Meet Lorna Dennis

My INDS Degree

I propose an individualized major in Neuropsychology. Within this degree, I would like to specialize in neuropsychology to prepare for a future career in research on neurodegenerative diseases. The American Psychological Association (2023) defines neuropsychology as a branch of neuroscience “that studies the physiological processes of the nervous system and relates them to behavior and cognition, in terms both of their normal function and of the dysfunctional processes associated with brain damage”. Neurodegenerative diseases are ailments “…in which cells of the central nervous system stop working or die”, which can be caused by heredity, tumors, strokes, environmental toxins, and unhealthy lifestyles (National Cancer Institute, 2019). Some neurodegenerative diseases include dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Degree Mentors

• Steven McAlpine, Individualized Study
• Dr. Tabassum Majid, MAgS Program Officer, Healthcare Delivery & Disparities Program, PCORI
• Carrie Sauter, Individualized Study

Post Graduation Plans

Following my graduation from UMBC, I plan to follow one of two major pathways. The flexibility of this degree is important as it allows me to follow whichever career plan I choose as it fulfills most, if not all, prerequisites for every program I am interested in. In pathway one, I plan to work in a research lab for 2-3 years and then determine if I want to continue my education in a post-graduate degree program. After completion of my Bachelor’s Degree, I would like to work in a research lab at the National Institute of Health (NIH) or the Kennedy Krieger Institute. If I were to go to NIH, I would participate in their post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) program or their Graduate Partnerships
Program (GPP). If I decided to continue this education, I would like to pursue a doctoral degree in Neuroscience or Clinical Neuropsychology. To pursue clinical neuropsychology, I would need to complete a doctoral program related to psychology and then pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) (Chamlou, 2022).

Courses In My INDS Degree

✅Human Biological Systems as a Whole: These courses help me understand the physiological and biochemical systems in humans such as neurological function. This will allow me to understand the fundamental processes of humans and apply that knowledge in research and forming connections between psychiatric symptoms and neurodegenerative diseases.

(CHEM 351/352, BIOL 251/252/273)

✅Understanding Mental Processes: These courses allow me to understand how biological systems of the brain affect psychiatric disorders. They also help me understand the brain in its “healthy” form and “unhealthy” form. Understanding the “healthy” form gives us a baseline to determine if the neurodegenerative disease is causing obstructions.

(PSYC 390/285/375, MUSC 328)

✅Understanding People and Patients: These courses help me understand people’s behaviors and actions from a sociological and anthropological perspective of individuals which is necessary to understand the point of view of those affected by the disease. This will also give me another perspective on how neurodegenerative diseases affect families and society as a whole.

(ANTH 424, EHS 340, PSYC 306, AGGN 355)

✅ Individualized Study: These courses allow me to understand the integration of multiple disciplines and guide me through understanding the components of inter disciplines and their applications to my career field.

(INDS 330, 335, 399, 400, 480, 490, SOCY 300)