<p>I'm currently attending Penn State and was wondering what I should have as my undergrad degree if I would like to pursue a PhD in behavioral neuroscience. My current major is biobehavioral health with a focus in research. What worries me is that the classes I need to take for research are classes like anthropology or general science classes, nothing like physics, chem, calc, etc. Instead of focusing on research should I take the classes with the focus on going to medical school or is there another degree I should pursue at Penn State?</p>
<p>There are two basic approaches to behavioral neuroscience-- biological basis for behavior and psycho-motivational basis for behavior.</p>
<p>The first is a biology subspecialty and requires coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, neurobiology, and computer science. The second is “softer” approach and requires coursework in statistics, biology, psychology, anthropology and (sometimes) public health.</p>
<p>Many neuroscience PhD programs have a strong biology component, although it is possible to enter the field with a undergraduate or grad degrees in psych and anthropology. (For example, D2’s PI at her undergrad had her PhD in anthropology but works extensively in cognitive processing.) </p>
<p>You don’t need a MD to become a neuroscience researcher. A PhD is much more useful if you want a research career. </p>
<p>What I would suggest is that you start to identify some graduate neuroscience programs you might want to attend and see what kinds of academic preparation they expect. If you have a specific area of research you want to work in, start reading the literature and see who is publishing work you find interesting, then look at the school the researcher is affiliated with.</p>
<p>Some programs to look at to get you started: Baylor, Boston U, Case Western, Columbia, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, JHU, MIT, NYU, OHSU, SUNY-Stonybrook, UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, UCLA, UCSF, UColorado, USC, URochester, UT-SouthWestern,UWashington, UWisconsin, WUSTL, Yale.</p>
<p>At some these^ schools, the neuroscience grad program is administered by the SOM. However, this doesn’t mean you need to apply to med school to do grad work there. Grad admissions are separate from med school admissions.</p>