Master\u2019s Degree in Neuroscience \u2013 Two Year Duration\nMany master\u2019s programs in neuroscience offer both a thesis-based degree with a requirement of a laboratory research project, and a non-thesis degree program requiring more extensive coursework and the writing of a review of neuroscience literature. Students who choose to continue graduate training after earning their master\u2019s degree can have their credits applied to the doctoral program. \n
Doctoral Degree in Neuroscience \u2013 Five Year Duration
\nThe doctoral program in neuroscience involves essentially the same coursework as the master\u2019s program, but has a more intensive research component. After defending their dissertation, doctoral graduates often go on to postdoctoral work at research institutions.
\n
Both the master\u2019s and doctoral programs offer broad exposure to cellular, molecular, behavioral, developmental, and systems neuroscience, with emphasis on disease, injury, and therapeutics. Rigorous research training takes place through interactions with faculty, participation in scientific meetings, and training in scientific writing, teaching, formulation of hypotheses, and experimental design.
\n
These are examples of possible areas of research and concentrations:
\n
Spinal Cord and Brain Injury
\n- Neuroplasticity \u2013 the brain\u2019s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections to compensate for injury and disease
\n- Axon regeneration \u2013 an axon is the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells
\n- Cellular transplantation \u2013 examples: stem cells, peripheral nerve bridges, fibroblasts
\n- Rehabilitation
\n- Central nervous system response to injury, including neuroinflammation
\n- Autonomic dysfunction \u2013 develops when the nerves of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are damaged; the ANS is a control system that regulates bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and urination
\n- Neuropathic pain
\n- Neuroprotective strategies
\n- Robotics and brain-machine interface
\n- Computational neuroscience and modeling
\n- Recovery of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions
\n- Microtubule-based therapies for augmenting nerve regeneration
\n
Cellular Neuroscience
\n- How axons grow, branch, and navigate during development
\n- How dendrites become different from axons \u2013 a dendrite is a short branched extension of a nerve cell along which impulses received from other cells are transmitted to the cell body
\n- How neurons migrate from their sites of origin to their final destinations in the developing brain
\n- Alzheimer\u2019s disease
\n- Hereditary spastic paraplegia
\n- ALS
\n- Autism spectrum disorders
\n- Gulf War illness
\n- HIV-AIDS
\n- Multiple sclerosis
\n- Parkinson\u2019s disease
\n- Spinal cord injury
\n- Traumatic brain injury
\n
Systems and Behavioral Neurobiology (the biological basis of behavior)
\n- Ingestive behavior \u2013 feeding and drinking
\n- Substance abuse
\n- Regulation of executive function \u2013 mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and multitask
\n- Learning and memory
\n- Psychostimulant drugs and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
\n- Stress, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
\n- Sleep and arousal
\n- Locomotion and neural networks
\n- Traumatic brain injury
\n- Schizophrenia
\n- Autism
\n- Parkinson\u2019s disease
\n
Neuroengineering (in combination with therapeutic approaches to brain and spinal cord injury and rehabilitation)
\n- Computational modeling of reflex systems and pattern generator controls of breathing and locomotion
\n- Development of spinal cord motor prostheses
\n- Development of cortical motor / sensory prostheses, brain-machine interfaces, and neurorobotics
", "display_order": 2, "created_at": "2019-08-29T17:56:35.613411-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-01-10T16:16:00.441317-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 30, "page": 1, "title": "Degrees Similar to Neuroscience", "summary_markdown": "**[Biomedical Engineering](/degrees/biomedical-engineering-degree/)** \r\nSimply stated, biomedical engineering uses engineering to solve health and medical problems. For example, a biomedical engineer might look for chemical signals in the body that warn of a particular disease or condition. \r\n\r\n**[Chemistry](/degrees/chemistry-degree/)** \r\nChemistry deals with identifying the substances that make up matter. Degree programs in chemistry focus on investigating these substances: their properties; how they interact, combine, and change; and how scientists can use chemical processes to form new substances. \r\n\r\n**[Computer Science](/degrees/computer-science-degree/)** \r\nThe field of computer science is focused on computer systems and how humans interact with them. Courses cover mathematics for computer science, artificial intelligence, data structures and algorithms, and introduction to program design. \r\n\r\n**[Linguistics](/degrees/linguistics-degree/)** \r\nLinguistics explores the nature of language variations and dialects, how language evolves over time, how it is processed and stored in the human brain, and how it is acquired. It is the scientific study of language and communication, both within a single language and across language groups. \r\n\r\nThe primary sub-areas of linguistics are phonetics \u2013 the study of the production, acoustics, and hearing of speech sounds; phonology \u2013 the patterning of sounds; morphology \u2013 the structure of words; syntax \u2013 the structure of sentences; semantics \u2013 meaning; and pragmatics \u2013 language in context. \r\n\r\n**[Molecular Biology](/degrees/molecular-biology-degree/)** \r\nDegree programs in molecular biology teach the composition, structure, and interactions of cellular molecules like nucleic acids and proteins that are essential to cell function.", "content_markdown": "**[Pharmacology](/degrees/pharmacology-degree/)** \r\nPharmacologists study how drugs and medicines work so they can be used in the right way. The work naturally involves an understanding of chemical and biological interactions. \r\n\r\n**[Philosophy](/degrees/philosophy-degree/)** \r\nPhilosophy encourages the asking of big questions and the formulation of arguments to attempt to answer them. Who are we? Why are we here? What do we believe? Why do we believe it? What is right and wrong in life? What is true and false? What is real and unreal? Philosophy is concerned with the nature of existence and knowledge. \r\n\r\n**[Psychobiology](/degrees/psychobiology-degree/)** \r\nPsychobiology is the interaction between biological systems and behavior. It is concerned with how what we think and what we feel combine with biological events. Research in the field covers topics such as how psychological stressors can impact the brain and behavior. An example is how an exam or job interview can cause heart palpitations. \r\n\r\n**[Robotics Technology](/degrees/robotics-technology-degree/)** \r\nDegree programs in robotics technology prepare students to work with engineers who design robots and robotic systems than can perform duties that humans are either unable or prefer not to perform.", "content_html": "
Pharmacology
\nPharmacologists study how drugs and medicines work so they can be used in the right way. The work naturally involves an understanding of chemical and biological interactions.
\n
Philosophy
\nPhilosophy encourages the asking of big questions and the formulation of arguments to attempt to answer them. Who are we? Why are we here? What do we believe? Why do we believe it? What is right and wrong in life? What is true and false? What is real and unreal? Philosophy is concerned with the nature of existence and knowledge.
\n
Psychobiology
\nPsychobiology is the interaction between biological systems and behavior. It is concerned with how what we think and what we feel combine with biological events. Research in the field covers topics such as how psychological stressors can impact the brain and behavior. An example is how an exam or job interview can cause heart palpitations.
\n
Robotics Technology
\nDegree programs in robotics technology prepare students to work with engineers who design robots and robotic systems than can perform duties that humans are either unable or prefer not to perform.
", "display_order": 3, "created_at": "2019-08-29T17:56:35.615512-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-01-10T16:18:16.399837-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 30, "page": 1, "title": "Skills You’ll Learn", "summary_markdown": "Graduates of neuroscience programs gain these transferrable skills through their course of study:\r\n\r\n- Abstract reasoning \r\n- Academic writing and presentation \r\n- Attention to detail \r\n- Awareness of ethical issues \r\n- Communication and interpersonal skills \r\n- Experiment design \r\n- Laboratory skills \r\n- Leadership and teamwork \r\n- Observation, investigation, and critical thinking \r\n- Organization and time management \r\n- Research and data analysis and interpretation \r\n- Summarizing vast amounts of information \r\n- Use of statistical tests in data analysis", "content_markdown": "", "content_html": "", "display_order": 4, "created_at": "2019-08-29T17:56:35.617566-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-01-10T16:14:48.988861-08:00"}, {"degree_id": 30, "page": 1, "title": "What Can You Do with a Neuroscience Degree?", "summary_markdown": "Because neuroscience combines aspects of many disciplines \u2013 from chemistry, medicine, and linguistics to mathematics, computer science, and engineering \u2013 graduates of the field find themselves working in a surprisingly wide array of areas. Many choose to go to medical school and become a physician or surgeon. \r\n \r\nBelow are the most common occupational categories in neuroscience. Some roles require further education and/or additional specialized training. \r\n\r\n**Research and Teaching** \r\n- Clinical / Medical \r\n- Academic / University \r\n- Biotechnology \r\n- Pharmaceutical / Drug Development \r\n\r\n**Healthcare and Social Services** \r\n- Neuropsychology / Psychology \r\n- Neuroimaging / Brain Imaging \r\n- Neurology \r\n- Neurosurgery \r\n- Neuropsychiatry / Psychiatry \r\n- Occupational Therapy \r\n- Physical Therapy \r\n- Speech-Language Pathology \r\n- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counseling \r\n\r\n**Government** \r\n- Regulatory Affairs \r\n- Policy \r\n- Research Administration \r\n\r\n**Writing and Publishing** \r\n- Scientific Journalist / Blogger / Editor \r\n- Creative writing about the brain \u2013 for children or adults \r\n\r\n**Creative Sector** \r\n- Developer of toys for brain development", "content_markdown": "", "content_html": "", "display_order": 5, "created_at": "2019-08-29T17:56:35.619651-07:00", "updated_at": "2022-01-10T16:14:49.016852-08:00"}], "degree_specializations": []}">
