Admission
Acceptance into the UAB Undergraduate Neuroscience Program is limited and selective.
The program is designed for graduating high school seniors and college freshmen or sophomores with strong academic records and the motivation to pursue careers in biomedical science. It is appropriate for students interested pursuing medical school; graduate programs in neuroscience, psychology, public health, and physical and occupational therapy; as well as dental, veterinary, or optometry schools.
Acceptance is limited so that neuroscience classes can remain relatively small and ensure one-on-one interaction with instructors and faculty mentors. These limits also permit neuroscience faculty to serve as your academic advisor throughout your undergraduate career.
Is Neuroscience Right for You?
A prospective neuroscience major should have a desire to understand the function of the nervous system, ranging from cellular and molecular to cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. You should have a desire to conduct original research with the intention to pursue research or a health-related science career. Finally, you should strive for excellence in all academic pursuits while establishing collaborative and professional relationships with program faculty and staff.
Academic Standards
High school students with 28 or higher on the ACT and a GPA of at least 3.5 will be considered for immediate acceptance into the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program after their application is received and reviewed. Students may compensate for an ACT score of less than 28 with exceptional classroom performance, including scores of 4 or 5 on certain AP exams.
Others may choose to attend UAB for a year and then be evaluated for admission based on excellent classroom performance. We are especially interested in performance in the following courses: Biology 123 and 124, and Chemistry 115 and 117. Current UAB students whose high school credentials meet the minimum requirements and/or whose performance in college courses is excellent may apply at any time by filling out the online application.
If you are interested in joining the program, please contact Dr. Cristin Gavin at