Program Requirements

There are two curriculum track options available to Neuroscience students. The first leads to a PhD in Neuroscience. The second leads to a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis in Neuroscience.

In the first year for both tracks, Neuroscience students take three Core courses required for their respective curriculum track and at least two Advanced Electives thereafter.

For Neuroscience PhD students, the Core courses are:

1. Systems Neuroscience
2. Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
3. Neural Basis of Behavioral Plasticity and Cognitive Processes

For Biomedical Sciences PhD students, the core courses are:

1. Biomedical Sciences I
2. Biomedical Sciences II
3. Neural Basis of Behavioral Plasticity and Cognitive Processes

Additionally during the first year, all students are required to take either Journal Club in Neurobiology (Neuroscience Track) or Introduction to Journal Club (Biomedical Sciences Track).

During this first year, students will typically complete two or more laboratory rotations with the goal of choosing a mentor and thesis laboratory by the beginning of their second year in the program.

From year two onward, all Neuroscience students take Journal Club in Neurobiology until they defend their thesis dissertation. Additional requirements during the first year include Biostatistics, Responsible Conduct in Research, and attending the Translational Seminar Series.

A number of advanced electives are offered, which are generally taken during the second year (at least two electives are required). A list of current Electives can be found on the Curriculum page and a description of these courses here.

After successful completion of the Core first year curriculum, students take the Neuroscience qualifying exam. This is a comprehensive oral exam testing the material covered in the Core courses, Journal club, and Seminar Series, examining both depth of knowledge and the student's ability to integrate information from different fields and across different levels of analysis (eg from molecules to circuits to behavior). The student has two opportunities to pass the qualifying exam. After successful completion of the qualifying exam, the student next focuses on preparing their thesis proposal, which includes both a written document and an oral presentation, allowing the student's committee to evaluate the proposed thesis project, the student's background knowledge, and his or her ability to integrate this within the framework of a coherent research plan. The student generally has two opportunities to pass both written and oral components of the thesis proposal. The PhD degree is awarded following successful defense of the thesis dissertation.