Welcome to Neuroscience!
Neuroscience is a dynamic field focused on understanding how the nervous system works, the relationship of brain to behavior, and the neural mechanisms of health and disease that have broad implications for society at large. Neuroscientists are employed at a variety of professional settings, including academic and medical research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other private industries, government jobs, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, and entrepreneurial start-up ventures, among many others. Duke's undergraduate neuroscience program embraces the interdisciplinary nature of the field by offering courses taught by a diverse faculty affiliated with a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, and there are several pathways through the major to accommodate a variety of student interests. We hope you become as engaged with and excited about neuroscience as we are! We look forward to interacting with you on your academic journey at Duke and beyond!
Learn about all the neuroscience related student organizations on campus, and email us at dukeneuromajor@duke.edu any time with questions.
Departmental website: https://psychandneuro.duke.edu/
Advising
Our staff assistant, Brooke Shaw will email you within a week of your major declaration, and she will send you options for your faculty advisor selection. It's best to consider choosing an advisor who aligns with your own interests (cognitive neuroscience, neuroengineering, pharmacology, etc.), so please browse the advisors to identify faculty that might be a good fit for your interests. Once your advisor is assigned you must meet with them prior to class registration each semester in order to be eligible to enroll in classes (with the exception of Study Away programs). Typically, advisors will email all their advisees a few weeks prior to registration with a spreadsheet of available meeting times. Your major advisor is much more than a gatekeeper and you are encouraged to consult with them periodically throughout your time at Duke to gain valuable insights into the profession of neuroscience, advice on graduate and professional schools, tips for how to engage in research, and other academic and career issues.
Please feel free to reach out to Tyler Lee, Brooke Shaw, Dr. Newpher or Dr. White if you have questions about the requirements of the Neuroscience major and future plans for course offerings. Let that group help you with your "transactional" needs. Your major advisor should be the person to help you think through the big questions, such as "how can I make the most of this major?" or "where do I go from here?" or "tell me your story of how you made it in neuroscience" and "have you even struggled like I am when you were in college?".
Requirements and General Information
Learn more about major and minor requirements, and general information for new majors.