“The brain is a monstrous, beautiful mess. Its billions of nerve cells — called neurons — lie in a tangled web that displays cognitive powers far exceeding any of the silicon machines we have built to mimic it.” — William F. Allman
Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary program that provides students access to the field by linking curricula, faculty, and students in a contract concentration that requires foundations in at least two natural sciences and stretches to connect with courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It provides students with a broad introductory exposure to the field of neuroscience by requiring students to integrate material from several disciplines to answer questions about the brain, behavior, and consciousness.
Students interested in the neuroscience program must consult with the director of the neuroscience concentration near the end of their sophomore year to develop a contract. The requirements and contract for students entering St. Olaf in the Fall of 2019 or later can be found here. Students who enrolled at St. Olaf prior to 2019 are encouraged to follow these requirements as well, or they can follow the old concentration requirements found here.