Provides a history of the field and the study of the effect brain functioning has on behavior. Specific topics covered include frontal lobe syndrome, seizure disorders, agraphia, aphasia, and late and early onset dementias.
Psychology professionals have always known that the brain is complex and mysterious, but it was not until the spread of brain imagining technologies in the 1950s and 1960s that neuropsychology became a widespread field of study. Neuropsychology focuses on how the structure of the brain impacts psychological processes, the role that assessments can play in diagnosing brain dysfunctions, and ways to treat brain injuries and diseases.
Those who enroll in neuropsychology degrees can expect to learn about normal cognitive functioning and how impairments to the brain can affect language, memory, attention, problem solving, and reasoning. In addition, students learn about how diseases that affect the nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, interfere with brain function. People who pursue this psychological discipline get hands-on experience with how these disorders are assessed and treated, in addition to the theoretical classroom knowledge neuropsychology courses provide.
There are no neuropsychology degree programs at the associate’s level, but that doesn’t mean students who are interested in this field can’t get a head start on their studies. Associate’s degrees in psychology, which generally take two years to complete, gives students a fundamental understanding of the discipline by introducing them to a number of psychological concepts, as well as research that has shaped the field. Some courses that can be especially useful include research methods, clinical psychology, learning theory, and developmental psychology.
Like associate’s degree students, those who enroll in bachelor’s degree psychology programs can get foundational knowledge they need to move on to a neuropsychology graduate degree program. These degrees, which take about four years to earn, expose students to theories on neuropsychology, cognition, clinical psychology, life span development, and language and speech disorders. Outside of the psychology department, students can also benefit from taking courses in statistics, biology, physiology, and neuroscience.
In addition, there is work outside of the classroom that may help students prepare for a neuropsychology program. For example, if a school has faculty members conducting research on issues related to the brain and human behavior, students may have an opportunity to assist with those studies. Also, internships that allow students to get a first-hand view of how psychologists treat patients with brain impairments, such as positions at rehabilitation centers, reinforce the ways theoretical concepts are applied to real life.
Neuropsychology degree programs on the graduate level are designed to build on the foundation that students gained during their undergraduate studies. The following outlines what students can expect when they enroll in neuropsychology master’s and doctoral programs.
Degree | Completion Time | Units | Degree Earned | Future Career Opportunities | Other Requirements |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Master’s |
2 years |
At least 36 |
MA, MS |
Students must further their education in order to work in the field |
May require a master’s thesis, comprehensive examination, or internship |
Doctorate |
5-7 years |
At least 100 |
PsyD, PhD |
Neuropsychologist, college professor |
May require a dissertation, comprehensive examination, or internship |
There are few programs that offer neuropsychology master’s degrees. In most cases, psychology programs on the master’s level are general or clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology. Depending on the program, students may earn a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) degree.
When students complete a master’s degree in neuropsychology, they should be able to:
The specific coursework that is required in a neuropsychology master’s degree program differs from school to school. However, the following are some examples of classes that students may find in this program.
Provides a history of the field and the study of the effect brain functioning has on behavior. Specific topics covered include frontal lobe syndrome, seizure disorders, agraphia, aphasia, and late and early onset dementias.
Covers the anatomy of the brain and how abnormalities affect behavior. In addition, students learn about the neurochemistry of the brain. Topics include addiction, fibromyalgia, sleep disorders and dementia.
Discusses how cognitive behavioral therapy is conducted and how it can be applied to a variety of patient problems and pathologies. In some cases, students may be required to participate in role playing exercises in order to see cognitive behavioral therapy in action and demonstrate their understanding of the course material.
This course covers the seminal theories of personality, as well as personality disorders and options for treatment.
Students in this course are introduced to the different classes of psychoactive drugs, how they are used in patient treatment, and the effects they have on the body.
Students in neuropsychology master’s degree programs may have additional requirements in order to graduate. Depending on the school they enroll in, students may be required to complete a master’s thesis or a comprehensive examination. In addition, some schools may expect students to get hands-on experience through an internship or externship program.
In order to get a job as a neuropsychologist, students must successfully complete a doctoral degree. Students in these programs can earn a PhD or a PsyD degree. In some cases, psychology departments offer a neuropsychology degree, while others have clinical psychology degrees with a concentration in neuropsychology.
Neuropsychology doctoral programs are extremely rigorous, and when students complete their studies, they are expected to:
Students in these doctoral programs take a number of courses designed to give them the expertise they need to work with patients or conduct neuropsychology research. The following are some examples of coursework that can be found in these programs.
Students in this course learn how to conduct neurological assessments on patients who may have brain disorders and injuries. In addition, students learn how to interpret the results of assessments and use them to choose the best treatment options for a patient.
Provides an understanding of autism and how it is treated.
Gives information on the legal and ethical standards that guide clinical psychologists as they provide treatment or conduct research studies. Students in this class learn about state and federal laws that govern the field, as well as standards set forth by the American Psychological Association.
Discusses the ways that data is collected and analyzed when conducting psychological research.
This course provides information on psychotherapeutic intervention theories from psychodynamic, neuroscience, and interpersonal perspectives.
In addition to coursework, doctoral students may be required to complete a dissertation based on original research. Depending on the school, students may also have to acquire clinical or teaching experience.
Online neuropsychology programs are an excellent way for students to pursue their degrees in a convenient manner, allowing them to incorporate education into their busy lives. The following information explains how online degree programs work, and what students should look for in an online school.
Choosing an online degree program is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Students looking for neuropsychology degrees online should look for the following.
Neuropsychology degree programs should be accredited by the American Psychological Association. Not only does this mean that a program has been evaluated for delivering a relevant, quality education, but holding a degree from an accredited school is also a requirement for a license to practice.
Students who want to become neuropsychology researchers should look for a school that has faculty conducting studies in this area. Although they may complete their regular coursework online, there may be on campus opportunities to research neuropsychology topics under the guidance of professors in their department.
Students who are interested in a specific branch of neuropsychology—such as pediatric, forensic, or clinical—can benefit from schools that have several professors with experience in that subspecialty. When researching schools, students should also look into the professors’ backgrounds, including their published research and professional experience, to find a department with faculty that share the same interests.
Awarded by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology Foundation, this grant is to support neuropsychological research that helps patients with dementia, epilepsy, ADHD, and traumatic brain injuries.
Marquette University graduate students who are taking neuropsychology courses can win this scholarship.
Students in this fellowship program work with young children and teenagers who have brain illnesses and injuries. This program focuses on assessments, and individual and group therapy.
This fellowship is for neuropsychology doctoral students at Palo Alto University.
This fellowship is to fund graduate students’ neuropsychology research projects. Applicants must be a member of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students and Psi Chi.
This award is given to students who are conducting research in neuropsychology.
This fellowship is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University to provide clinical training and research opportunities. In addition, fellows who complete this program are eligible to sit for the Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry certification examination.
Awarded by the American Psychological Foundation, this scholarship gives $2,500 to neuropsychology graduate students.
The Mayo Clinic campus in Florida hosts this fellowship program, which is designed to help prepare neuropsychology doctoral students to pass the licensing examination and begin their careers.
Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System hosts a two-year neuropsychology fellowship program designed to teach students how to evaluate and treat patients.
Doctoral students studying neuropsychology at the University of Houston can receive this award.
This award honors students at Penn State Harrisburg who have displayed academic excellence in neuropsychology.
This award is for students conducting dissertation research related to a neuropsychology topic.
This award is designed for clinical psychology graduate students at Wayne State University who are conducting neuropsychology research.
This grant is awarded to students conducting research on a neuropsychology topic as it pertains to the Hispanic community.
The MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas has a two-year fellowship program that provides postdoctoral training for neuropsychology students who want to focus on clinical work.
The University of Colorado School of Medicine has a two-year postdoctoral clinical neuropsychology fellowship that exposes students to a wide range of patient populations, such as those suffering from dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and epilepsy.
For those who are interested in working with children, Boston Children’s Hospital offers a program designed to give students clinical and research experience.
The International Neuropsychological Society sponsors this award for excellence in neuropsychology research conducted by graduate students.
The Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles offers neuropsychology fellowships to train clinicians, researchers, and educators in the field.
Texas Medical Center’s neuropsychology fellowship program specializes in patients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
University of California, Davis runs this fellowship program to help train clinical neuropsychology professionals.
This scholarship is given to graduate students in order to support the research for a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in clinical neuropsychology.
This award funds neuropsychology students’ trip to the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting.
The National Academy of Neuropsychology’s Women in Leadership Committee provides funding for students to attend the organization’s professional conference.