Science is just beginning to unravel the mysteries of the brain. Students
studying neuroscience know that they will be on the cutting edge of this exploration,
as researchers struggle to understand problems such as concussions, strokes,
color-blindness, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and many more.
The quest for neuroscience knowledge can begin at the undergraduate level
at most schools offering this field of study. Baylor University in Texas offers
a bachelor of science in neuroscience degree. At Franklin and Marshall College
in Pennsylvania, students receive a bachelor of arts in the school's Biological
Foundations of Behavior program.
All these programs take four years of study. However, if you want to work
in the field, you'll likely have to get a master's degree and maybe even
a PhD.
Joe Achor, a professor at Baylor University, says neuroscience majors
take one year each of college biology, chemistry, physics and calculus.
"They will also take courses in statistics, introductory neuroscience, learning,
memory, behavioral neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, cognition, neuroanatomy,
neurophysiology and psychology."
"Our courses range from neuropsychology [effects of brain damage on humans]
to basic understanding of how neurons work at the cellular and subcellular
level," says neuroscience professor Shelley Adamo.
Students studying neuroscience will acquire laboratory skills in
a wide variety of science areas. It is an important area for a field that
relies on research, so it is a key focus for some programs.
Rob Jinks, who teaches at Pennsylvania's Franklin and Marshall College,
says they look for service to the high school and local community when assessing
applicants. They also look for evidence of strong and consistent performance
in high school science and mathematics as well as demonstration of strengths
across the curriculum.
"Our faculty prefers to have students who are academically strong and are
able to work independently with minimal supervision," says Achor.
In high school, focus on biology, chemistry, physics and advanced mathematics.
Achor adds psychology and English to the list.
His suggestions for useful extracurricular activities include volunteering.
"Experience helping in a biomedical setting -- for example, assisting in a
research or clinical laboratory of any kind -- would be quite useful," he
says.
"Volunteer experience working with special patient populations would also
be useful. These patient populations could include newborns and infants, psychiatric
patients, the aged, etc."
Besides tuition and books, you may have to pay a variety of fees -- general
student fees, laboratory fees, athletic fees, computer fees.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Biological
Scientists
Neuroscience for Kids
A great site from a professor at the University of Washington
The Whole Brain Atlas
From Harvard University