Neuroscience is an intriguing major. However, many have categorized it as one of the most challenging majors.
Research conducted in hundreds of schools in the US shows that neuroscience has one of the lowest graduation rates, proving that many students struggle with this major.
This article will discuss what neuroscience is about, what makes it a challenging major, how much neuroscientist makes, the three best schools in the US for neuroscience education, and the best-paying jobs available for people with a neuroscience degree.
Who is a Neuroscientist?
Neuroscientists are medical professionals that specialize in the study of the nervous system. The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal, and body nerve cells.
This broad field focuses on several areas of knowledge, such as anatomy, development biology, physiology, molecular biology, and many more.
Neuroscientists apply their knowledge to develop ways to boost the brain’s efficiency and performance. Furthermore, just like several science fields, this field has several specialties.
What is the Average Salary Of A Neuroscientist?
According to information published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a neuroscientist earns an average annual income of about $92,000.
However, the salary of neuroscientists differs according to their specialty, where they work, experience, education, and technical abilities.
What makes Neuroscience a Hard Major?
Neuroscience is a challenging major. This is not surprising because this very complex field deals with studying one of the most challenging areas of the body, the brain.
Understanding concepts in this field takes a lot, and in most cases, students have to assess and analyze the brain and the nervous system, which is very taxing.
This field also requires good chemistry, mathematics, and biology knowledge.
Some of the specialties of this field are cognitive, computational, affective, neurology, neuroevolution, systems neuroscience, and many more.
How Long Does It Take To Study Neuroscience?
A US neuroscience bachelor’s degree program can be completed in four years.
However, while master’s degree students can spend up to 3 years to graduate, doctorate students can complete their education in at least four years.
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Top Three Schools For Studying Neuroscience In The United States
Here are the three best schools for studying neuroscience in the United States:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, popularly known as MIT, is one of the best schools for studying neuroscience in the United States.
This school trains future neuroscientists through its Brain and Cognitive Sciences department.
This school’s academic curriculum focuses on how the brain works at all levels, from the molecules that facilitate the brain’s functionality to the processes that affect human behavior.
MIT has some of the best study facilities for neuroscience education, and seasoned professors coordinate the program.
Additionally, MIT is one of the top neuroscience research schools in the world.
The research efforts of this school focus on the following areas of knowledge; cellular and molecular systems, cognitive science, and computational neuroscience.
MIT stands out among several schools that offer neuroscience education because it combines technology, comprehensive academics, top-notch research, and inspirational teaching.
It is committed to stimulating human brains to understand how the mind functions.
2. Harvard University
Harvard University is another excellent choice for anyone that wants to study neuroscience in the United States.
In addition to several top-notch facilities, this course is coordinated by top-class faculty with in-depth knowledge of the field committed to teaching and research.
The neuroscience program at Harvard University is very complex, but this school adopts a learning approach that breaks the course into bits for students.
Lessons are structured favorably for students, and many first-class student support services are available for Harvard University’s neuroscience students.
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3. Yale University
Yale University is another school that has done more than enough to earn its place on this list. This school offers its neuroscience program through its school of medicine.
Students enrolling in this major at Yale University take classes that enable them to understand the biology and function of the nervous system.
Yale’s learning curriculum covers many study areas relating to the human brain, such as synapses, cells, circuits, behavior, molecules, cognition, etc.
Additionally, this school’s multidisciplinary learning approach enables students to acquire knowledge of the neuroscience component of invertebrates and primates.
This school is a popular choice for neuroscience thanks to its research projects covering several areas of knowledge, such as the function of molecules and organelles, representation of the environment by neural circuits, development of complex behaviors, and computation and communication by chemical and chemical and electrical signals.
Yale University provides a rich education that enables students to understand all aspects of neuroscience. This school is undoubtedly one of the best schools for neuroscience in the United States.
Best Paying Jobs For Neuroscience Degree Graduates
Here are the best-paying jobs available for neuroscience degree graduates:
1. Health Educator
A health educator is one of the best-paying jobs for neuroscience degree graduates. This job involves the promotion of good health practices among those in communities.
As a health educator, you will also conduct research in areas relating to the present health situations of a particular group of people and collaborate with other health personnel to develop and enforce health strategies.
This job attracts an average salary of about $41,000 every year.
2. Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeons are physicians who assess medical illnesses relating to the brain and conduct surgery to correct disorders.
This job attracts an average annual income of about $125,000 every year.
3. Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychology is one of the best-paying jobs for neuroscience degree holders.
This job is about assisting people in recognizing, managing, and overcoming any psychological illness affecting them.
Clinical psychologists conduct in-depth psychology studies and engage in community psychological awareness campaigns. This job has an average annual salary of about $96,000.
4. Dentist
Dentists are medical doctors who treat illnesses or ailments affecting the teeth and gums.
These professionals assess all diseases affecting the mouth and carry out intensive medical procedures to correct them.
They also develop treatment plans that help enhance patients’ oral health. Dentist earns an annual income of about $200,000 every year.
5. Neuroscience Physical Assistant
Neuroscience physical assistants assess and identify medical challenges affecting a person.
They perform their duties under the supervision of medical doctors in some states. This job attracts an average annual salary of about $105,000.
6. Neurologist
Neurologists are medical doctors that focus on identifying and treating neurological conditions affecting a person’s brain and other neurological parts.
These professionals can read neurological test results and recommend treatment plans for medical conditions.
However, in most cases, neurologists perform their duties in partnership with other workers in the medical field. This job attracts an average annual salary of about $235,000.
7. Pharmaceutical Sciences Manager
The pharmaceutical sciences manager is another excellent addition to this list.
This job is about the study and recommendation of insights regarding the development of new medicine and the sales and marketing aspect of new drugs.
The pharmaceutical sciences manager also supervises the production of new drugs and medical equipment.
They assess the quality of new products to ensure they are suitable for human use. A pharmaceutical sciences manager is a job that has an average annual income of $82,000.
8. Neuroscience Research Scientist
Neuroscience research scientists develop and assess different pieces of information regarding the development of new science.
These professionals undertake tests, log findings and offer information on the outcome of their investigations to neuroscience workers.
The average annual salary of a neuroscience research scientist is about $88,000.
9. Neuroscience medical writer
Medical writers that specialize in the field of neuroscience are in charge of studying and writing neuroscience content.
This job attracts an average income of about $100,000 every year.
10. Biostatistician
Biostatisticians develop, analyze and supervise the research of several statistical studies regarding neuroscience.
They apply the insights they acquire to facilitate the testing of new drugs. The average annual income of a biostatistician is about $130,000.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On Neuroscience as a challenging major
Yes, neuroscience requires a good understanding of maths.
Yes, neuroscience is far more challenging than psychology. Psychology is a relatively easy major that involves lots of reading and memorization.
Yes, there is lots of biology in neuroscience.
Besides biology and maths, other subjects in neuroscience are computer science, engineering, philosophy, medicine, and psychology.
Conclusion
Studying neuroscience is challenging. Given the inherent difficulty of investigating one of the human body’s trickiest organs: the brain, this is to be expected.
Students in this discipline need a solid grounding in chemistry, mathematics, and biology to make sense of the complex concepts involved in assessing and analyzing the brain and nervous system.
However, enrolling in any of the colleges mentioned in the article can make the courses more manageable, as well-respected experts direct their neuroscience programs in the field and have state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories.
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