Illinois College announces new neuroscience program
Illinois College is expanding opportunities for students with a new neuroscience program.
Neuroscience is one of the world’s fastest growing fields, and an area of increased student interest. IC’s cutting-edge program will provide students with a deeper understanding of current research about the brain, and prepare them for a variety of careers in medicine, healthcare and public policy. The program will also serve as a springboard for students hoping to pursue graduate programs in the field.
Jeremy Turner, professor of psychology and faculty director for the program, is among the nation’s leading auditory neuroscientists. He has a 20-year record of scientific research in auditory and behavioral neuroscience. Turner has published numerous studies covering the brain’s role in hearing, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and aging, with particular expertise in the animal models used to study human sensory conditions. He is currently working to develop a device that will objectively measure tinnitus in humans through a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Neuroscience is available as a concentration within the existing psychology major and as a minor.Turner says that the program is designed to give students an edge in competitive professional fields.
This is a unique neuroscience program with an intentional focus on the liberal arts. It is structured to give students interested in biology and psychology a strong background in neuroscience, while students from from across the entire campus with an interest in learning more about the brain can also benefit.
Students will Graduate READY to pursue a wide range of career paths in areas like public health research, law and public policy related to neuroscience, specialized nursing, and physical and occupational therapy.
According to Turner, the minor can be useful for any major because so many careers can benefit from a greater understanding of the brain. The program will serve students from the traditional scientific disciplines of biology, psychology, chemistry and physics, but also by education majors interested in the development of students’ brains, English majors pursuing medical or health journalism, and business majors interested in careers in the rapidly developing biotech or pharmaceutical industries.
The neuroscience curriculum will incorporate several key subjects and include faculty members from psychology, biology, philosophy and political science. Faculty advisors will work closely with students to develop a plan of study that best fits their goals and career interests.
To learn more, visit www.ic.edu/neuroscience.