College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Columbia University
• Amherst College
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• John Hopkins University

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of California—Los Angeles
• University of California—San Diego
• University of California—Irvine
• University of Michigan

Classes in the Major

Cognitive Neuroscience. There are three common tracks for the study of neuroscience: cognitive, behavioral, and molecular. In cognitive neuroscience courses, you'll focus on how cognitive functions, such as vision and language, are controlled by the brain. Be prepared to conduct research using neuro-imaging and electrophysiological techniques. You might use this type of research to analyze cognitive impairments in brain-damaged patients, or figure out what's causing memory to degenerate in the elderly.

Behavioral Neuroscience. In this area of study, you're looking at the parts of the brain that cause people to act a certain way. Different systems within the brain impact different areas of behavior, from learning and memory to communication and aggressiveness. Courses in behavioral neuroscience might include Neurophysiology of Motivation, Hormones and Behavior, or Psychopharmacology.

Molecular Neuroscience. Courses in molecular neuroscience will focus on what happens in the brain at the cellular level. How does information flow between cells in the nervous system? How is the cellular structure of the nervous system developed and maintained? What causes degeneration in these cells? You'll find out the answers to these questions and more in classes such as Molecular Neurobiology or Cellular Neurophysiology.

Biology. Before launching into the inner workings of the brain, a strong foundation in biology is required of neuroscience majors. But this ain't your seventh grade frog-dissection class. You'll be studying in a wide range of biology courses from Anatomy and the Nervous System to Cell Biology and Biochemistry. Get ready to throw on some goggles and do a lot of lab work.

Statistics. Anyone majoring in a scientific field is going to have to become familiar with statistics. A big part of your job will be to gather, synthesize, and analyze data. A theory is just a hypothesis if it doesn't have the data to back it up, and statistics will give you the tools necessary to wrangle that data. Down, data. Down, boy.