NEUROSCIENCE MAJOR

As a neuroscience major at Merrimack, you will engage in an integrated and multidisciplinary study of the nervous system, from form to function. You may be intrigued by the brain, love conducting experiments or want to better understand neurological disorders.

What is Neuroscience?

Neuroscience is the study of the structure and function of the nervous system. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines theories and learning in psychology, biology and chemistry. Neuroscientists explore how people think by focusing on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. The world of neuroscience crosses many industries, from understanding mental health issues, to studying psychopharmacology and pharmaceutical science.

Why Study Neuroscience

As a neuroscientist, you’ll become part of a rapidly growing and widely sought after industry where your diverse set of skills, combined with an interdisciplinary foundation, provides a range of job opportunities. Our neuroscience degree adds value through its:

Neuroscience Degree: What You’ll Learn

As a neuroscience major, you will demonstrate foundational knowledge of neuroanatomy and nervous system function at the cellular, molecular, systems, cognitive and behavioral levels.

• You’ll explore a number of neuroscience subfields including cognitive neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, neuropharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, social neuroscience and computational neuroscience.
• You’ll follow neuroscience news and stay on top of the latest trends in neuroscience.
• You’ll critique primary literature of neuroscience research within cellular, molecular, systems, cognitive and behavioral subfields.
• You’ll apply research methodologies and statistical techniques to design ethically responsible experiments and collect, analyze and interpret experimental data.
• You’ll sharpen your written and oral skills to best communicate neuroscience information to both specialized and broad audiences.
• You’ll identify professional goals and engage in experiential educational opportunities, such as neuroscience research and neuroscience internships, in preparation for postgraduate careers.

Neuroscience Jobs

What can you do with a neuroscience degree? The answer is you can do a lot. As an integrative discipline, neuroscience allows you to engage in a diverse array of opportunities following graduation. Many students enter graduate school to pursue a masters or a doctoral degree in neuroscience. Others start their neuroscience careers in offices, laboratories, clinics, schools, hospitals and other facilities.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 median pay earned by medical scientists, the category under which neuroscientists fall, was $88,790 per year. The Bureau also rates the job outlook from 2018 to 2028 as faster than average. Potential career paths for neuroscience majors upon graduation include: