<p>I am in my senior year at a top 50 university and will be receiving a BA in religious studies and a minor in philosophy. Through studying these fields I have developed an intense interest in how neuroscience and genetics can explain behavior. My question is, could I get into a M.S. program in neuroscience without substantial experience in hard science coursework, but a strong GPA with a few courses in psychology and philosophy of mind?</p>
<p>I made a similar change, but in the opposite direction: B.A. in the sciences, and graduate school in the humanities. </p>
<p>I think you’ll probably have to take some undergraduate science classes first. With a B.A. from a well respected college or university, you can probably take them as a non-degree-seeking student just about anywhere that’s convenient for you.</p>
<p>Great, thank you for the concise and helpful insight. I am curious, though, as to why you made a switch in the opposite direction? Part of the motivation for me is the economic potential since I have been discouraged about the opportunites available with graduate coursework in the humanities.</p>
<p>I was a really inept geologist.</p>
<p>I would take a look at the admissions web sites for neuroscience programs you’re interested in - they should provide information about expected and required undergraduate preparation for graduate studies in the field.</p>
<p>Like Sikorsky said, you’ll need to take a few classes as an auditor or through a community college to show that you can succeed in science courses. It also wouldn’t hurt to study your butt off and do very well on a subject GRE. I assume you’re interested in a non-research intensive masters, which seems like if you get those courses under your belt, you’ll have a shot. If you want to do a ph.d, however, you need to get working in a lab asap, because you’ll have to start at the bottom and work your way up. It would probably take a few years before starting to seriously think about applying to programs. If you get your masters and decide you really love neuro research, that’s a slightly easier transition and may be the best choice for someone coming from the humanities.</p>
<p>I’m not the most knowledgable about this for sure, but I think the fact that you come from a top 50 school will not help too much here if you aren’t in a science major. You need to at least have a minor in something in the life sciences, but a BS in a physical or life science is really what I imagine they are looking for. Sure you may be smart, no ones doubting that but you probably don’t have the prerequisite knowledge to be taking the classes you would have to take. If you are in your first grad courses and they expect you to be familiar with cell signaling, how would you be able to keep up? My advice, pick up a double major in a science</p>
<p>My question is, could I get into a M.S. program in neuroscience without substantial experience in hard science coursework, but a strong GPA with a few courses in psychology and philosophy of mind?</p>
<p>No. No matter how strong your GPA is, you simply do not have the prerequisite knowledge you need to succeed in such a program. It’d be like taking calculus II without even taking algebra. You need the basic biology and psychology classes to succeed. (Philosophy of Mind is likely to be like “oh, nice,” but neuroscience is VERY different from philosophy, and they think about the mind much differently than philosophers do).</p>
<p>TO get into an MS program in neuroscience, I would assume that you would need to have at least the equivalent of a minor in neuroscience, which is going to involve classes in biology of the brain and psychology. A PhD program would expect the equivalent of an undergraduate major plus probably about 2 years of research experience, at least.</p>
<p>Your best bet now is seeking admission into the MS program by taking some classes. If it is affordable for you to extend your time at your current university to take a few extra classes in neuroscience, you can do that. Otherwise, graduate, get a job to pay the bills and then take some classes as a non-degree student at a public university close to you. You don’t necessarily have to do a second bachelor’s degree for an MS. You just need the prerequisites and possibly a few classes beyond those to demonstrate interest and ability.</p>
<p>Also, have you considered genetic counseling? That is related to your passions and interests, and also leads directly into jobs. Here are some examples of MS programs in that:</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins: [ScM</a> in Genetic Counseling - Degree Programs - Health, Behavior & Society - Departments - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health](<a href=“ScM in Genetic Counseling | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health”>ScM in Genetic Counseling | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health)
Mount Sinai School of Med: [About</a> Us - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai](<a href=“http://icahn.mssm.edu/education/graduate-school/degrees-and-programs/ms-in-genetic-counseling/about-us]About”>MS in Genetic Counseling NYC | Icahn School of Medicine)
Stanford: [Master’s</a> Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling - Stanford University School of Medicine](<a href=“http://med.stanford.edu/genetic-counseling/]Master’s”>Master's Program in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling | Master's Program in Human Genetics & Genetic Counseling | Stanford Medicine)
Boston U: [M.S</a>. Genetic Counseling Program » Graduate Medical Sciences | Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bumc.bu.edu/gms/m-s-genetic-counseling-program/]M.S”>MS Genetic Counseling Program | Graduate Medical Sciences)</p>
<p>This is a relatively new area of inquiry; as you can see, even the most prestigious programs were established ~5 years ago.</p>
<p>Thank you all so very much for your extremely helpful input. I think what I am going to do is hurry up and get my B.A., take the science prereqs at my local community college (which happens to be one of the best in the nation), and then apply for a M.S. Thank you again!</p>
<p>No, you’re going to need to find a four-year university.</p>
<p>Community colleges are lower-division only, and it’s likely that at least some of the prerequisites you’ll need will be upper-division, major-specialty courses. Just taking a freshman-level biology course is not going to cut it - you would likely need a junior- or senior-level course detailing the structure and function of the human nervous system, for example.</p>
<p>Ok, I was worried about that. The CC offers a year and a half of bio, gen chem, ochem, physics, calc 1 & 2, microbio, human anatomy/physiology, and neurophysiology. I guess I would be missing genetics, biochem, and upper div. biopsych courses, but are those necessary for admission into a M.S. program? I would be happy enrolling as a non-degree seeking student, but I worry about the impaction of the life science courses.</p>
<p>yes they would very much be necessary as masters student. I think other people have mentioned, I think you will find the life sciences view of the brain and neurology to be very different from the psychology/philosophy view. Life science of of course, a science and is a matter of fact kind of thing focused on the observable and testable. It does not talk or focus on abstract ideas like the “self” or things of a philosophical nature. Just a forewarning you should know.</p>
<p>I meant: would the last few courses that my CC doesn’t offer, namely, genetics, biochem, upper div biopsych be necessary for a M.S., given my circumstances. Taking the rest at the CC would seem to give me a substantial scientific basis to pursue a M.S. I’m looking at at least 2 years at CC to complete those prerequisites. Doing a year at a four year university as a non-degree-seeking student in order to get a few upper div. courses done would be ideal, I just worry about getting the opportunity/accepted due to the impaction of life science courses at 4-year colleges.</p>
<p>edit: one year at a four year as a non-degree-seeker to get upper divs done, in addition to lower divs at my CC.</p>
<p>Sorry for any confusion.</p>
<p>It’s all program specific. I would call and ask what each program wants you to take. Some of the Upper Division courses could be taken as a grad student assuming you have the appropriate pre-reqs. Again though, that all depends on the program.</p>
<p>When you are taking those science corses, taking statistics, too, would be smart.
In my limited and anecdotal experience, Masters programs are not as obsessive about perfectly completing every pre-requisite perfectly as an MD program is, Masters are more likely to look at the unusual situation, but you need to have the basics covered, there will not be remediation
And you need research experience, get busy now volunteering.
You need to show them you are academically prepared and demonstrste that you know what you are getting yourself into and will be a positive addition to the lab</p>