Neurosciences Multidisciplinary Training Area

Neuroscience students take the three core courses that are required for their respective curriculum track and at least two advanced courses. All students are required to take either Introduction to Journal Club (year one of the Biomedical Sciences Track) or Neurobiology Journal Club (year one of the Neuroscience Track). From year two onward, all Neuroscience students take Neurobiology Journal Club.

After successful completion of the core first year curriculum, students can take the Neuroscience qualifying exam. This consists of a written review of the literature that is relevant to the student's thesis research project and a comprehensive oral exam that is based on this review and the student's course work, examining both depth of knowledge and the student's ability to integrate information from different fields. The student has two opportunities to pass the qualifying exam. After successful completion of the qualifying exam, the next hurdle is the 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 with a coherent research plan. The student generally has two opportunities to pass both written and oral components of the thesis proposal. The Ph.D. degree is awarded following successful defense of the thesis dissertation.

Graduate School Handbook