Neuroscience

How does drug addiction actually work? What controls our hunger and thirst? As a neuroscience major, you’ll use your brain to examine the function and dysfunction of the brain and central nervous system. This program is designed for students who are up for the challenge of studying the most complex organ in the human body.

What will I learn?

As a neuroscience major, you'll learn how the brain and central nervous system function, from the molecular level through behavior. You’ll study the dysfunctional processes associated with neurological diseases and the treatments that can help people live healthier lives. You’ll typically start with required classes and labs in biology, chemistry, physiology, neuroscience and related topics, then explore your interests through electives in areas like animal behavior, genetics, hormones and biopsychology.

This program is in UB’s medical school, which means students have access to expert faculty, state-of-the-art labs, research projects and other opportunities through UB's affiliated hospitals and clinics.

What can I do outside of class?

At UB, you can be part of an on-campus research team, working with UB faculty to solve complex problems. Neuroscience is a diverse discipline, which means you’ll find faculty throughout UB conducting neuroscience research. In fact, our faculty have researched everything from obesity and neurodegenerative diseases to concussions in youth sports and stress in teenagers. Students can also choose their own research topic and work on an independent research project with support from a mentor.

You can also make friends, build your network and meet speakers by joining student clubs and attending events on campus throughout the year.

Research
Connect with Mentors
Events
Student Clubs

What can I do with a neuroscience degree?

Whether you want to do research in a lab, work with patients who need your expertise, or use your talent in some other way, a degree in neuroscience gives you flexibility throughout your career.

Neuroscience grads have gone on to work for healthcare organizations, schools, private companies, research institutions, universities or government agencies. Some of the career choices may require additional training and include:

  • Clinical research assistant.
  • Health care manager.
  • Lab technician.
  • Pharmaceutical sales representative.
  • Pharmacy technician.
  • Research scientist.
  • Science writer or editor.

Some students decide to go to medical school, pharmacy school or other professional schools, or they go to graduate school. Getting an advanced degree can lead to a career as a physician, psychologist, professor or social worker, to name just a few of your options.

Who will I learn from?

One of the best things about this program is that you can learn from neuroscience experts throughout UB. This means you might take a class from a physiology professor one day, a toxicology professor another day and a neurology professor the next day. Our faculty’s specialties within this program include:

  • Biochemistry.
  • Biological sciences.
  • Biophysics.
  • Communicative disorders and sciences.
  • Exercise and nutrition science.
  • Microbiology.
  • Neurology.
  • Neurosurgery.
  • Ophthalmology.
  • Orthopaedics.
  • Pathology.
  • Pediatrics.
  • Pharmacology.
  • Pharmaceutical sciences.
  • Physiology.
  • Psychiatry.
  • Rehabilitation sciences.
  • Toxicology.

Regardless of which department they're from, they share one thing in common—a desire to help train the next generation. At UB, students learn from SUNY Distinguished Professors and others who have been recognized for their expertise and love of teaching.