Technicians reviewing a brain scan

Neuroscience

About Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the multidisciplinary study of the brain and the nervous system. You'll combine methodologies from many disciplines--including cellular and molecular biology, behavioural sciences, cognitive psychology, physiology and anatomy--to investigate neural function and behaviour. It's is a tremendously varied, and quickly growing, field. The program will position you well to tackle complex problems in healthcare, research and policy.

Program Details

UBC's undergraduate program is a collaboration between Science, Medicine and Arts. You can choose to focus your study between two large areas – cellular and molecular neuroscience, or cognitive and behavioural neuroscience. Data science skill building is integrated into the curriculum, as is personal and professional development. In your final year, you can complete a year-long capstone project in one of the many neuroscience research labs on campus. Note that the number of required courses is purposely limited to allow you the flexibility to explore other courses and disciplines—with the aim of encouraging the creative thinking that is so fundamental to neuroscience. 

Skills

  • Describe and apply historical and foundational concepts and theories in neuroscience
  • Demonstrate a conceptual understanding and procedural knowledge of neuroscience
  • Describe behavioural and neurobiological features of neurological and psychiatric conditions
  • Design a neuroscience experiment, including design, ethics, data collection, and statistical analyses
  • Summarize a neuroscience academic article, in terms of strengths, limitations, and future avenues
  • Review and integrate a body of neuroscience literature into a concise synopsis. 
  • Produce well-crafted instructions, reports, essays, presentations, discussions, and debates
  • Explain the ethical and societal implications of neuroscience research and theory
  • Produce a critique of a piece of neuroscience research, technique, and field of study
  • Develop, reflectively analyze, and edit a personalized curriculum and career plan
  • Provide, receive, and integrate peer/mentor feedback on academic work
  • Program effectively for the purposes of data collection, processing, analysis, and presentation

Career Options

With an undergraduate degree

  • Laboratory assistant 
  • Psychiatric technician 
  • Neurological technician 
  • Research assistant 
  • Social worker 
  • Social service specialist 
  • Youth worker

With additional study

  • Clinical psychologist 
  • Counselor or therapist
  • Doctor 
  • Nurse 
  • Neuroscientist 
  • Occupational therapist 
  • Physical therapist 
  • Psychiatrist 
  • Speech language pathologist 
  • Teacher

More Career Resources

Musqueam First Nation land acknowledegement

We honour xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam) on whose ancestral, unceded territory UBC Vancouver is situated. UBC Science is committed to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples so we can advance Reconciliation and ensure traditional ways of knowing enrich our teaching and research.

Learn more: Musqueam First Nation

Faculty of Science

Office of the Dean, Earth Sciences Building
2178–2207 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada
V6T 1Z4
UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. A bookmark An ribbon to indicate a special marker. Calendar A calendar. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. Time A clock. Chats Two speech clouds. External link An arrow pointing up and to the right. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. A Facemask The medical facemask. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Lock, closed A closed padlock. Lock, open An open padlock. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Mask A protective face mask. Menu Three horizontal lines indicating a menu. Minus A minus sign. Money A money bill. Telephone An antique telephone. Plus A plus symbol indicating more or the ability to add. RSS Curved lines indicating information transfer. Search A magnifying glass. Arrow indicating share action A directional arrow. Spotify The logo for the Spotify music streaming service. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service.