Neuroscience

Why neuroscience matters:

Neuroscience seeks to answer profound questions about how the brain gives rise to thought, emotion, perception, and behavior. By examining the nervous system from the level of molecules to conscious experience, the field illuminates the biological foundations of human and animal life, as well as the ways we experience the world in both neurotypical and neurodivergent forms. It is a discipline that bridges the sciences and the humanities, drawing from biology, chemistry, psychology, mathematics, philosophy, and computer science to tackle some of society’s most complex challenges — from understanding memory and mental health to advancing treatments for neurological disorders. The study of neuroscience cultivates critical thinking, technical skill, and intellectual curiosity that can be applied in research, medicine, technology, education, and beyond.

How neuroscience is taught at Muhlenberg:

At Muhlenberg, neuroscience is immersive, hands-on, and deeply interdisciplinary. You’ll build a foundation in the core principles of neuroscience while connecting your learning to adjacent fields, often through a second major or minor in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Faculty bring expertise in areas ranging from sensory perception and neurotransmitter function to the neural basis of social behavior, memory, and consciousness. In small classes and active laboratories, you’ll use professional tools — such as EEG, fNIRS, computational modeling, and behavioral analysis — to investigate your own research questions. The program’s flexible, inquiry-driven structure encourages you to follow the topics that spark your curiosity, engage with diverse perspectives, and graduate with both the scientific knowledge and the creative problem-solving skills to lead in a rapidly evolving field.