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How do I figure out what major to choose?
What jobs are available in the field of neuroscience or cognitive science? How different are they actually from each other? How does physiological psychology fit differ as well? #neuroscience #neurology #college #study
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Elizabeth’s Answer
Hi Alissa,
I am currently a freshman in college! It is totally normal to be confused as to what to major in.
Based on my experience, and from what I have heard, I would suggest majoring in psychology and minoring in neuroscience. Neuroscience is more specific and psychology will provide a broad overview, which can apply to many careers. Most colleges will have a cognitive science program or neuroscience program (usually not both), so you will most likely be immersed to both.
Then again, college majors change over time. Take some classes and see what you do and do not like. Go to your university's academic advisors or counselors and gain insight from them too.
Hope this Helps!
Talk with a college advisor or counselor
I am currently a freshman in college! It is totally normal to be confused as to what to major in.
Based on my experience, and from what I have heard, I would suggest majoring in psychology and minoring in neuroscience. Neuroscience is more specific and psychology will provide a broad overview, which can apply to many careers. Most colleges will have a cognitive science program or neuroscience program (usually not both), so you will most likely be immersed to both.
Then again, college majors change over time. Take some classes and see what you do and do not like. Go to your university's academic advisors or counselors and gain insight from them too.
Hope this Helps!
Elizabeth recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
✽Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system and spinal cord. Study of the brain from biological perspective.
✽Cognitive science is the study of the mind and intelligence. It's a combination of other branches such as psychology, computer science, linguistics, social science, philosophy and few others.
This means you can become a neuroscientist while having a Bachelor degree in physics or engineering and Master's in Neuroscience. Depends on what you want to do in future. You can figure this out while exploring your course modules.
Examples of neuroscience jobs:
Speech & language therapist
Social worker
Clinical researcher
Pharmacist
Administrator or coordinator
Physician's Assistant
Epidemiology
Occupational Therapist
Consultant Neurologist
Cognitive science
Examples of disciplines where you can search for a job:
Education
Business
Social Work
IT
Law
What job you will be able get depends on your degree. Most of the jobs will require Masters and PhD, others just Bachelor's and Master's.
If you unsure about your career paths while in university, you can always talk the guide counsellors and course professors for advices.
✽Physiological psychology is a subdivision of neuroscience. It's simply studies the way how biological factors cause us behave curtain way. The area is related to fields like biology, chemistry, physiology, psychology.
✽Cognitive science is the study of the mind and intelligence. It's a combination of other branches such as psychology, computer science, linguistics, social science, philosophy and few others.
This means you can become a neuroscientist while having a Bachelor degree in physics or engineering and Master's in Neuroscience. Depends on what you want to do in future. You can figure this out while exploring your course modules.
Examples of neuroscience jobs:
Speech & language therapist
Social worker
Clinical researcher
Pharmacist
Administrator or coordinator
Physician's Assistant
Epidemiology
Occupational Therapist
Consultant Neurologist
Cognitive science
Examples of disciplines where you can search for a job:
Education
Business
Social Work
IT
Law
What job you will be able get depends on your degree. Most of the jobs will require Masters and PhD, others just Bachelor's and Master's.
If you unsure about your career paths while in university, you can always talk the guide counsellors and course professors for advices.
✽Physiological psychology is a subdivision of neuroscience. It's simply studies the way how biological factors cause us behave curtain way. The area is related to fields like biology, chemistry, physiology, psychology.
Updated
Frank’s Answer
Hi Alissa,
To get a rough idea of the types of jobs available, sign up for a free account on linkedin.com and type in the following queries into the LinkedIn search bar:
jobs in neuroscience
jobs in cognitive science
jobs in physiological psychology
The results will give you an idea of some real jobs in the fields.
And regarding which major to choose, keep in mind that for the first two years of your undergraduate work, you'll generally be fulfilling General Education requirements, so it's not crucial to have your "ultimate major" selected and declared early on. Use that time to meet with a counselor at your school and have some discussions about your goals and interests as they develop; that person can help guide you to the major and/or courses that you'll want to focus on.
Have fun with your studies; starting college is an exciting time!
To get a rough idea of the types of jobs available, sign up for a free account on linkedin.com and type in the following queries into the LinkedIn search bar:
jobs in neuroscience
jobs in cognitive science
jobs in physiological psychology
The results will give you an idea of some real jobs in the fields.
And regarding which major to choose, keep in mind that for the first two years of your undergraduate work, you'll generally be fulfilling General Education requirements, so it's not crucial to have your "ultimate major" selected and declared early on. Use that time to meet with a counselor at your school and have some discussions about your goals and interests as they develop; that person can help guide you to the major and/or courses that you'll want to focus on.
Have fun with your studies; starting college is an exciting time!
Updated
Doan’s Answer
If you don't have a strong sense for one particular major, you can use your first years exploring various general education classes that are required to graduate and see if any of them appeal to you.
If you still can't decide, then it's still beneficial to get a degree in business, communications, or psychology. The knowledge you learn in these majors is transferable to many job categories.
If you still can't decide, then it's still beneficial to get a degree in business, communications, or psychology. The knowledge you learn in these majors is transferable to many job categories.