NEUROSCIENCE, BS
Neuroscience
http://www.uab.edu/cas/neuroscience/
Neuroscience is an ideal major for motivated students who want to pursue careers in medicine, research, and other health related disciplines. The curriculum for a BS degree in Neuroscience combines coursework in biology, chemistry, math, physics, psychology, and neurobiology to provide students an interdisciplinary understanding of the body's most complex organ system.
The UAB Undergraduate Neuroscience Program (UNP) is an interdisciplinary major between the Department of Neurobiology in the Heersink School of Medicine and the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Neuroscience is the study of the development, structure, and function of the nervous system, with a special focus on the brain and its role in behavior and cognitive functions. Neuroscience also seeks to understand the molecular basis of nervous system disorders and diseases. Multidisciplinary in nature, the field of Neuroscience spans the anatomy, evolution, development, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, electrophysiology, pharmacology, circuitry, and pathology of the nervous system. Therefore, neuroscience integrates biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology, and computer science. It is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in biomedical research.
The goals of the UNP are to prepare and advance UAB undergraduates to careers in research and health-related sciences in highly competitive programs and to enable UAB graduates to become accomplished research scientists, clinicians and health-care professionals who will be ideally equipped for future study of the nervous system and treatment and discovery of cures for neurological, psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and injury.
The UNP and its Training Faculty accomplish these goals by four complementary mechanisms. First, students are provided with a solid academic and intellectual foundation through coursework in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, psychology and neuroscience. Second, students conduct original hands-on laboratory research under the direction of faculty mentors to learn the state-of-the-art experimental approaches and methods in Neuroscience research. Third, students are mentored in the development of skills in scientific method, experimental analysis, and effective oral and written communication. Students are expected to become active “colleagues” in faculty laboratories, which should result in publications in scientific journals and presentations at professional meetings. Fourth, students are provided with one-on-one academic and career counseling to identify professional programs most suited to their interests, and strategies to be competitive applicants to these programs.
Students earning the B.S. in Neuroscience at UAB are ideally suited for admission into the nation’s most prestigious graduate programs, medical and professional schools.
Admissions
The UNP is designed for graduating high school seniors and college freshmen or sophomores with a strong academic record and the motivation to pursue a career in biomedical science. Please note carefully the following items.
High school students with an ACT score of 28 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher (the UAB Honors College admissions criteria) are eligible for immediate acceptance into the Neuroscience major. Others may choose to attend UAB before applying in the freshman or sophomore year. Current UAB students whose high school credentials meet the minimum requirements and/or whose academic performance in freshman science courses is excellent may apply at any time. Please contact Dr. Cristin Gavin (cfgavin@uab.edu) or Dr. Robert Sorge (rsorge@uab.edu), if you would like to be considered for admission to the Program. Program Leadership is available to meet with high school students and their parents, or with current UAB students, to discuss the Program.
Advising and Information
Program Leadership:
Dr. Cristin Gavin
Co-Director, Undergraduate Neuroscience Program
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, School of Medicine
(205) 934-6433
cfgavin@uab.edu
Dr. Robert Sorge
Co-Director, Undergraduate Neuroscience Program
Associate Professor of Psychology
(205) 934-8563
rsorge@uab.edu
Academic Advising:
Whitney Woodard
Heritage Hall Building 402
(205) 934-6135
wmwoodard@uab.edu
