The neuroscience major is a four-year BS degree based primarily on coursework and research. It is designed to provide rigorous preparation for advanced study in a PhD program; medical, dental, or law school; or industry. The program provides a broad overview of the field, as well as more advanced training in one of four specialized areas: cellular and molecular, cognitive, computational, or systems neuroscience. Degree requirements are essentially the same for each concentration, except that the specific advanced courses and the nature of the laboratory research will reflect the student’s area of concentration.

Learning Goals

To fulfill the program mission and objectives, undergraduates at Johns Hopkins who complete the neuroscience major should:

• Acquire a broad understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system. This means understanding causal mechanisms related to brain, behavior, and cognition, ranging from the cell molecular level through the systems/behavioral to the cognitive level of analysis.
• Attain an understanding of, and experience with, the requisite methods employed in the modern investigation of neuroscience topics.
• Acquire an understanding of one of four subfields of neuroscience: cellular and molecular, cognitive, computational or systems.
• Develop competence in oral and written scientific communication, evaluated to both specialists and non-specialists.
• Acquire the ability to critically analyze scientific research, especially as it is related to the field of neuroscience.
• Evaluate and prepare for career paths in neuroscience and related fields in biomedicine.