collageNeuropsychology is a subspecialty of psychology that focuses on how the brain and nervous system function in relation to cognition and personal behavior. Specialists in this field often focus their efforts on deficiencies, specifically the injuries and illnesses of the brain and nervous system that can impede function and behavior. As a neuropsychologist, you will study the structure of the brain for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment. The field is still experimental and offers aspiring neuropsychology majors rich opportunity for growth and discovery.
What is neuroscience?
To begin, what exactly is neuroscience? The study of how the nervous system develops, its structure, and the functions it performs are referred to as neuroscience, which is also known as neural science.
The study of the brain and how it influences behavior, as well as cognitive processes, is the focus of neuroscientists. The field of neuroscience is concerned not only with the typical operation of the nervous system, but also with the changes that take place in the nervous system in those who suffer from neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental diseases.
The field of neuroscience is frequently discussed using the plural form, neurosciences.
The field of neuroscience has, for the most part, been categorized as a subfield of biology. Today, it is considered an interdisciplinary science because of its close ties to various fields of study, including mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy, psychology, and medicine.
There are a lot of researchers that think that neuroscience and neurobiology are the same things as Neuroscience, on the other hand, examine everything that has to do with the nervous system, whereas neurobiology focuses specifically on the biology of the nervous system.
On the Surface
Neuropsychologists study the brain and other parts of the nervous system to understand how they work and how this understanding can be used to provide diagnosis and treatment. This work may be accomplished while employed in research and teaching positions at universities, in one-on-one clinical care, or in research-focused positions at government or private institutions. Neuropsychology practitioners may also work in private practice or as a freelance consultant with any of the aforementioned organizations.
In addition to other tasks, a neuropsychologist may administer brain scans and utilize additional technologies to diagnose and treat patients with psychological birth defects, as well as those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, been diagnosed with depression or have some other form of brain-related disease or disorder.
Deep Dive
The top priority of a neuropsychologist is to provide a diagnosis and pathway that helps patients to improve their cognitive abilities and brain function. As a largely a diagnostic field the typical day will consist of extensive testing and observation.
Neuropsychology practitioners work with a diversity of patients at various stages of development. Some specialize in children while others work strictly with adults who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. The circumstances that bring a patient into your care, the cognitive abilities of that patient and the severity of their injuries or illnesses will have a tremendous impact on your approach as a neuropsychologist.
Some workers in this field will offer cognitive therapy, while others will work with treatment teams to implement specific therapies. Neuropsychology practitioners specializing in research-oriented fields may work closely with students and research assistants to administer experiments designed to diagnose or provide better understanding of a specific disorder.
Common research-based activities will include lab meetings, the management of informational databases and design and development of cognitive training programs for field application. The neuropsychologist must come equipped with a competency for numbers, data interpretation and technical writing, among other qualities.
To lay the groundwork for a neuropsychology career you should first develop your training in clinical work before moving into a specialized area. Such areas may include working with children or adults who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or with those who have developed illnesses caused by chemical imbalances. Neuropsychology is a varied field that offers opportunities to work with conditions such as vascular disorders, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Other areas of focus in neuropsychology include learning disabilities, neuropsychiatric disorders, seizure disorders, infectious disease, metabolic disease, neurodevelopment disorders and neurological effects of medical disorders or treatment.
A key challenge for the neuropsychology professional is finding an area of specialization in what can appear to be a limitless field. There is so much to discover about each disorder, disease or injury that a neuropsychologist cannot afford to be a “jack of all trades.” Instead, you must be a master of one.
Steps to Becoming a Neuropsychologist
A career in neuropsychology is education-intensive. A PhD or PsyD is required in order to practice, and that means 12 years or more of schooling. As with most associate and bachelor’s degrees in psychology, a graduate will spend much of their time doing entry-level duties for low pay. A master’s degree will open more doors but usually means working under clinical supervision. Only doctoral graduates who complete required licensure testing and a two-year internship program can practice independently.
- Major in psychology or a related field for your four-year undergraduate degree.
2. Complete a master’s degree program in a neuropsychology specialty. Some schools offer combined master’s-doctorate neuropsychology programs.
3. Finish your doctorate neuropsychology program and internship.
4. Take the licensure test required by the state you will be practicing in.
Skills Required to Become a Neuropsychologist
Completing an advanced neuropsychology degree requires extensive reading, research awareness, mastery over the scientific method and the ability to communicate complex information in a simple and straightforward manner. As a neuropsychology professional you will work with everyone from patients with brain or nervous system disorders to the healthcare professionals working with them to implement a treatment plan. The neuropsychologist may also teach students or work with colleagues from both the same and different areas of specialization. Your skills will need to be highly developed, and include the following:
- Observational skills to isolate behaviors for help in diagnosis and understanding the best treatment plan.
2. Communication skills to make complex information accessible to patients, families and healthcare workers.
.3. Reading and organizational skills to process the large quantities of information used in research and treatment.
4. Mastery of the scientific method to conduct meaningful research regarding diagnoses and their treatments.
How to get into the best schools for neuroscience?
How does one increase their chances of getting into the best schools for neuroscience? The prerequisites for entering an undergraduate program in neuroscience can differ from one educational institution to the next. They include finishing a required number of classes and achieving a specific grade point average.
To get accepted into a graduate program in Neuroscience, one must demonstrate that they have the necessary academic background as well as previous research experience.
Students who are interested in pursuing careers in neuroscience and either a Ph.D. or an MD will need to fulfill specific prerequisites not once but twice. The first is when applying to a program for undergraduate study, and the second is when applying to a program for graduate study.
It is accurate to say that the qualifications needed to enroll in a Neuroscience program can vary from school to institution.
However, most of them, if not all of them, tend to share the same admission requirements, such as currently being enrolled in or having previously finished certain prerequisite classes.
Although some of the required courses may be in the area of human sciences, the majority of these programs are in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) discipline. Some common instances include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Psychology
A bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience can also be earned in the standard amount of time required for other four-year programs.
However, it is possible for some individuals, particularly non-traditional students who are engaged in activities other than pursuing higher education, to wind up attending college for a total of six years before getting their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience.
On the other hand, students who want to earn their degree through the completion of an online Neuroscience program might be able to do so in as little as three years, depending on how quickly they move through the coursework.
It is imperative that you check to see if the online school that you want to attend for your Neuroscience degree is accredited.
Neuropsychology Degree Options
1
Bachelor’s
Degree
A bachelor’s degree is required to become a neuropsychologist, but it’s also just the beginning. A bachelor’s degree in psychology will give you sense of all the various fields of psychology and help you decide what to focus on in graduate school. Alternatively, a science or health-related undergraduate degree can also give you a good foundation to pursue an advanced neuropsychology degree.
2
Master’s
Degree
Your master’s degree is where specialization becomes important. Classes at this level will focus on behavior, cognition, memory and brain processes, as well as lay the statistics foundation you’ll need to engage in experimental psychology. However, you will still need a PhD to work at the clinical level.
3
Doctorate
A PhD is required to finish licensure and operate independently. Doing so will require an additional three to seven years combining coursework, research, as well as field practice through internship or mentorship programs. Many schools combine the master’s and doctoral degrees into a single five-year program.
How Much Does a Neuropsychologist Make? State By State
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups neuropsychologists with other clinical psychology practitioners, reporting a national median annual salary of $70,700, or $33.99 per hour based on the 40-hour workweek. Pay increases considerably the based on experience. For instance, the BLS notes that “the lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $114,290.”
A second study from the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology reported that practitioners with as many as 15 years in the field made $130,600, while 25-year veterans made around $185,200. For neuropsychologists who wish to maximize their pay, BLS cites the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and California as the highest paying states.
Best Colleges For Neuroscience And Neurobiology
If you find neuroscience and neurobiology to be immensely captivating, you might be interested in a future as a neuroscientist or a neurobiologist. The average annual salary for a graduate with a degree in neuroscience and neurobiology is $99,781, which, for the record, is 148.8% north of the median American wage and 62.9% greater than an average budget analyst’s income. Our team of educational analysts assessed all the data and couldn’t be more delighted to put forward our extensive 2022 Best Colleges for Neuroscience and Neurobiology list. You may find a few of the schools to be surprising!
The Ivy League leads the country in yielding superior quality colleges for neuroscience and neurobiology, accounting for 5 of the top 10 places. After the Ivy League is the Southeastern Conference, having 1 in the top 10.
To give you a little background on our top choices, the 10 Best Colleges for Neuroscience and Neurobiology have acceptance rates between 5% and 11%. On average, their accepted students scored 34 on the ACT. They cost an average of $22,565 per year, after financial aid, and their undergrads receive from $41,953 to $56,222 on average in financial aid per year. For their overall quality, they were given ratings on School Authority that range from 9.46 to 10.
What are the best schools for neuroscience?
Where can one find the most reputable colleges for studying neuroscience? There are around 6,000 different schools and universities spread across the United States. Only a little more than 300 of those institutions offer programs in Neuroscience.
However, this does not imply that you can complete a Neuroscience degree at any college or university of your choosing and then expect to be accepted into graduate school or paid well after graduation.
The sphere of medicine is where the vast majority of neuroscientists find themselves working. Because of this, having a strong Neuroscience program that can only be obtained from a recognized and accredited institution or university is an absolute necessity.
This is the reason why having such a curriculum is a must-have. Students who have aspirations of working in the field of neuroscience one day should, without a doubt, put together an exhaustive list of potential colleges to attend.
The following is a list of some of the top universities for Neuroscience:
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Students who are interested in getting a degree in neurobiology or neuroscience should strongly consider applying to Stanford University. The Stanford University campus is a huge private university that is not-for-profit and is situated in the suburb of Stanford.
The fact that Stanford University has been ranked as the second-best university in the country out of a total of 2,241 schools indicates that the university excels overall.
In the most recent academic year, around fifteen students at Stanford majoring in neurobiology and neurosciences graduated from the university with this degree.
Brown University
Providence, RI
If you are interested in pursuing a degree in neurobiology or neuroscience, Brown University is one of the best places to do it. Brown University is highly ranked among the best schools for neuroscience and is a prestigious private institution that does not seek to make a profit. It has a sizable number of undergraduate and graduate students.
Brown University is a fantastic establishment, as evidenced by its position on the Best Colleges ranking at number 11 out of 2,241 colleges in the United States.
During the most recent academic year, around 65 students in the fields of neurobiology and neurosciences earned their degrees from Brown. Those who graduate from Brown University’s neurobiology and neurosciences program earn an average of $12,235 more in their first few years after receiving their degree than the typical college graduate who has the same degree.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an institution that should be investigated by every student who is considering a career in neurobiology or neurosciences. MIT is a prestigious private institution that does not seek to make a profit and has a sizable number of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled.
MIT is a fantastic institution all around, as evidenced by its position as the nation’s best college according to the Best Colleges ranking.
During the most recent academic year, around thirteen students at MIT majoring in neurobiology and neurosciences received their degrees from the institution.
Students who earn their degrees in neurobiology and neurosciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn an average of $14,988 more per year than students who earn their degrees from other universities.
Duke University
Durham, NC
If you are interested in pursuing a degree in neurobiology or neuroscience, Duke University is one of the best places to do it. Duke University is a private university that does not seek to make a profit, and it has a very sizable number of undergraduate and graduate students.
Duke University is a fantastic establishment overall, as evidenced by its position as the third-best college in the US according to Best Colleges. Hence, it is recognized as one of the best schools for neuroscience.
During the most recent academic year, about 84 students in the fields of neurobiology and neurosciences were able to complete their studies at Duke and get their degrees. An increase in wages of roughly $5,621 may be expected for neurobiology and neurosciences majors who get a degree from Duke University. This is compared to the average earnings of neurobiology and neurosciences majors.
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
The city of Cambridge is home to the prestigious and highly regarded private and non-profit educational institution known as Harvard. The fact that Harvard University is ranked 12th among the 2,241 colleges and universities in the United States indicates that it is an excellent educational institution.
During the most recent academic year, Harvard awarded degrees in neurobiology and neuroscience to around 86 different students. Students who earn their degrees in neurobiology and neurosciences from Harvard University earn an average of $7,760 more per year than students who earn their degrees from other universities.
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
Columbia University is a non-profit, private institution of higher education that has a sizeable number of undergraduates enrolled in its New York City campus. The fact that Columbia University is ranked 14th among the 2,241 colleges and universities in the United States indicates that it is an excellent educational institution.
In the most recent academic year, there were around 130 students in the fields of neurobiology and neurosciences who graduated from Columbia University with this degree. Shortly after graduation, degree recipients from the neurobiology and neurosciences program at Columbia University in the City of New York earn an average of $11,624 more than other graduates with the same degree who have the same level of experience and education.
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
Hanover is a small town in New Hampshire that is home to the prestigious and relatively small private institution known as Dartmouth. And Dartmouth College is among the best schools for neuroscience. In terms of the overall quality of New Hampshire’s colleges and universities, this college comes in at number one, out of a total of 17.
During the most recent academic year, Dartmouth awarded bachelor’s degrees to approximately 58 students majoring in neurobiology and neurosciences.
Students who graduate with degrees in neurobiology and neurosciences from Dartmouth College earn an average of $9,375 more per year once they enter the workforce than other neurobiology graduates.
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
The town of Princeton, New Jersey, is home to the private, non-profit institution of higher education known as Princeton University. The fact that Princeton University is ranked tenth among the 2,241 colleges and universities in the United States indicates that it is an excellent institution overall.
In the most recent academic year, around 48 students in the fields of neurobiology and neurosciences graduated from Princeton University with the appropriate degree.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
UPenn is a private university that is not operated for business and has a very big number of students. It is found in the middle of the city of Philadelphia. Penn is a fantastic institution all around, as evidenced by its position as the nation’s fourth-best college according to the Best Colleges ranking.
During the most recent academic year, the University of Pennsylvania awarded bachelor’s degrees in neurobiology and neuroscience to around 132 individuals. Students who graduate with a degree in neurobiology often begin their employment with an annual salary of approximately $27,738.
Boston University
Boston, MA
The city of Boston is home to the extremely sizable and prestigious private non-profit university known as Boston University. This university is ranked number five out of the 63 schools in the state of Massachusetts in terms of overall quality.
The most current data year shows that there were roughly 147 students at Boston University who graduated with a degree in neurobiology and neurosciences during that period. Students who graduate from Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs at Boston University earn an average of $9,059 more per year than students who graduate from other neurobiology programs. Thus, Boston University is ranked highly as one of the best schools for neuroscience.
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
UChicago is a private university that is not operated for profit and has a sizeable number of undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is situated in the city of Chicago. UChicago is a fantastic institution, as evidenced by its position as the seventh-best college in the nation according to the Best Colleges ranking.
In the most current data year, there were approximately 53 students at the University of Chicago who majored in neurobiology and neurosciences and graduated with this degree.
University of California – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public institution of higher education that is home to a sizeable number of undergraduate and graduate students. In terms of the overall quality of California’s schools, this university is ranked sixth out of a total of 170 options.
During the most recent academic year, around 188 students at UCLA majoring in neurobiology and neurosciences received their degrees from the university. Students who complete the neurobiology program and graduate with their degree report an average early career salary of $29,779 for themselves and their families.
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
The city of Baltimore is home to the prestigious and somewhat big private institution of higher learning known as Johns Hopkins. The fact that Johns Hopkins University is ranked ninth among the 2,241 colleges and universities in the United States indicates that it is an excellent educational institution.
During the most recent academic year, Johns Hopkins University awarded degrees in neurobiology and neuroscience to around 160 students. Students who complete the neurobiology program and graduate with a degree report average early career earnings of $24,801.
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Ithaca is the location of the state’s oldest and most prestigious private institution of higher education, Cornell University. Cornell is among the best schools for neuroscience and a fantastic institution overall, as evidenced by its position in the Best Colleges ranking at number 13 out of 2,241 colleges in the United States.
In the most recent academic year, roughly nine students at Cornell majoring in neurobiology and neurosciences graduated from the university with the aforementioned degree.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
A very large private university that does not make a profit, USC can be found in the middle of the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles. In terms of the overall quality of California’s schools, this university comes in at number four out of 170 options.
During the most recent academic year, the University of Southern California awarded bachelor’s degrees in neurobiology and neuroscience to around 122 students. Graduates of the neurobiology program earn an average starting salary of approximately $26,886 in their first couple of years of work after receiving their degrees.
collage