INDS B.S.: Decision Neuroscience
Spring 2026 Capstone
My INDS Degree
Decision Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that aims to “understand the neural and behavioral computations that guide valuation and decision making of individuals and teams across the lifespan” (Penn State Decision Neuroscience Lab). To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of this field, I will combine courses from biochemistry, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and healthcare. Building off a strong foundation in biochemistry, I will take neuroscience classes to understand neural circuits and different areas of the brain. By taking courses related to cognitive psychology I can incorporate my knowledge of neural function in order to understand cognitive processes. Finally, coursework in health sciences will complement that understanding of underlying decision making processes with application in healthcare.
Post Graduation Plans
After undergraduate school, I plan to go to medical school and utilize my understanding of decision making processes when building my clinical reasoning skills. A prevalent issue in the medical field is misdiagnosis; in fact, it’s estimated that every year 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed (Singh, 2014). Through understanding how decision making works, I hope to better understand diagnostic decision making and avoid common pitfalls. After medical school, I plan to pursue a career in neurology, specializing in chronic headache treatment. At the moment, existing diagnosis procedures and treatments for chronic cluster headaches are inadequate (Lund et al., 2023). My goal is to research and apply improved clinical reasoning techniques to better diagnose people who suffer from migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, and other neurological pain disorders.
Courses In My INDS Degree
✅Anatomy and Physiology of the Brain: (BIOL 490, CHEM 437, HONR 200, PSYC 335, 375)
✅Decision Making Theories: (INDS 330, PSYC 210, PHIL 430)
✅Clinical Decision Making: (BIOL 487, EDHS 340, EDHS 311, INDS 400)
✅ Individualized Study & Research: (PSYC 311, STAT 350, INDS 330, 335, 480, 490)