BA/BSc in Neuroscience

Why pursue a neuroscience degree at North Central College?

How do humans experience consciousness? How does the brain work? What are the underlying causes of neurological and psychiatric disorders? These are among the many mysteries being unraveled by neuroscientists.

Neuroscience—an interdisciplinary study of the nervous system—advances the understanding of human thought, emotion, and behavior. Neuroscientists use tools ranging from computers to special dyes to examine molecules, nerve cells, networks, and brain systems to gain a better understanding of how the nervous system affects human health and behavior.

As a neuroscience major at North Central College, you'll study cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, psychology, and other areas. You'll learn the ins and outs of brain function and the nervous system function, build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and gain hands-on experience that sets you up for success in your career. We offer the extraordinary opportunity to major in neuroscience and we will help you gain an edge in this emerging field.

You can also:

• Explore a career in neuroscience or prepare for another health-related field in our pre-health sciences.
• Pursue research interests anywhere in the world to add to your neuroscience major requirements by applying for a Richter Grant.
• Conduct research during North Central’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program and present your findings to students in neuroscience degree programs at local, regional, and national conferences.
• Join the Neuroscience Club in which you will gain hands-on experience outside the classroom for those interested in the sciences and neuroscience.
• Join Nu Rho Psi, the international honor society in neuroscience.

Since 1861, North Central has been a place where new ideas lead to unlimited possibilities. We’re an independent college dedicated to the power of the liberal arts and sciences to transform students into leaders both in their careers and communities. Our nearly 3,000 students study across more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, with their education, made richer by supportive faculty and staff, world-class facilities, and countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

A College on the move

Building on the foundation of more than 150 years of excellence, North Central continues to grow with numerous new facilities, programs, and initiatives in the works.

The College opened with 40 students in a single two-story building in Plainfield, Illinois. Since then we’ve changed names twice (to North-Western, then North Central), moved once (from Plainfield to Naperville), and grown steadily (to about 3,000 students).

Over the years, thousands of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have helped us thrive through the toughest challenges – wars, economic crises, social upheavals, and more – and build a future brilliant with hope and promise.

We’ve met the changing needs of students from Civil War veterans to millennial entrepreneurs. And we’ve always stayed true to our heritage of moral courage and forward-thinking.

Today we’re a top-ranked private comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report counts us among “America’s Best Colleges,” one of the top six schools in the Midwest for a “strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Students choose from more than 55 undergraduate majors and five graduate program areas.

Although the College originally discouraged organized athletics as a distraction from weightier matters, our 26 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division III make our athletic department the largest in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central is proud of its 32 team national championships and 123 individual national champions.

Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we welcome and encourage students and staff of all faiths. We are thoughtfully expanding our academic programs to respond to the needs of our ever-changing world, recently adding Middle Eastern and North African Studies, along with Arabic. And we’re transforming our facilities – most dramatically with a new interdisciplinary Science Center located at the corner of Brainard Street and Van Buren Avenue.

It’s been an amazing 150+ years. But it’s clear that the best is yet to come!