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Program Concentrations

Neuroscience majors choose from three distinct, yet flexible, program concentrations:

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience builds a strong foundation in the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of nervous system function and prepares students for medical school or graduate school in biomedical research.

Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience focuses on the relationship between the physiological processes that occur in the brain and the behavior of the entire organism, typically humans. The concentration emphasizes the biological basis of cognitive and affective functions (e.g., learning and memory, language, attention, emotional processing, and others), in healthy and diseased populations.

Neurosystems and Computational Neuroscience

Neurosystems and Computational Neuroscience focuses on understanding how different regions of the brain work together to process information and generate complex behaviors by examining the interactions between groups of neurons, neural circuits, and larger brain networks. Computational neuroscience aims to unravel the fundamental principles of brain function, such as perception and memory, by integrating experimental data, theoretical modeling, and computer simulations.

Innovative Curriculum

The BS in Neuroscience curriculum gives students the opportunity to cultivate highly-valued skills that can transfer across many careers. Neuroscience majors gain knowledge about research design and methods, data collection and analysis, statistics and quantitative reasoning, computational techniques, analytical reasoning and problem-solving, oral and writing skills, plus more. Coursework is based on a complementary approach that draws on different disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences, including the Department of Biology and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, as well as in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems.

Depending on the program concentration, coursework may include:

• Cellular and molecular neuroscience
• Behavioral neuroscience
• Cell, molecular and developmental biology
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Methods in human neuroscience
• Computational neuroscience and neuroengineering
• Programming and modeling

Hands-on Research

Neuroscience majors may conduct hands-on research for credit through independent study and as part of their senior thesis. Undergraduates engage in active research projects to learn how to connect principles discovered in the classroom, apply them to real-world problems, and make novel discoveries about brain function. Both the Neuroscience major and the Neuroscience minor offer students the opportunity to get involved in undergraduate research as early as their first year. Students work alongside distinguished faculty mentors who conduct research in biology, neurobiology, psychological and brain sciences, and biomedical engineering.

Faculty experts at Drexel University lead active research programs funded by federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense in addition to research funded by corporate partners and prominent foundations.

Diverse Community

Drexel’s BS in Neuroscience is a collaboration between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems. The program’s strengths are built on an interdisciplinary community of students, faculty and staff from the college and the school, as well as contributors among many other academic and administrative units across campus.

Drexel Neuroscience Society

The student-led Drexel Neuroscience Society works to cultivate an academic and social environment for neuroscience majors by creating a welcoming space to explore a broad range of topics in the discipline – across Drexel University and our larger Philadelphia community.

Co-operative Education Tracks

Drexel’s renowned co-operative education program encourages students to explore career options, gain hands-on experience in their fields of interest, build their resume and foster a professional network.

The BS in Neuroscience major is strongly focused on research and its related applications. Co-operative education options prepare neuroscience students to pursue advanced education and careers across wide-ranging areas, such as: medicine, behavioral neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, cognitive neuroscience, social and affective neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, neuropsychology, animal science and veterinary science, biological psychology, neuroengineering, biotechnology, nursing, health psychology, psychophysics, psychophysiology, psychiatry, scientific writing/journalism – and many others.

Neuroscience co-ops are non-variable and offered during the Spring-Summer cycle. Students may choose from the following co-op tracks:

• One co-op (four years)
• No co-op (four years)

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical scientists, including neuroscientists, are projected to grow by 17% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.