Prospective Neuroscience Students
The Neuroscience Undergraduate Program is an interdisciplinary major within the College of Arts and Sciences with direct connections to the College of Medicine, Engineering, and Pharmacy. Our coursework is designed to capture the breadth of the field and prepare knowledgeable, innovative thinkers. The Ohio State University is home to over 100 neuroscience faculty members conducting scholarly research in many sub-disciplines, including molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, cognitive, and computational neuroscience.
Your major capitalizes on the expertise and breadth of this renowned faculty group with members from 6 different colleges and many departments (Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Computer Science, and Speech and Hearing Science). As a neuroscience major, you’ll learn from world‑class faculty and have the opportunity to apply that knowledge beyond the classroom by joining cutting‑edge research projects, presenting at conferences, and even co‑authoring published papers alongside your mentors.
Follow the links below to explore the many advantages and opportunities that await you in our program:
A degree in neuroscience provides a strong foundation for many rewarding career paths, from graduate study in neuroscience and related fields to professional programs in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, veterinary science, and law. It also prepares you for roles in hospital or research laboratories, health services, and pharmaceutical sales. The critical thinking, time management, and interpersonal skills you develop as a neuroscience major will serve you well no matter which path you choose.
Our undergraduate neuroscience program is dedicated to helping you reach your goals. Every student meets with their advisor to create a personalized 4‑year plan outlining the coursework and experiences needed to stay competitive for the next steps in your career. Below are sample plans illustrating the typical requirements for different career paths:
Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Students
Once you have been admitted to The Ohio State University, you will work closely with a Neuroscience Academic Advisor to develop a plan to complete the Pre-Major and Major coursework in a timely manner. See the OSU Neuroscience Major Curriculum for more information.
Make sure to work closely with your academic and transfer credit advisors at your home institution and at OSU. These professionals can help ensure that you are taking courses that will cleanly transfer and count toward requirements at both institutions. See the OSU Transfer Credit for more information.
AP/IB classes are very good preparation for OSU’s courses so do not be deterred from taking them. Many of our incoming students do use their AP/IB credit to fulfill some of their General Education (GE) requirements including introductory psychology, history, writing, etc. See the OSU Prior Learning Assessment for Examination Credit for more information.
Neuroscience is a biological science so coursework in biology, mathematics, psychology, and chemistry can be very helpful. In addition, courses that focus on writing and critical analysis of fiction/nonfiction will provide a solid foundation for scientific study.
Professional schools generally do not care what your undergraduate major is. OSU Medical School’s entering class of 2015 included students majoring in neuroscience, drama, finance, and music. A major in neuroscience will provide students with a broad scientific literacy and critical thinking skills that may be applied to medicine or other demanding fields. See Medical School Career Page for more information on how to be a more competitive applicant.
Please visit transferology.com and the OSU Registrar's website to determine if your credits will transfer.
Please visit our Careers Page for some examples of careers that people do with a degree in neuroscience.
Yes! Please provide your general availability here. We are able to meet students from 8am to 5pm Monday-Friday.