BS Neuroscience

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Johns Hopkins University

Program Overview

The Neuroscience, B.S. at Johns Hopkins University explores how the nervous system functions, from molecular and cellular mechanisms to brain systems involved in cognition, perception, memory and behavior. It suits students interested in brain science, medicine, research or related fields, offering an interdisciplinary education with advanced study in cellular and molecular, cognitive, computational, or systems neuroscience.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year:
Students begin by building their foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics through courses such as Introductory Chemistry I and II, Calculus I and II, and a biology course with laboratory work. They also begin exploring neuroscience through Foundations of Brain, Behavior and Cognition or Introduction to Cognitive Neuropsychology, establishing the foundation for more advanced neuroscience study.

Second Year:
The second year moves into core neuroscience with Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems I and Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems II, while students also develop quantitative and research skills through Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences. Students can begin formal neuroscience research and complete Scientific Communication and Mentoring, connecting scientific knowledge with research practice and communication.

Third Year:
Students deepen their scientific understanding through General Physics I and II, Neuroscience: Cognitive, and advanced neuroscience electives. They continue their research experience while beginning to specialize through upper-level courses in one of the program's approved focus areas: systems, cognitive, computational, or cellular and molecular neuroscience.

Fourth Year:
The final year emphasizes advanced neuroscience and practical laboratory experience, including Neuroscience Laboratory and additional upper-level neuroscience courses. Students can further develop their research and scientific communication skills through the program's research requirements, with opportunities to complete research in participating neuroscience laboratories.

Focus Areas:

Cellular and molecular neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, systems neuroscience.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop an understanding of the nervous system across molecular, cellular, systems and cognitive levels; build quantitative, laboratory and research skills; learn to analyze scientific evidence; communicate scientific findings; and develop specialized knowledge within an approved neuroscience focus area.

Professional Alignment:

The Neuroscience B.S. provides a strong foundation for students pursuing medicine and other health professions, neuroscience research, biomedical research, biotechnology, or graduate study. JHU also offers pre-health advising alongside the major, allowing students to combine neuroscience with preparation for healthcare-related professional programs.

Reputation & Employability:

Johns Hopkins provides an especially strong research environment for neuroscience: the university reports that 80% of undergraduates have at least one formal research experience, while neuroscience students can work with researchers across Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Cognitive Science, Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, and the School of Medicine.

Johns Hopkins also reports that more than 1,000 faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate and graduate students participate in neuroscience-related research across molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, computational and clinical areas. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings reported by Johns Hopkins, the university's Neuroscience specialty was ranked No. 4 (tie) among biological sciences programs; this is a graduate-level ranking and should not be interpreted as a ranking of the B.S. itself.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Neuroscience, B.S. at Johns Hopkins gives students substantial opportunities to develop practical research skills through laboratory courses, faculty-led research and internships. The program requires Neuroscience Laboratory and research experience, while students can work within an interdisciplinary research environment spanning the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, and the Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute.

Students can also gain experience with advanced neuroscience research approaches such as neurophysiology, brain imaging and psychophysics, as well as computational approaches including dimensionality reduction, information theory and network modeling. These opportunities connect classroom neuroscience with active research taking place across Johns Hopkins:

Neuroscience Laboratory: The B.S. curriculum includes AS.080.250 Neuroscience Laboratory, giving students dedicated laboratory-based experience as part of the major.
Undergraduate Research: Neuroscience students can conduct research with faculty and earn academic credit for research. Students can work with laboratories across areas including cellular and molecular, cognitive, computational and systems neuroscience.
Scientific Communication and Mentoring: Students complete two semesters of Scientific Communication and Mentoring (AS.080.499), designed to develop scientific communication skills alongside their research experience.
Summer Internship Program: The Department of Neuroscience offers a 10-week Summer Internship Program (NeuroSIP) in Johns Hopkins laboratories. Students work with faculty mentors on independent research projects and present their work at a poster session at the end of the program.
Research Presentation: Through the Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research (HOUR), neuroscience students can participate in REAL (Research, Experiential and Applied Learning) presentations held during the fall and spring semesters.
Mind/Brain Institute: The Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute provides an interdisciplinary research environment focused on perception, memory, decision-making, cognition and brain information processing. Its laboratories use tools including neurophysiology, brain imaging and psychophysics.
Neuroscience Imaging Center: The Department of Neuroscience's Neuroscience Imaging Center provides advanced imaging and image-processing resources, including technologies for live-cell imaging, super-resolution imaging and electrophysiological monitoring.
Computational Neuroscience: Students interested in computational neuroscience can engage with research environments such as the Computational Neuroscience Lab, where researchers use theoretical and computational methods to study perception, cognition, attention and decision-making.
Research Environment: The undergraduate program is connected to researchers across Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Cognitive Science, Psychological and Brain Sciences, the Krieger Mind/Brain Institute and the School of Medicine, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary neuroscience research.
Internships and Jobs: JHU's SMILE platform provides access to paid campus internships and student employment, while Handshake provides access to off-campus internships, jobs and career-related events.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Neuroscience, B.S. at Johns Hopkins University prepares students for research, healthcare, biotechnology and other brain-science-related pathways, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate and professional education. The program requires neuroscience research and scientific communication, and students can gain additional experience through research assistantships, internships and laboratory roles.

Typical career roles: Neuroscience Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Laboratory Research Technician, Biomedical Research Associate.

The degree is supported by Johns Hopkins' research and career ecosystem:

Career and professional support: The Life Design Lab provides career guidance, experiential learning and networking, while the Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research (HOUR) helps undergraduates access research opportunities.
Internships and employment: University Experiential Learning provides paid campus internships and employment through SMILE, while Handshake connects students with off-campus internships, jobs and career events.
Research opportunities: Johns Hopkins reports that 80% of undergraduates have at least one research experience and 85% have at least one internship experience. Neuroscience students can also undertake formal research within participating neuroscience laboratories.
Graduate outcomes: Across Johns Hopkins undergraduate programs, 91% of graduates are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation, while 36% continue to graduate or professional school. These are university-wide figures, not Neuroscience B.S.-specific outcomes.
Medical and health-profession pathways: Johns Hopkins' Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising supports students with pre-health course planning, health-related experiences and the professional-school application process. Neuroscience is specifically identified as a major available to pre-health students.
Research-to-career preparation: The department's 10-week NeuroSIP summer program places students in Johns Hopkins neuroscience laboratories, where they work with faculty mentors on independent research projects and present their findings at a poster symposium.
University–industry connections: Johns Hopkins does not identify a specific industry partnership as a required component of the Neuroscience B.S. However, the university's Hire Hopkins and career infrastructure connects students with employers and recruiters, while the neuroscience program provides research and professional-development opportunities.
Salary information: Johns Hopkins' official sources reviewed do not provide a current Neuroscience B.S.-specific median salary, so a salary figure should not be presented as a program outcome.
Accreditation: The Neuroscience B.S. is an academic degree rather than a program leading to a single professional license, and the official program information does not identify a separate program-specific professional accreditation. Its long-term value comes from its interdisciplinary neuroscience training, research preparation and preparation for graduate and professional programs.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., students can pursue M.S. or Ph.D. study in neuroscience and related biomedical fields, including Johns Hopkins' own Neuroscience B.S./M.S. pathway for eligible students. Students interested in healthcare can also use the degree as preparation for professional programs such as medicine and other health professions, supported by Johns Hopkins' pre-professional advising.