Neuroscience

Explore the brain through hands-on research and discovery.

Neuroscience

Interested in a career in neuroscience, healthcare, or research? At Simpson College, our Neuroscience major explores the connections between the brain, behavior, and the body while preparing you for a wide range of career and graduate study opportunities. As a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field, neuroscience offers diverse possibilities, and our flexible program helps you explore your interests while building a strong foundation in scientific inquiry and critical thinking.

Learning goes beyond the classroom. You’ll gain hands-on experience through laboratory courses, in-class experiments, and faculty-mentored undergraduate research. Using technologies such as electroencephalography (EEG), eye-tracking (EOG), and electrocardiography (ECG), you’ll visualize and analyze real-time physiological data while strengthening your research and analytical skills. You can also explore opportunities to share your work through IMPLUSE, Simpson’s undergraduate research journal, and connect with fellow students through the Pre-Health Society.

Whether you plan to pursue graduate or professional school, explore careers in healthcare or scientific research, or apply your knowledge in a related field, Simpson’s Neuroscience major will help you develop the practical experience, skills, and confidence to take the next step.

View major course requirements

Why Simpson College for Neuroscience?

What Will You Learn?

Neuroscience is an interdepartmental program with the Department of Psychology and the Department of Biology & Environmental Science. By pursuing this major, you will have an enhanced understanding of the neural structures and systems controlling functions such as vision, memory, emotion, movement, and, ultimately, all of human behavior.

Get Hands-On Experience

Under the direction of psychology and neuroscience faculty, you can join teams of undergraduate researchers in the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab to identify and plan projects, run data collection sessions, prepare and analyze the data, and write and present the results. You have a variety of research tools at your disposal.

There are five general-purpose cognitive psychology research stations, each equipped with E-Prime laboratory software, Matlab, and the SPSS statistical analysis package. Advanced psychophysiology measurement equipment records muscle activity (EMG), skin temperature, and skin conductance (EDA). A 24-channel Electroencephalogram (EEG) data acquisition system studies brain activity related to music, language, and attention.

The location of eye fixations is closely related to what the brain is attending to and processing at any given moment, so we added an SMI Red 500 eye-tracking system. It includes eye-tracking glasses that can be worn while shopping, driving, and many other activities that can’t be reproduced in the lab.

Graduate School Ready

Our faculty will prepare you for every step of applying to and getting accepted into high-quality graduate schools after graduation. Here are a few examples of schools where Simpson alumni have studied:

Allen College
Medical College of Wisconsin
University of Iowa
Des Moines University
Indiana University
Drake University

Explore Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Pre-Health and Exercise Club

The Pre-Health and Exercise Science Club at Simpson College provides students with opportunities to engage in topics related to physical fitness, health, and wellness. Our club organizes various activities such as Workshops and Seminars that focus on health education, fitness, and nutrition led by professionals, or faculty members. Fitness and Group Workouts: We may host regular group exercise sessions, such as yoga or strength training, to encourage physical activity and peer support in maintaining fitness goals. Community Outreach: Members may participate in health fairs, offer fitness classes or wellness activities to the broader community, or collaborate with local health organizations to promote active lifestyles. Professional Development: The club often provides networking opportunities with professionals in health-related fields, career panels, or guidance on internships, certifications, and job opportunities in areas like physical therapy, sports medicine, and dietetics. Research and Learning Opportunities: The club encourages participation in research projects related to health and exercise science to support academic growth. Social Events: To build a close-knit community, the club organizes biweekly gatherings, recreational sports games, or outdoor activities like games to team members or those who are interested. The Health and Exercise Science Club promotes a culture of health, wellness, and academic/professional development within the context of exercise science and fitness.

IMPULSE Undergraduate Research Journal

IMPULSE, Simpson College’s undergraduate research journal, provides students with an opportunity to share their research and academic discoveries. Neuroscience students can showcase their work, contribute to scientific conversations, and develop valuable skills in research communication while celebrating undergraduate scholarship and discovery.

Diversity in STEM

This club aims to foster future STEM professionals from diverse backgrounds to bridge equity gaps and ensure a prosperous future for Simpson STEM students. This club will provide various opportunities for students to enhance their academic potential. Students will obtain the necessary skills to create a compassionate and supportive environment. Additionally, students will experience diverse viewpoints and discussions from external sources in the STEM field. These activities will build awareness amongst students regarding the journeys they may pursue during their post-collegiate endeavors.