Neuroscience Degree

Neuroscience is the study of the central and peripheral nervous systems. These systems are responsible for and control the human senses, behaviors, and thoughts.
There are a number of degree options available for those interested in this discipline starting at the undergraduate level and going up to the doctoral level.

Neuroscience is the science and study of the nervous systems. This comprises everything from:

• How the nervous systems function
• How they control behavior
• Their effect on physiology
• How they change and adapt
• What changes they go through during development, learning, aging, disease, trauma, etc.

The field of neuroscience is very broad in its applications and the study of neuroscience is interdisciplinary. It is closely related to fields such as mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, and medicine.
Today, neuroscience is one of the most rapidly growing scientific disciplines and the outcomes of research carried out in this field are likely to have far-reaching ramifications.

Due to the extensive amount of lab work and research requirements of this discipline, online neuroscience degree programs and courses are very rare. Students interested in online options in the field may be able to find some stand-alone introductory courses in the field.

Bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience are interdisciplinary and provide students with a strong foundation in the core sciences and related mathematical courses required in the field. These programs aim to develop the quantitative, statistical, mathematical, and computational skills required in neuroscience. Students can also expect to carry out lab work and research.
These programs typically take four years to complete.
Entry Requirements

• A high school diploma or its equivalent
• Most programs require students to have taken courses in chemistry, biology, and calculus in high school
• Letters of recommendation
• Minimum GPA requirements are determined by individual programs

Curriculum
The courses typically taken in bachelor’s degree programs in this discipline include:

• Calculus
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Neurochemistry of behavior
• Biology computational tools
• Learning and neurobiology
• Neuropharmacology
• Molecular biology of cells

A master’s degree in neuroscience is an essential step for those interested in pursuing doctoral studies in the field. The program is lab work and research intensive, and aims to help students develop their analytical science skills in addition to their general competence in neuroscience and its sub-areas.
Some programs also allow students to choose an area of concentration for their degree. Some concentration areas available may include neuropsychiatric disorders, developmental neurosciences and synaptic transmission.
This program typically takes two years to complete.
Entry Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in one of the physical, behavioral or biological sciences
• Minimum GPA requirements are determined by individual programs
• Letters of recommendation

Curriculum
The curriculum for master’s programs in neuroscience is research intensive and involves a lot of lab work. Students can expect to further their understanding of neuroscience through an interdisciplinary approach to the field.
The precise courses taken in master’s degree programs are likely to vary depending upon a student’s chosen area of concentration. Some of the courses students can expect to take include:

• Neurophysiology
• Nervous system function and structure
• Neural mechanisms
• Language and the brain
• Neuroendocrinology
• Psychopharmacology
• Neurobiology
• Embryology
• Physiology and anatomy
• Biostatistics

Phur.D. in Neoscience

A doctorate degree in the field of neuroscience is intended for those individual who wish to seek positions in research or academia. Students will be required to choose an area of specialization within the field on which they will focus their studies. Some of the areas of concentration include neurogenetics, learning and memory, neural development, and degeneration and repair.
The curriculum is very research intensive and requires students to carry out a significant amount of lab work.
These programs typically take 5-6 years to complete.
Entry Requirements

• A master’s degree in neuroscience or a related discipline
• Some programs do however consider applicants with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience
• GRE scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Minimum GPA requirements are determined by individual programs

Curriculum
The curriculum of these programs involves evaluating contemporary research, carrying out lab work and coursework related to a specific concentration area.
Core coursework is often taken in areas including:

• Anatomy
• Cellular neurophysiology
• Connectomics
• Mathematical modeling
• Neural development and plasticity
• Neural dynamics

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have data specifically for the field of neuroscience. They do however have data for biophysicists, professionals which carry out research in neuroscience.
The data corresponding to biophysicists is as follows:

• In 2012, the annual median salary for biochemists and biophysicists was $81,480.
• The expected rate of employment growth in this field between the years 2012-22 is projected to be 19%. This is much faster than the average rate of employment growth for other professions, which is 11%.
• The top 10 percent of professionals in this field earned more than $147,350.
• In 2012, biochemists and biophysicists held about 29,200 jobs in the U.S.
• The top industries which employed these professionals in 2012 included:

• In 2012, the annual medial salary for biochemists and biophysicists in the top five industries in which they worked were:

Neuroscience is a broad, interdisciplinary field which is concerned with the study of the brain and nervous systems. For those interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience, a bachelor’s degree followed by more advanced qualifications such as graduate and doctorate degrees, are recommended, depending on your particular career goals.