Prerequisites
Although there are no rigid prerequisites for admission to the neuroscience program, entering students should have a background that includes courses in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and mathematics. Each sub-discipline of neuroscience requires a different degree of preparation in each of these areas, and students with inadequate backgrounds in the basic biological, physical, and behavioral sciences are required to satisfy the deficiency after admission to the program. Prospective students should apply for admission through the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) Graduate Program.
Program Information
Students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program participate in research throughout the program In the first year, students choose among the faculty to conduct at least three laboratory rotations. These rotations serve as the basis for choosing an advisor for the student's dissertation research. First-year students also take courses in the foundation of modern neuroscience. These include a core course in Neuroscience that covers molecular, developmental, systems and behavioral neuroscience. In the latter half of the first year, after students have selected a dissertation advisor, coursework is focused oin one of three tracks: Molecular & Developmental Neuroscience, Synapses and Circuits, or Neuroimmunology. Completion of all coursework requirements usually occurs by the second year.
By the end of the second year, students are expected to pass a qualifying exam consisting of a written review and an oral examination in order to advance to candidacy. They will continue research throughout the remainder of their time in the program, with the goal of making an original and significant contribution to their field. To graduate, all students must publish a first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal, submit a written dissertation, and orally defend the dissertation before their committee and the academic community
The students' program of courses is developed through close consultation with their faculty advisor and their graduate advisory committee. Attention is placed on flexibility in the program. Each student's program is tailored to meet individual needs and interests.