At the undergraduate level, students interested in neuroscience typically acquire a broad background in biology, chemistry, and psychology. Research experience and laboratory work are essential for students desiring to pursue graduate-level education in neuroscience. Students who have graduated with an Individualized Study BA or BS with a concentration in Neuroscience have attended medical and graduate schools such as Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University, and Vanderbilt University. UMBC also offers a PhD in Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences!
All students are required to take the INDS core curriculum as part of their self designed degree.
- INDS 330 Ways of Knowing
- INDS 335 Degree Plan Writing Seminar
- INDS 430 Special Topics or INDS 410 Internship
- INDS 480 Capstone Project Seminar
- INDS 490 Capstone Project
Other course work in your self designed degree may be drawn from the following. You are not limited to these courses. Your INDS degree theme could include courses from other disciplines. Be sure to check the prerequisites for any course you want to take. It is recommended that you work with your INDS advisor as you develop your own list and timeline which will be formalized in INDS 335.
Other courses to consider
- BIOL 451 Neurobiology
- MUSC 328 Music and the Mind
- PSYC 285 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 316 Language and Thought
- PSYC 317 Cognitive Psychology
- PSYC 335 Physiological Psychology
- PSYC 370 Sensation and Perception
- PSYC 375 Neuropsychology
- PSYC 385 Health Psychology
- PSYC 390 Neuropsychopharmacology
- SOCY 351 Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
- SOCY 352 Issues in Healthcare
- SOCY/PBHL 354 Social Bases of Public and Community Health
- ANTH 312 Medical Anthropology
- EDHS 340 Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
- PBHL 200 Human Health and Disease
- PBHL 340 Health Communication
- PBHL/PHIL 358 Bioethics
- PBHL/PHIL 375 Philosophy of Medicine
- PHIL 380 Philosophy of Mind
- Additional disciplines to consider:
- Aging, Music or Research Coursework
Pre-med Requirements (for those students who are pre-med)
- BIOL 141
- BIOL 142
- CHEM 101
- CHEM 102
- CHEM 102L
- BIOL 300L
- BIOL 302
- BIOL 303
- BIOL 302L or 303L
- BIOL 430 or CHEM 437
- CHEM 351
- CHEM 351L
- CHEM 352
- CHEM 352L
- PHYS 111
- PHYS 112
- MATH 151
- STAT 350
- PSYC 100
- SOCY 101
- ENGL 200-level
Examples of students with INDS degrees in Neuroscience:
Krithika Prakash, class of 2018 *graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a PhD in Clicinal Psychology and is currently a Post-Doctoral Scholar in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Pittsburgh
Nandini Aravindan, class of 2019 *graduated from University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2023 and is currently practicing medicine in New York
Snigdha Chigurupati, class of 2019 *Medical student at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Sasha Lenus, class of 2019 *Attended University of Maryland School of Medicine and is currently a Resident Physician in Michigan
Lorna Dennis, class of 2024
Madison Yorkowski, class of 2024
Schedule an appointment with an Advisor today!
Updated 02/25/25