<p>Is it a major of its own? I know CMU is very strong for computer science, but how does it fare in neuroscience? Is it stronger than the cognitive science major?</p>
<p>“Neuroscience” seems to be an umbrella term for the following majors at CMU: Biology - Neuroscience Track (MCS), Cognitive Science (HSS), Cognitive Psychology (HSS), Biology-Psychology (MCS), and Psychology-Biology (HSS). CMU’s graduate neurosceince program is combined with the University of Pittsburgh, and is called the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC). Many of the professors in CMU Neuroscience classes are split between, or have multiple affiliations in, the various academic/research institutions in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>They all share some classes in their core curriculum, but have fairly different focuses, which is reflected in the different schools they are a part of. </p>
<p>CMU Neuro/Cog science research topics:
<a href=“http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/researchtopics[/url]”>http://www.cnbc.cmu.edu/researchtopics</a></p>
<p>The majors in MCS focus much more on the sciences; you will need to take 4 chemistry classes, 2 physics classes, chem labs, bio labs, etc. If you are interested in pre-med, psychiatry, or more bio-based neuroscience, MCS is for you. </p>
<p>Cognitive Science is heavily computer and mathematics-oriented; most CogSci majors are also double-majoring in Computer Science; CogSci is only 2 courses from meeting the CompSci reqs. </p>
<p>Cognitive Psychology is CogSci with less math and programming with more psychology. </p>
<p>PsychBio is like BioPsych but with more psychology. </p>
<p>All of these programs are held with high esteem at Carnegie Mellon. If you are more into more biologically-based neuroscience (clinical, cellular, etc), Carnegie Mellon does not offer in-depth classes in these, but there are an incredible breadth of classes at University of Pittsburgh just one block down Forbes–most people take 2+ classes at Pitt. There are also many research opportunities in clinical neuroscience at Western Psychiatric Institute, and other bio-based branches of neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. Most of your research and the scientists you interact with probably won’t be at Carnegie Mellon, making for a more diverse experience.</p>
<p>Cognitive Science, as it is very quantitative in its approach and involves lots of mathematics and computer science, is also very strong at CMU. As you know, Computer Sci is one of CMU’s greatest strengths. Generally this major only has to take very basic natural science classes. Research opportunities are plenty at CMU, with the CNBC, Human-Computer Interaction Institute, and the Computer Science department. There is a lot of focus on brain-data processing, such as neurolinguistics, neuroeconomics, decision science, computer-based teaching, etc. “Neuroscience” in HSS also has a lot of overlap with the Decision Science department. </p>
<p>Neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon is a bit scattered, and you will have to work hard at networking and being independent. But Pittsburgh is one of the top cities in the world for neuroscience research.</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn’t see your message until now! I am not interested in pre-med (…in fact I’m interested in its “polar opposite”, law, after undergrad) so biology-neuroscience track is out. From your descriptions, I think cognitive psychology or psychobiology would probably fit the ticket. Although I do want to learn computer science and use it in conjunction with the understanding of the brain, I don’t want to focus my studies on math and programming and the like. Can you tell me more about the decision science department you referred to in your second to last paragraph?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the detailed response.</p>
<p>does neuroscience/cognitive science have its own department or is it interdisciplinary?</p>
<p>Cognitive Science is part of the Psychology department.</p>
<p>to make sure i got this straight, neuroscience and biopsych are in the biology department while cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and psychbio are in the psychology department?</p>