departments ensures the well-rounded and analytical approach that does not lose sight of the very human applications of this work and how it glorifies God and Creation.
Career Preparation
An emphasis on reading literature, discussions, and career-relevant writing and presentations prepares students for internships, jobs, and graduate schools.
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience, there are many career opportunities that may be pursued that do not need graduate education, such as disabilities and special needs workers, Medical and psychological communications workers, systems engineers, assistant biomedical engineers, biotechnology & biomedical technicians, and researchers in industrial, biochemical, and medical labs.
Career Opportunities
Many of our graduates are fully prepared for the most intense graduate programs in these areas:
- Clinical Psychology
- Medicine
- Law
- Public Health
- Engineering & Robotics
- Computer Science
- Human Factors Engineering
- Medical Research
- Genetics
- Counseling
- Health Care
- Medical Illustration
- Pharmacy
- Speech & Language Pathology
- Science Journalism
- Drug Development & Design
- Industrial Organizational Behavior
While a Neuroscience major provides a strong basis for continued education in psychology, biology and health care, it is a launching pad for so much more. Many neuroscientists work for medically-oriented corporations and biotech start-ups, governmental agencies, the military, medical instruments companies, and video gaming companies.
