neuropsychology

zapfino
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:39:45 +0000

It partly depends on what you mean by the team “neuropsychology”.
If you mean, research in brain-behavior relationships, you probably can also enter a graduate psychology program in this area through several pathways: a psychology major; a joint psychology/biology major; an interdisciplinary major in neuroscience; a biology major; and possibly, via an interdisciplinary major that combines aspects of neuroscience, cognitive sciences, linguistics, etc. In general, you’d benefit from more basic science courses, including biology lab techniques; though some core courses in statistics/research design and in core subfields of psychology are probably expected, these are less important than for clinical neuropsychology (below). Some applied electronics courses or computer science also could be useful. If you have an interest in psychopharmacology or neuropsychopharmacology, chemistry courses might be important. For certain areas of research in psychopharm, operant conditioning and abnormal psych might be useful.
If you mean, clinical neuropsychology, you also can follow several pathways. These would include the ones mentioned above. In addition, you also might be able to do it with a major in speech and hearing sciences, either alone or in combination with one of the other majors i mentioned. Note that you may need certain undegrad psychology pre-requisites including behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, tests & measurements, and abnormal psychology, in addition to statistics/research design and a distribution of pschology courses across its various subfields. In general, you’d benefit from more psychology courses than if you were interested in research-oriented neuroscience. Though clinical neuropsychologists primarily focus on neuropsychological assessment there is a possible combined emphasis on other applied aspects involving intervention in acquired brain and other neurological injuries. So for this, courses in learning/conditioning, applied behavior analysis (in psychology or special ed), instructional design (in special ed), behavior analysis in developmental disabilities (in special ed, usually), learning disabilities (in education), communication disorders (in speech & hearing), etc. might be useful. There probably are some graduate programs in rehabilitation psychology (not rehab counseling) in which you could emphasize rehab of neuro injuries, chronic pain, etc. that could be completed in combination with a clinical neuropsych emphasis.
Many psychology and biology depts. also offer subspecialty majors in neuroscience within the psychology major.
In whichever area you wish to focus, undergrad research experience will enhance your prospects of admission.
(Don’t try to do all the relevant related courses as an undegrad; you can pick up on sme of these areas in grad school).