post-bac or terminal master's program in neuroscience?

[recycleruminate]

i am majoring in psychology as an undergrad. i studied sociology before that. i feel limited. i have very little bio, chem, or science foundation.

i want to do research, and my interest is heading more toward pharmacology and cognitive neuroscience. however, with my psychology major curriculum, i only feel qualified/prepared for behavioral research and therapy.

i realize most master's degrees in the field only come via PHD programs, but i do not feel ready for a PHD program because my interests are still so broad and the labs seem so specific.

i am looking at some post-bac pre-health/med programs, but i am afraid they might be somewhat irrelevant or too broad for cognitive neuroscience.

i am also reluctant to go for research assistance positions before settling in on a PHD program. i feel like i still need the structure of taking classes. also, PHD might feel a little too academic for me, i think id like to do more clinical research. maybe even research and some clinical practice to make $$ -- in a perfect world.

i guess im still pretty vague --- my plans are obviously sort of half baked. but any pointers?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=206043

this thread actually addresses my question, but its a few years old.

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[dapmp91]

i am majoring in psychology as an undergrad. i studied sociology before that. i feel limited. i have very little bio, chem, or science foundation.

i want to do research, and my interest is heading more toward pharmacology and cognitive neuroscience. however, with my psychology major curriculum, i only feel qualified/prepared for behavioral research and therapy.

i realize most master's degrees in the field only come via PHD programs, but i do not feel ready for a PHD program because my interests are still so broad and the labs seem so specific.

i am looking at some post-bac pre-health/med programs, but i am afraid they might be somewhat irrelevant or too broad for cognitive neuroscience.

i am also reluctant to go for research assistance positions before settling in on a PHD program. i feel like i still need the structure of taking classes. also, PHD might feel a little too academic for me, i think id like to do more clinical research. maybe even research and some clinical practice to make $$ -- in a perfect world.

i guess im still pretty vague --- my plans are obviously sort of half baked. but any pointers?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=206043

this thread actually addresses my question, but its a few years old.

Don't go into medicine to make $$$$$ it seems you have little or no commitment to medicine itself, but are rather pursuing it as an ends and not a means, if you like pharmacology you can go into pharmacy and still make good money, but medicine itself will not be right for you if you just want the money, you'll get bored and fed up VERY fast. My question is have you taken the prereqs? You should start from there. Maybe you should go into clinical psychology, they make good money, and you may be interested in it, you can also do some research.

 

[recycleruminate]

Don't go into medicine to make $$$$$ it seems you have little or no commitment to medicine itself, but are rather pursuing it as an ends and not a means, if you like pharmacology you can go into pharmacy and still make good money, but medicine itself will not be right for you if you just want the money, you'll get bored and fed up VERY fast. My question is have you taken the prereqs? You should start from there. Maybe you should go into clinical psychology, they make good money, and you may be interested in it, you can also do some research.

disregard the $$ comment. That is not my priority. It just seems as though research, my primary interest, is not a very stable living much less lucrative, but some neurologists who do research I am interested in seem to almost "supplement" their research income with clinical practice.

Anyway, Specifically, I am very interested and commited in doing research on learning/reading and ADHD disorders. However, I am realizing that I am not so much interested in doing behavioral/cognitive research or therapy. I would like to explore the neural underpinnings and possibly psychotropic remedies.

i am looking for neuroscience post-bac or terminal master's programs. i have seen general pre-health post-bac programs, but those might be too general for my interests. ironically, most master's neuroscience programs are part of PHD programs, however, those seem too specific to where my interests stand. perhaps i have a misconception that PHD programs entail initiating your own research from the outset, and not much emphasis on learning/class time. that is why a terminal master's program in neuroscience or post-bac studies seems like the logical next step. i do have research experience, but it is mostly in social psychology.

Right now, it looks like the northerwestern program in neurobiology and physiology is the closest thing resembling what im looking for...but it's only 1 year! that seems like a blink!

http://www.northwestern.edu/neurobiology/ms/

i do not have pre-reqs done for MD school. but many post bac, MA, or PHD programs don't seem to have "pre-reqs" per se. i have found a post-bac pre-health program at San Francisco State (where I could commute from home and save some money), that seems to have a good relationship with UCSF (where I could volunteer for more neuroscience research experience -- i do have some fMRI neuro research experience and exposure). then after that I might look into a joint MD/PHD program in neuroscience. i realize i am behind, but i am very passionate and commited...i just need to find the right program...why did i take all those sociology, feminisms, critical race theory, and philosophy classes in the beginning of undergrad???😕

 

[hung]

http://www.vcu.edu/anatomy/programs/ms-neuro.html

 

[recycleruminate]

http://www.vcu.edu/anatomy/programs/ms-neuro.html

👍thanks

 

[stephster416]

I'm actually in a similar position - psych major undergrad, liked the biology-based classes a LOT more and now looking to get into neuroscience, or possibly an MD/PhD. I think the best bet might be to go for a post-bacc, just because it's a sure way to get in the basic science, which, while not necessarily required, will help a lot with understanding graduate level neuroscience. Plus if you do one at a university with a strong neuro dept., you can volunteer and/or take some neuro classes! This is my plan anyway - let me know if you find anything more specific to neurosci!

 

[TU3733]

disregard the $$ comment. That is not my priority. It just seems as though research, my primary interest, is not a very stable living much less lucrative, but some neurologists who do research I am interested in seem to almost "supplement" their research income with clinical practice.

Anyway, Specifically, I am very interested and commited in doing research on learning/reading and ADHD disorders. However, I am realizing that I am not so much interested in doing behavioral/cognitive research or therapy. I would like to explore the neural underpinnings and possibly psychotropic remedies.

i am looking for neuroscience post-bac or terminal master's programs. i have seen general pre-health post-bac programs, but those might be too general for my interests. ironically, most master's neuroscience programs are part of PHD programs, however, those seem too specific to where my interests stand. perhaps i have a misconception that PHD programs entail initiating your own research from the outset, and not much emphasis on learning/class time. that is why a terminal master's program in neuroscience or post-bac studies seems like the logical next step. i do have research experience, but it is mostly in social psychology.

Right now, it looks like the northerwestern program in neurobiology and physiology is the closest thing resembling what im looking for...but it's only 1 year! that seems like a blink!

http://www.northwestern.edu/neurobiology/ms/

i do not have pre-reqs done for MD school. but many post bac, MA, or PHD programs don't seem to have "pre-reqs" per se. i have found a post-bac pre-health program at San Francisco State (where I could commute from home and save some money), that seems to have a good relationship with UCSF (where I could volunteer for more neuroscience research experience -- i do have some fMRI neuro research experience and exposure). then after that I might look into a joint MD/PHD program in neuroscience. i realize i am behind, but i am very passionate and commited...i just need to find the right program...why did i take all those sociology, feminisms, critical race theory, and philosophy classes in the beginning of undergrad???😕

My situation is almost exactly the same as yours. I am applying to many masters programs, but my plan is to get a masters degree in 1-2 years, and in that time finish up my chemistry prereq classes and take my MCAT, and by then hopefully I'll be able to apply to medical school. You said you were applying to Northwestern: that is my top school right now, that Neurobiology and Physiology program. Have you already applied, and did you end up going (I saw that your post was from August of 2008, so I'm assuming you did either that or something similar). I'd love to hear about your experience and what you ended up doing, because frankly I'm really lost, and worried that I'll never get to medical school!