Bachelor of Science degree with major in Neuroscience

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Washington is a small, intensive, multidisciplinary program exploring the nervous system and how molecular, physiological, computational, and behavioral processes shape brain function, behavior, and neurological disease. It suits students interested in brain science, health, medicine, research, and related fields, combining foundational biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics with focused neuroscience study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build the scientific foundation required for neuroscience through BIOL 180 – Introductory Biology I, BIOL 200 – Introductory Biology II, and BIOL 220 – Introductory Biology III, alongside supporting chemistry, physics, and calculus coursework. These subjects establish knowledge of biological systems and the quantitative and physical-science principles needed for advanced study.

Year 2: Students begin the dedicated neuroscience sequence with NEUSCI 301 – Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, developing an understanding of neurons, cellular mechanisms, and molecular processes underlying nervous-system function. NEUSCI 302 – Introduction to Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience then expands this foundation toward systems-level function and behavior and includes laboratory work.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into advanced neuroscience through NEUSCI 401 – Systems Neuroscience, examining nervous-system organization and function at a more advanced level. Students can also select from 400-level biological-science electives, allowing them to explore areas connected to their interests while potentially incorporating undergraduate research.

Year 4: Students complete the advanced sequence with NEUSCI 402 – Diseases of the Nervous System, NEUSCI 403, and NEUSCI 404, developing deeper knowledge of neurological disease and advanced neuroscience concepts. The major also provides opportunities for research, with the program reporting that most neuroscience students participate in undergraduate research with faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Medicine.

Focus Areas: Cellular and molecular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, neurological disease, neurophysiology, computational neuroscience, brain and behavior, and biological research.

Learning Outcomes: Students develop a deep understanding of nervous-system function, learn fundamental techniques for studying nerve cells, analyze neurophysiological data, and communicate scientific results through written and oral presentations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The University of Washington's official program information identifies the degree as a Bachelor of Science with a major in Neuroscience and does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for this undergraduate major. The program is designed to support pathways into medicine, public health, research, education, pharmaceutical sales, computing, and graduate study.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The University of Washington's official sources describe UW as a leading institution in neuroscience and report that its neuroscience graduates have progressed into healthcare, research, technology, biotechnology, education, and organizations including Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, and the Allen Institute for Brain Science. UW's official materials also report a historical No. 20 global ranking for Neuroscience and Behavior in the U.S. News Global University Rankings; this is a historical subject ranking rather than a current 2026 employability ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Washington's B.S. in Neuroscience gives students substantial hands-on exposure to neuroscience through intensive laboratory courses, individual research, and access to faculty laboratories across the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Medicine. The program reports that 70% of Neuroscience majors participate in undergraduate research each year, with more than 150 neuroscience-related labs available across areas including Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Psychology, and Pharmacology. The introductory core includes extended laboratory exercises where students can learn experimental techniques, analyze neurophysiological data, work in small groups, and in some cases design their own experiments.

Key experiential opportunities include:

NEUSCI 301 & 302 Laboratories: Students complete dedicated laboratory components in Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and Introduction to Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience, using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to develop practical neuroscience techniques.
Collaborative Lab Work: Laboratory sections have a maximum of 18 students, with students working in pairs or groups of three under graduate teaching-assistant supervision; some experiments run for two to three weeks, allowing students to investigate questions beyond a single laboratory session.
Individual Research: NEUSCI 499 – Individual Research in Neuroscience allows students to carry out research projects in laboratories of program faculty, with up to 18 credits available through the course.
150+ Research Laboratories: Students can explore research across more than 150 neuroscience labs, including work in neural circuitry, neural coding, visual systems, sensorimotor control, speech production, neurophysiology, and computational neuroscience.
Computational Neuroscience: NEUSCI 445 – Quantitative Methods in Neuroscience uses computer exercises and covers quantitative approaches such as Fourier analysis, differential equations, stochastic processes, signal detection, and information theory. NEUSCI 490 – Seminar in Computational Neuroscience provides supervised readings and group discussions in the field.
Scientific Research & Communication: NEUSCI 450 – Current Research Literature in Neuroscience operates as a weekly journal club where students read and discuss original neuroscience research articles, while the core curriculum develops skills in analyzing, writing, and presenting research results.
Peer Teaching: NEUSCI 496 – Peer Teaching Facilitator in Neuroscience allows students to assist with neuroscience laboratories, attend lectures, and participate in weekly course meetings, providing direct experience supporting laboratory-based teaching.
Honors Research: Neuroscience Honors students complete at least 9 credits of undergraduate research, produce a senior thesis based on their research project, and present their work at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium.
UW ENDURE: The NIH-funded UW ENDURE program offers a 10-week hands-on neuroscience research experience, professional-development training, scientific communication, peer mentorship, and a research symposium presentation for eligible students preparing for neuroscience PhD study.
Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program: UW Medicine's program provides an 8-week neuroscience laboratory experience, neuroscience and neurological-surgery lectures, and operating-room observation, giving eligible undergraduates exposure to translational neuroscience and medical care.
Faculty & Medical-School Research: Undergraduate Neuroscience draws faculty from Biology, Psychology, Neurobiology & Biophysics, and Pharmacology, including departments within the UW School of Medicine, giving students opportunities to connect classroom learning with active biomedical research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The University of Washington’s BS in Neuroscience combines interdisciplinary study of the nervous system with exposure to molecular, electrophysiological, computational, and behavioral approaches, creating a strong foundation for research, healthcare, biotechnology, and related scientific careers. The degree can also serve as preparation for advanced study in neuroscience, medicine, allied health, and other biomedical fields.

Typical Job Roles: Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Laboratory Coordinator, Biotechnology Research Associate.

Career Support & Employer Connections:

Career & Internship Center: UW provides career coaching, internship support, employer connections, and career resources for undergraduate students and recent graduates.
Internships: UW reports 78% of students graduate with internship experience and lists more than 26,807 internship postings annually, giving students opportunities to build practical experience before graduation.
Employer Network: UW graduates are recruited by more than 1,000 unique employers each year, across biotechnology, healthcare, technology, government, nonprofit, and other sectors.
Neuroscience Research: Programs such as UW ENDURE provide neuroscience undergraduates with funded laboratory research, professional development, and peer mentoring opportunities.

Employment & Salary Outcomes:

Graduate Employment: 92% of UW graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, according to university-wide career outcomes.
Career Preparation: 94% of recent graduates surveyed agree that their UW experience prepared them to achieve their career goals.
Salary Figures: The official UW Neuroscience pages reviewed do not publish a specific salary figure for graduates of the BS in Neuroscience; therefore, no program-specific salary has been added.

University–Industry Connections: UW highlights a broad employer network that includes biotech startups, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and mission-driven nonprofits, while its Seattle location provides access to internships and industry connections across the region.

Graduation Outcomes: UW's neuroscience-related assessment data tracks employment and continuing education by major, while the university's current overall outcomes show that 92% of graduates are employed or pursuing graduate study within six months. Neuroscience graduates can use the degree as preparation for research, biotech, medicine, and further professional or graduate education.

Long-Term Accreditation Value: The University of Washington holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). UW's official specialized-accreditation list does not identify a separate discipline-specific accreditation for the BS in Neuroscience, so the program should not be presented as having a specialized professional accreditation.

Further Academic Progression: After the BS in Neuroscience, students can continue into graduate study in Neuroscience, including UW's own MS and PhD in Neuroscience, or pursue related graduate and professional programs in biomedical sciences, medicine, health sciences, and other life-science fields. UW's Neuroscience program explicitly combines research across the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Medicine, providing a pathway toward advanced neuroscience research and specialization.