Scientific advances in the life sciences over the last 30 years have demonstrated that unitary approaches to studying behavioral and psychological processes are no longer sufficient. Indeed, the disciplinary boundaries between traditional fields such as psychology, biology and chemistry are increasingly blurred as we learn more about the living organism. No longer, for example, can the learning process be understood without an appreciation of neurochemistry, or can we begin to crack the puzzle of Alzheimer’s without knowing how certain genes may contribute to this disease. Neuroscience has emerged as an interdisciplinary framework to provide coherence to what used to be considered separate fields of study. Neuroscience includes the study of brain development, sensation and perception, stress, learning and memory, neurochemistry, aging, and psychopathologies, to name just a few areas of inquiry that have been of traditional interest to psychology. However, neuroscientists are also interested in studying more basic mechanisms of behavior such as genes, molecules, and cells. Thus, neuroscience provides a process and way for scientists trained in different disciplines to work together on problems of common interest from multiple perspectives.

The Society for Neuroscience, the premier professional organization of the field, was founded some 30 years with about 500 members. Today, worldwide membership exceeds 30,000 scientists and students representing almost every discipline in basic and applied life sciences. The rapid increase in people pursuing careers in neuroscience is a product, in part, of the development of over 300 training programs at the both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Students studying neuroscience at Drake University will be exposed to an interdisciplinary environment through coursework in physical and life sciences, close interaction with faculty, and the opportunity to participate in research projects. The interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience can be appealing to students in allied fields such as psychology and biology, thus making earning a double major or minor an attractive option. Moreover, it is important to note that courses that comprise the major are available to students majoring in other disciplines provided the course prerequisites are met.

There are many career paths available to students interested in neuroscience or related fields. Some are interested in attending graduate school in order to pursue a career in basic or applied research and teaching. Others may want a neuroscience background as a foundation for further training in a health care field, such as medicine, physical therapy, optometry, nursing, etc. Still others may want exposure to neuroscience topics because of an interested in professional writing (e.g., newspaper, magazine) about the field or working in a related field such as the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. In all cases, you should work with your academic advisor to determine what path is best of you.