Neuroscience is the multidisciplinary study of brain function. It examines the complex interactions of multiple neuronal systems that underlie the emergence and rich diversity of cognitive function and the regulation and expression of all forms of behavior, in humans and all other species.

The UT Dallas neuroscience program provides students with the opportunity to focus on the brain from multiple perspectives, beginning with our introduction to neuroscience course and moving on to coursework concentrating on cellular, neurophysiological, anatomical, developmental, pharmacological and molecular issues. It allows extensive interactions with neuroscientists, and encourages participation using the latest experimental methods in research laboratories. Additionally, students are encouraged to gain research experience by volunteering in faculty-led neuroscience labs on campus.

Careers in Neuroscience

The neuroscience program is designed to prepare students for admission to and advanced training in neuroscience graduate programs or in medical or dental schools, as well as for careers in related biomedical research, industry and allied health science fields. Graduates of our program are found nation- and world-wide, at prestigious universities, research institutions, hospitals and clinics.

Some of the biggest challenges in health care involve the nervous system. Students on pre-health career tracks majoring in neuroscience receive an in-depth education on neurological disorders and their molecular and anatomical origins before entering professional school.

Research experience is an important component in many students’ future plans and is critical for those contemplating graduate, medical or dental school training. Individual investigators periodically accept students to work for research credit in their laboratories. The requirements are typically nine or more hours of previous neuroscience courses, a commitment to 10 hours per week for two or more semesters of lab work, and a convergence of research interests with the lab.

Neuroscience at UT Dallas

• The BS in neuroscience requires 120 hours to graduate: 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum, 45 hours in neuroscience courses, and 33 hours of electives and preparatory classes.
• The neuroscience minor requires 18 credit hours, with at least 12 hours of upper-division neuroscience core courses.

Internships

Neuroscience juniors and seniors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.

Fast Track

The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, or human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have at least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.

Additional Facts about BBS

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, human development and early childhood disorders, psychology, speech-language pathology

Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, psychology, speech-language and hearing sciences

Doctor of Audiology: Audiology

Research Centers

In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students also can gain valuable experience through the school’s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.

• Callier Center for Communication Disorders — The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the center’s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
• The Center for BrainHealth — This center has a unique mission: to understand the brain’s ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
• The Center for Vital Longevity — This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
• The Center for Children and Families — The center’s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.

To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the school’s research labs, visit bbs.utdallas.edu/research.

Additional Facts about BBS

• Our audiology and speech-language pathology programs are ranked No. 4 and No. 12 in the nation respectively, according to U.S. News and World Report.
• The school is home to leading experts in developmental psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science, and communication disorders.
• In fiscal year 2016, BBS faculty members were responsible for nearly $44 million in research funding.
• BBS has more than 2,000 undergraduate students and nearly 600 graduate students.