Augustana offers a major in neuroscience for students who wish to understand the biological bases of thoughts, perceptions, emotions, motivations, decisions and actions. The major was added in the fall of 2010.

Major coursework is flexible, allowing students to pursue their interests within the field. Neuroscience students often have interests in psychology, biology, chemistry and philosophy ? individually or in combination.The neuroscience major is a truly interdisciplinary experience.

The two full-time neuroscience faculty have the Ph.D. in psychology, with expertise in the areas of learning, pain and drug-seeking behavior, and the neural bases of sensation and perception. Faculty from the biology, chemistry, philosophy and religion departments also teach courses in the major.

As is common in most other Augustana programs, the neuroscience major culminates in a Senior Inquiry capstone experience, which will give the students the opportunity to conduct research on or off campus.