BA in Psychology - neuroscience concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Colby College

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Neuroscience at Colby College, USA, combines the study of human behaviour and mental processes with the biological foundations of brain function. It suits students interested in cognition, memory, neurological processes, and research, preparing them for opportunities in psychology, healthcare, and further study in neuroscience or related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Foundations: Students begin with PS 111, an introductory psychology course, and build scientific foundations through relevant biology courses. They develop an understanding of behaviour, psychological research, and the biological systems underlying mental processes.

Year 2: Brain and Behaviour

Students explore the biological foundations of behaviour through PS 233: Biological Basis of Behavior and PS 244: Cognitive Neuroscience, studying how brain processes influence memory, perception, and decision-making. BI 274: Neurobiology adds knowledge of nervous-system structure and function.

Year 3: Research and Specialisation

Students develop research skills through PS 214: Research Methods and Statistics I and PS 215: Research Methods and Statistics II. They can also explore PS 349–350: Seminar and Research in Behavioral Neuroscience, investigating relationships between neural processes and behaviour through collaborative research.

Year 4: Advanced Study

Students deepen their expertise through advanced psychology seminars and complete PS 420: Senior Integrative Seminar, bringing together concepts and research skills developed throughout the major. Research opportunities can also help students prepare for postgraduate study or research-related careers.

Focus Areas:

Cognitive neuroscience, biological psychology, neurobiology, memory, perception, behavioural neuroscience, psychological disorders, research methods, and statistics.

Learning Outcomes:

Understanding brain–behaviour relationships, evaluating psychological research, analysing data, applying scientific methods, critical thinking, and communicating research findings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Career relevance: Prepares students for research, behavioural science, healthcare-related fields, and further study. The degree is academic and does not itself provide a clinical licence or professional accreditation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Career preparation: Colby's faculty-guided research opportunities and interdisciplinary liberal arts education support preparation for employment and postgraduate study. A verified neuroscience-concentration-specific employment rate or salary figure was not identified in the official information reviewed.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA in Psychology with a Neuroscience concentration at Colby College helps students connect the study of human behaviour with the biological processes underlying brain function. Through psychology coursework, laboratory research, and faculty-guided projects, students can build practical skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication, preparing for graduate study or careers in research and related fields.

Key experiential learning opportunities include:

- Behavioral Neuroscience Lab: Located in the Davis Science Center, this lab includes behavioural testing areas, a research wet lab, a microscope lab, a data analysis room, and a neuroscience teaching lab. Students may assist with research into brain plasticity, cognition, stress, and behaviour.

- Memory and Language Lab: Students can gain research experience investigating memory, attention, language, and cognitive aging. Activities include reading scientific papers, analysing research, and presenting findings at Colby's Undergraduate Research Symposium.

- Emotion and Mood Lab: Students can explore research on stress, emotional responses, interpersonal relationships, and depression using methods such as diagnostic interviews, laboratory tasks, and quantitative self-report measures.

- Faculty-Mentored Research: Students can work with psychology faculty as research assistants or undertake independent studies and senior research projects, developing skills in experimental design, scientific writing, and data interpretation.

- Internships and Research Funding: Through DavisConnects, students can access support for internships, research opportunities, and global experiences. Selected students may also qualify for specialised science research programs and funded opportunities.

- Research Presentations: Colby's undergraduate research events allow students to present their work through talks and posters, strengthening scientific communication and preparation for graduate study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A BA in Psychology with a Neuroscience Concentration at Colby College prepares students to explore careers involving brain function, human behaviour, and biomedical research. Through psychology coursework, research experience, and Colby’s career-development support, graduates can pursue entry-level professional roles or continue into medical school and specialised graduate programs.

Typical Job Roles:

Neuroscience Research Assistant: Support experiments investigating brain function and neurological conditions.
Clinical Research Coordinator: Help organise clinical studies and manage research data.
Behavioural Research Assistant: Investigate cognition, memory, learning, and human behaviour.
Healthcare Research Associate: Support research projects in hospitals, laboratories, or biomedical organisations.

Career Development and Employment Opportunities:

- Career Services: Colby’s DavisConnects provides individual career advising, internship funding, research opportunities, and guidance for graduate and professional school applications.

- Employment Outcomes: 97% of Colby’s Class of 2025 secured employment, further study, or another career opportunity within six months of graduation. This is a college-wide figure, not a neuroscience-specific employment rate.

- Salary Expectations: Colby reports a median mid-career annual salary of $129,900 across its graduates. This is not an entry-level salary or a neuroscience-specific figure.

- Industry and Research Connections: Colby identifies organisations such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital among its employer connections and graduate destinations. These represent potential avenues for exploring healthcare and research careers, not guaranteed placements.

- Professional Recognition: The BA is an academic degree rather than a clinical licence. Students planning to practise medicine or another regulated healthcare profession must complete the required professional education and licensing.

- Graduate Outcomes: Colby reports an 83% medical-school acceptance rate among its applicants. This university-wide statistic is encouraging for pre-med students but does not guarantee admission for individual psychology or neuroscience students.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, or Behavioural Science for advanced research careers, or a master’s degree in clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, public health, or biomedical science to develop specialised expertise. Students interested in becoming physicians can apply to medical school for an M.D. or D.O., provided they complete the required prerequisites. Other options include graduate study in counselling, occupational therapy, or related healthcare fields, depending on the qualifications required for their intended profession.