Neuroscience

Director of Neuroscience BS Degree Undergraduate Program
Matthew J. Will
Department of Psychological Sciences
207 McAlester Hall
willm@missouri.edu

Academic Advising
Jennifer Bloss
Department of Psychological Sciences
blossje@missouri.edu
(573) 882-3042

The Neuroscience major is jointly administered by the department of Psychological Sciences and the Division of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science. The degree offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the brain and behavior, combining coursework in biology, psychology, physics, and other related life sciences. Students will explore how the nervous system functions at multiple levels, from molecular and cellular processes to cognition, emotion, and behavior, while developing strong foundations in scientific reasoning and research methods. Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field that addresses critical questions about mental health, neurological disease, learning, and human behavior. Through coursework and opportunities in faculty research labs, students will gain valuable skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning.

Professor D. Schulz**, A. Chandrasekhar**, B. Zhang**
Associate Professor J. Johnson**, D. Miller**, M. Will**
Assistant Professor J. Santin**
Associate Teaching Professor L. Bauer*, S. Greenland-White*

*: Graduate Faculty Member - membership is required to teach graduate-level courses, chair master's thesis committees, and serve on doctoral examination and dissertation committees.
**: Doctoral Faculty Member - membership is required to chair doctoral examination or dissertation committees. Graduate faculty membership is a prerequisite for Doctoral faculty membership.

BS in Neuroscience

The BS degree in Neuroscience opens the door to a wide range of career paths in healthcare professions such as medicine, nursing, or physician assistant roles, while others enter clinical and behavioral health fields, working in mental health, counseling, or rehabilitation settings. Neuroscience majors are also well prepared for research roles in academic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms, contributing to advances in drug development and understanding neurological disease. In addition, the field is expanding into areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, and neurotechnology, where knowledge of brain systems is applied to innovative technologies. Some graduates also pursue careers in public health, government agencies, or science communication. Overall, neuroscience provides a versatile foundation that supports both immediate employment opportunities and further study in graduate or professional programs.