Psychology > Undergraduate > Career Advising > Neuroscience
Neuroscience Career Advising
What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of how the structure and function of the human brain and nervous system and how it provides the basis for human behavior. The studies can be aimed at elucidation brain activity and mechanisms at many levels from the cellular to the systems level in both normal and damaged brains. Hence, neuroscientists can use a variety of experimental techniques, ranging from cellular and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, human behavior and cognition, computational modeling, and other disciplines, to study brain-behavior relations. One major aim of current neuroscience research is to study how this wiring works and what happens when it’s damaged to find new and better treatments and cures for neurological disorders. Neuroscience is a rapidly expanding discipline that has applications in a wide variety of careers from academia to medicine to the law. An undergraduate degree can prepare students to enter a number of graduate and professional programs in neuroscience, psychology, medicine and healthcare. In addition to academic and research-based careers, there is a wide variety of neuroscience specialties include: Brain-Computer Interfaces (the interface between man and machine), Neuroethics (the social, legal, and ethical consequences of advances in brain research), and Neuroeconomics (risk-taking and decision-making that influence business and the economy).
Why should a student be interested in Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is a relatively new and exciting field and while it mainly brings together psychology and biology, it also draws on a variety of areas such as biochemistry and computational methods. If working on hard problems or dealing with complex information interests you then neuroscience could be a match. Alternatively, engaging in intensive study and research can help prepare one for a career in health-related fields.
What does the QC psychology department have to offer regarding Neuroscience?
About one-third of the full-time QC Psychology faculty are neuroscientists so the department has a very wide variety of relevant offerings from a large selection of neuroscience course offerings to many research opportunities in faculty labs that span all levels of neuroscience research. The gateway course is Behavioral Neuroscience (Psych 243) so it is where to begin your study in this area.
What comes next after taking the Neuroscience cluster?
In addition to the offerings of the neuroscience cluster and being actively engages in neuroscience research, you should consider taking some basic biology and chemistry courses. Further, coding plays a central role in performing research in many areas of neuroscience so taking some basic coding courses will also help prepare you for gaining entrance to graduate programs.
What career opportunities are there in Neuroscience?
Career opportunities in neuroscience vary depending on the level of your degree(s). Here are some possible careers or courses of study which are commonly pursued by Neuroscience graduates:
- With a BA in Neuroscience: Research Assistant/Associate in industry, government, a research institute, or an academic research lab. Students with high GPAs and research experience are well-qualified to apply for graduate programs in Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, or professional programs in health professions (especially medical or dental school, physician’s assistant, physical therapy) or pursue graduate study in scientific journalism.
- With an MA in Neuroscience: Advanced level Research Assistant/Associate within a research environment, Lab manager, Research program management.
- With a PhD in Neuroscience: Academic researcher (college professor), Industry scientist (especially biotechnology or pharmaceuticals), Government neuroscience researcher Scientist in a foundation or non-profit research Institution, Research program management.
- Professional study specific to Neuroscience: Students attending medical school to become psychiatrists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, or pain management specialists may be especially interested in the Neuroscience degree, particularly if they plan to pursue joint professional and graduate degrees (e.g., MD/PhD).
Neuroscience Cluster Coursework
* indicates courses with experiential/hands-on learning
Essential courses for the area of study are bolded. Not bolded classes are suggested.
Psych 101 General Psychology
Psych 1073/1 Statistical Methods
Psych 213W Experimental Psychology
Psych 316 Advanced Experimental: Neurobiology
Psych 103: Pleasure and Pain
Psych 243 Psychology of Behavioral Neuroscience
Psych 231 Psychology of Human Motivation
Psych 260 Sensation and Perception
Psych 281 Problems in Psychology (as relevant)
Psych 323 Psychometrics
Psych 334 Development of Perception & Cognition
Psych 345 Cognitive Neuroscience
Psych 352 Psychopharmacology
Psych 381 Advanced Special Topics (as relevant)
Psych 346 Neuroscience of Memory
(View all course information here.)