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Mar 20, 2026
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[DRAFT] Course Catalog 2026-2027 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Neuroscience Major
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The major consists of a minimum of 11.5 full courses (or the equivalent). Students completing the Honors Program in Neuroscience will need to complete one additional full course.
Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.
 View the catalog page for the neuroscience department.
The neuroscience major is designed for students interested in connecting the physiological functioning of the brain to perception, thought, emotion, and behavior.
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Transfer of Credit Toward the Major
The neuroscience department will accept up to the equivalent of one full course of transfer credit to count toward the neuroscience major requirements. Two types of approval are needed. (1) Approval from the Office of the Registrar that the transfer course meets Oberlin’s transfer-of-credit eligibility standards and (2) approval from the department/program chair that the course(s) may count to the major. Current students taking post-matriculation credit must secure this approval before registering for course(s). Students who enter Oberlin as transfer students will have their pre-matriculation credit evaluated by the Office of the Registrar for elective credit, and they can later seek approval from the department/program for applying coursework to major requirements. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit
Up to the equivalent of one full course of transfer credit for AP/IB coursework approved by another Oberlin department/program may be applied to the affiliated sciences course requirement. This does not count toward the one-full-course transfer of credit limit. Course of Study
Students considering a major in neuroscience should consult a neuroscience department faculty member within their first or second year. Course Sequence Suggestions
Students intending to major in neuroscience should complete the core neuroscience course requirement by the end of the sophomore year, as those courses (NSCI 201 and NSCI 211 ) are prerequisites for 300-level neuroscience courses. Students should consult closely with their advisor to determine the most appropriate set of courses consistent with their interests and goals. Below are example first- and second-year course sequence suggestions grouped by neuroscience subfield. - Neurobiology and Health-Related Careers
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience
- Theoretical Neuroscience and Computational Neuroscience
Preparation for Post-Graduate Education
The major will serve those students interested in graduate study or professional work in any area of neuroscience or in adjacent fields such as animal behavior, behavioral genetics, neuropsychology, pharmacology and toxicology, clinical psychology, biotechnology, medicine, public health, or artificial intelligence. To be well prepared for graduate or professional study in these fields, students will generally need to take additional courses over and above the minimum required to fulfill the neuroscience major. Students planning to apply to medical school and other health-related post-graduate programs may major in any subject including neuroscience, provided they take those courses required by medical schools for admission. Early in their academic careers at Oberlin, students should review the Pre-Medicine and Health Careers web page and discuss their health career plans with the current premedical program director. Honors in Neuroscience
During the second semester of the junior year or earlier, students wishing to enter the Honors Program in Neuroscience should discuss their interest with one or more of the neuroscience faculty. If a faculty member is able to work with a student, they will help the student develop an appropriate research project proposal. Students must enroll in NSCI 499 during the first and second semesters of their senior year. To be formally accepted into the Honors Program, a student’s research proposal is submitted to the neuroscience department early in the first semester of the student’s senior year. Proposals are judged for their quality and feasibility. Admission to the Honors Program requires a minimum of GPA of 3.10 in the major. Detailed Major Requirements
Neuroscience Major Course Lists
Affiliated Sciences Courses
Return to the summary of requirements. Notes: - A minimum of one affiliated sciences course must be at the 200-level or above.
- Affiliated sciences courses must be taken in at least two different subject codes.
- Only one 100-level NSCI course may count toward the affiliated sciences requirement.
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