My daughter is a junior in high school and is interested in colleges that offer a major in neuroscience and a minor in theology (biblical studies). Does anyone have good suggestions of colleges/universities that offer rigorous programs in both?
Interesting combination. I think it depends on your religious bent to some extent. I will comment that neuroscience is really something that she will not get into until grad school, as undergraduate will be building a foundation in biology and chemistry and such, so that decision will really be one for graduate education, and she can get a good bachelors program many places. In my area, Baylor University would be a good school for both if you wanted to go to a Christian university. If you you were OK with secular theology studies, Univ of Texas and Rice Univ. are good for academics. Again, I bet theology is even more a graduate level decision as to where to go. She will ultimately have to decide if she wants to be a neuroscientist who dabbles in theology, or a theologian who dabbles in neuroscience.
Phil, thanks so much for your response.
At this point, she is on the fence as it relates to neuroscience/psychology or neuroscience/anatomy.
We are Anglican and open to secular or religious schools (Protestant or Catholic).
So, Cambridge or Oxford?
Haha, indeed
My partner’s daughter is going to a Jesuit college–very good reputation for intellectual development. Boston University has a good reputation, too
Welcome, by the way!
Thanks, Randy
Wheaton has a good theology dept (lots of Anglican professors ;)) and they have a health sciences track that can go along with a psych or biology. https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/programs/healthprofessions/pre-health-tracks/
My daughter is also a junior, we just visited, and my husband and I graduated from there. A friend of mine who was pre-med at Wheaton got into Johns Hopkins no problem and another friend from there is currently a pediatric brain surgeon, so the science course are rigorous. I was told when I was there that U of I gave Wheaton grads a one point boost on their GPA compared to their own graduates when looking at med school applications, because the Wheaton courses were more challenging.
That might explain a lot.
Christy, thanks for all the information about Wheaton.
That’s good to know. I know that historically, the University of Michigan medical school used to seem to favor graduates from Calvin and Hope for similar reasons I think. I went to a state college, and was frustrated that our pre-medicine program gave us all curves at grading, partly because I felt I was not getting as much challenge as I should have. I don’t think that happens so much at a private college like that. On the other hand, I had no debt after going through Community College and State College!
Glad to hear of the interest of your daughter. I am at Wheaton (currently the Chair of the Department of Biological and Health Sciences), and we have a Neuroscience Certificate program that involves both biology and psychology faculty. It is a program that is growing, and we are in the process of hiring a new professor for this program. And, as Christy mentioned, our graduates are well prepared for the next step in a variety of programs. Wheaton has been a great place to go deeper in understanding Christian faith and science together. Feel free to contact me at raymond.lewis@wheaton.edu if you would like more information.
You might want to ask Denis Lamoureux, who used to write for BioLogos. He’s a professor of science and religion at St. Joseph’s College, University of Alberta. Lamoureux holds three earned doctoral degrees in dentistry, theology, and evolutionary biology. With his background he could certainly point you in the right direction!
Thanks, Ray. I’ve sent you an email.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
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