Neuroscience

Gunnar F. Kwakye, Robert W. and Eleanor H. Biggs Associate Professor of Neuroscience; chair

Christopher D. Howard, Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Michelle A. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience
Leslie E. Kwakye, Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Monica Olszens, Senior Lecturer of Neuroscience
Tracie A. Paine, Claire Emma McGreggor ‘11 Professor of Neuroscience
Patrick A. Simen, Associate Professor of Neuroscience
Elliot J. Sommer, Lecturer of Neuroscience and Director of Pre-Health Advising

Affiliated Faculty/Staff
Albert M. Borroni, Senior Instructional Technologist
Keith L. Downing, Affiliate Scholar

Visit the department web page for up-to-date information on department faculty, visiting lecturers, and special events.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of study that employs the tools and perspectives of biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and medicine to achieve a better understanding of brain structure, brain function, behavior, and the mind. The Department of Neuroscience at Oberlin College provides opportunities for students to use multiple approaches at many levels of analysis including molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels.

Majors, Minors, and Integrative Concentrations

Curriculum

100-Level Neuroscience Courses

100-level neuroscience courses are intended for students to explore their interest in neuroscience. They are theme-based courses that introduce neuroscience through the lens of a particular topic, such as the neuroscience of addiction, survival, sensation, food, toxicology, mental health, global health, etc. Students interested in learning about neuroscience to fulfill a natural sciences and mathematics (NSMA) requirement for graduation are encouraged to explore 100-level NSCI course offerings.

200-Level Neuroscience Courses

The 200-level of neuroscience courses consists solely of NSCI 201 - Foundational Principles of Neuroscience and NSCI 211 - Neuroscience Laboratory . These courses provide a broad survey of neuroscience.

300-Level Neuroscience Courses

300-level neuroscience courses are for advanced study of specific subfields introduced in NSCI 201 . The majority of 300-level lecture courses are associated with a laboratory that introduces advanced techniques. The lab courses are independent courses that can be taken in other semesters.

400-Level Neuroscience Courses

400-level neuroscience courses are intended to provide students in-depth, writing-oriented professional development, serving as a capstone experience for neuroscience majors.