<p>Does anyone know how good their neuroscience department is? And also, I'm sort of confused about the whole declaring a major process. If I say my major is neuroscience, then what is pre-med? I understand it's sort of a list of classes to prepare for medical school, but whenever I applied, I selected it as my major because it was on the list...can someone enlighten me..?</p>
<p>Also a prospective neuroscience major here (combined with History and Philosophy of Science)! I have had an extended conversation with a neuroscientist who is a professor at Vanderbilt, and he told me that UPitt is very well regarded for neuroscience, stating specifically that an undergrad degree in neuro from Pitt is competitive at grad schools or med schools with a degree from a private place like WashU, etc. The entire Pittsburgh area is a very active hub of neuroscience research. Unfortunately I can't really tell you about pre-med; I do not think that it is a major in and of itself, the only way I would go to med school is as part of an MD/PhD program. Maybe someone else can shed some light on the pre-med thing.</p>
<p>Thank you very much. That is good to know. But yes, can anyone explain what exactly pre-med is? I understood that you could be pre-med and major in anything as long as you take the required classes to be considered pre-med...? This rep told me the usual majors though are like biochemistry, molecular biology, etc. But is neuroscience and pre-med common?</p>
<p>It is definately doable, maybe not all that common though.</p>
<p>Oh okay. Well, now, I am not sure about this at all, I mean, a lot could happen...but if I were considering neuropathology, would I do neuroscience and pre-med, then go to med school for neurology?</p>
<p>That sounds like a very reasonable course to take; it would prepare you quite well.</p>
<p>Neuroscience is an extremely highly regarded major at Pitt. OUTSTANDING program. You don't have to be a 'pre-med' major. I'm sure you know that you can easily obtain a neuroscience degree while fulfilling pre-med requirements.</p>
<p>Given the strength of the medical sciences at Pitt, I'd imagine that their undergrad studies in chem, biochem, neuroscience, etc. are all very strong. It seems to be a part of their academic program that compares favorably with top 30 schools.</p>
<p>Regarding the Neuro program, I met with my adviser today. I am transferring into the Undergraduate Neuro Program in the spring.</p>
<p>Basically, you take the same classes as Premed majors; General Chem, Orgo, General Bio, Biochem, Physiology, and Physics (all classes that would be on the MCATs). In addition; you take 4 core courses in Neuro, pick two or more advance neuro electives (a few of these classes are offered at Carnegie Mellon, like Cognitive Basis of Behavior, which is what I am interested in), and need to take part of "Capstone Experience" to be awarded the undergraduate degree. Concurrent to taking advanced electives, you also take advanced writing classes that are related to the class and supplement the learning. The capstone experience consists of a few class choices: Topics in Neuro, Clinical Neurophsyiology, Independent Research (Senior Thesis), but all need to take Thesis Writing Practicum class here.</p>
<p>Research opportunities or undergraduate teaching are not required to graduate, but 90% of all students per take in research at some point. You dont need to necessarily do the research at Pitt, but Pitt has the best opportunities and will assist you in finding research that you are interested in.</p>
<p>Hey surf, seeing as you know all about this stuff, how compatible would a neuroscience degree be with the cognitive concentration psychology major, and/or the history and philosophy of science major?</p>
<p>Psychology takes a different approach then Neuroscience. Neuroscience is focused on the scientific approach to the brain, while psychology is a bit more broad. Dont really know about the cognitive psychology major specifics though.</p>
<p>Honestly, each is very well regarded; and picking a major really depends on what you want to do after you get your undergraduate degree. Neuro can prepare students for a plethora of future opportunities; MCAT's and future Med school admission, Masters focused on doing Neuro Reseach, and even teaching. </p>
<p>Plenty of top neurosurgeons have gone to Pitt, majored in neuro as their undergraduate, and were able to have advantages in medical school compared to other students.</p>
<p>One student in the Neuro program is actually doing a summer study on stress that is exerted on rats and the biochemical reactions to that stress. that seems pretty cool to me.</p>
<p>So, really depends on future goals. Keep in mind, the psychology major will not be in the school of arts and sciences, and the classes you take will vary tremendously. Instead of taking the core science classes that you would with Neuro, you take a broader and less scientific approach with that Psychology major. You will take classes like linguistics and the philosophy of science.</p>
<p>What are your particular interests?</p>
<p>I definately want to do neuroscience. I just think that having a broader perspective is a good thing, because my main interest lies in memory, perception, and especially cogntition, which is still taking its first baby steps out of psychology and into biology. Are you sure that psychology is not in the school of A&S? Also, do you know anything about the Center for Neuroscience or the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition in Pittsburgh? Are these places where undergrads could potentially pursue research?</p>
<p>Well, it depends on what you like really. If you are interested in the sciences, then do Neuro. If you are interested in the "human condition", then do psychology.</p>
<p>Psychology is in the School of Arts and Sciences, with a completely different faculty though.</p>
<p>Both of these places that you mentioned are where undergrad's do pursue research too.</p>
<p>Here is a link to both major and what the requirments are.</p>
<p>you can see how different they really are.</p>
<p>My freshman D will also be switching into neuroscience next semester, and plans on fulfilling pre-med requirements along the way. She also hopes to minor in psych if it can all be squeezed in. Very happy yesterday as she got all classes, labs, requirements and electives she wanted at registration!!</p>
<p>Pitt seems to rate very high in neuroscience. <a href="http://chronicle.com/stats/productivity/page.php?bycat=true&primary=12&secondary=113%5B/url%5D">http://chronicle.com/stats/productivity/page.php?bycat=true&primary=12&secondary=113</a></p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I'm glad I now have a better understanding of Neuroscience at Pitt. I'm pretty sure that's what I want to do, at least right now. Well, I'm sure it's not a big deal, but what would I do now that I know that is what my major will be? I've been accepted, but I put Pre-Med as my major, so how would I change it? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>call the SAS.</p>
<p>it might not even matter during your first year anyway. </p>
<p>Most of the prerequisites for Neuro are classes you are going to take for your first year in premed. also, the gen ed requirements that you will take during your first 2 years are the same as premed majors.</p>
<p>So......I dont think it is something that needs to be done right away.</p>