What exactly can you do with this degree? It's at George Mason University and I want to apply in order to get my PhD at GWU down the line, and hopefully do something for NIH or something to do with health psych...am I completely missing the target? I am indeed interested in the neurological basis of behavior, and the biology of psych, but even if I don't go on to get my PhD...I don't really know what to do with this degree? Anyone have advice?
Masters in Biopsychology?
- Thread starter hokie11
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The program looks like a good place to get some exposure and research training and experience. You could expect to be competitive for employment in entry-level research positions if you decided not to pursue a PhD, or if you decided to work for a bit before applying.
That said, I am not personally a fan of "specialization" at the Master's level. This appears to be a major trend of late. Many people are interested in a particular specialization (Neuro, Forensic, etc.) and pursue a specialty "in lieu of" fundamentals. That would be akin to pursuing training to become a "Forensic Pathologist," but skipping medical school.
Having obtained my training in Clinical Health Psychology, I can tell you that if you are interested in Health Psychology, you would be a much better applicant to PhD programs (and better prepared) with a solid (broad) foundation of training in research methods combined with a solid foundational knowledge (and research) in the social and affective bases of behavior as well.
You can get this foundational training in most experimental Master's programs and still feed your interest in the biological bases of behavior. You could "kill two birds with one stone" by selecting a program where a faculty member is conducting the research you're interested in. Get involved in his/her lab, have him/her chair your thesis committee, etc. At the same time, you could participate in a lab where a faculty member could simultaneously expose you to the various (sometimes very different) methods of social psychological research.
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That said, I am not personally a fan of "specialization" at the Master's level. This appears to be a major trend of late. Many people are interested in a particular specialization (Neuro, Forensic, etc.) and pursue a specialty "in lieu of" fundamentals. That would be akin to pursuing training to become a "Forensic Pathologist," but skipping medical school.
Having obtained my training in Clinical Health Psychology, I can tell you that if you are interested in Health Psychology, you would be a much better applicant to PhD programs (and better prepared) with a solid (broad) foundation of training in research methods combined with a solid foundational knowledge (and research) in the social and affective bases of behavior as well.
You can get this foundational training in most experimental Master's programs and still feed your interest in the biological bases of behavior. You could "kill two birds with one stone" by selecting a program where a faculty member is conducting the research you're interested in. Get involved in his/her lab, have him/her chair your thesis committee, etc. At the same time, you could participate in a lab where a faculty member could simultaneously expose you to the various (sometimes very different) methods of social psychological research.
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